Foot Ailments
Callus (calluses)
General—thickening of the outermost layer of the skin as a result of repeated pressure/friction
Clinical—pain results as the callus thickens and causes more pressure against the underlying skin
Treatment
Soak feet in warm water (with one to two capfuls of bleach) for 15 minutes; rub off dead skin
OR Dr. Scholl’s salicylic acid containing products; apply as directed.
Prevention! (Avoid poor-fitting shoes.)
Clavus (clavi) (“corns”)
General—develops like a callus, but its central aspect is hyperkeratotic and painful.
Clinical—typically occurs at pressure points (i.e., a result of poor-fitting shoes).
Treatment—same as with callus.
Painful feet
Plantar warts
General—a benign neoplasm of the skin caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
Clinical—often occur at pressure points; may cause pain when walking
Sometimes mistaken for clavi
Treatment
Soak wart in warm water for 5 minutes, remove tissue if possible, and dry.
Then apply salicyclic acid to the affected area BID for a maximum of 12 weeks.
Tinea unguium (onychomycosis)
General—fungal infection of the toenails/fingernails
Clinical—nail is thick, brittle, hard, and discolored (yellow/brown); often associated with tinea pedis (see Chapter 2.54)
Etiology—Trichophyton rubrum, a dermatophyte, accounts for 80% of all nail fungal infections; Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Epidemiology—approximately 2% of the US population
Treatment
Topical
Miconazole topical 2% powder applied BID over nail plateRelated posts:
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