Managing Plantar Warts in Children: A Guide for Parents

January 30, 2023

As a parent, your children’s health is a top priority. When it comes to their feet, it may be trickier to tell whether anything is wrong. Our feet are often covered; even then, certain conditions can be tricky to recognize.

Plantar warts can be a painful and unsightly problem, especially in children. But don’t worry – you’re not alone as a parent. Fortunately, plantar warts aren’t severe. Most of the time, there is no cause for concern. Several effective treatment methods exist for children and teenagers, who are particularly susceptible to getting plantar warts.

Many types of warts exist. They can also target various parts of the body. Wart variations include common warts, flat warts, mosaic warts, filiform warts, and plantar warts. Warts on the feet are the focus of this article.

In this blog article, our medical team provides a complete guide for parents to recognize, prevent, and effectively treat plantar warts in children. With this guide, there’s no need to let plantar warts interfere with your child’s active lifestyle.

What are plantar warts?

Plantar warts are viral skin infections that grow on the feet’s underside. HPV (human papillomavirus) causes plantar warts. HPV can infiltrate the body through skin contact, sometimes via a cut or break in the skin on foot. It’s important to note that only certain types of HPV cause plantar warts. After all, there are 100+ types of the virus. (The HPV strain responsible for plantar warts differs from the HPV that targets the reproductive tract.)

Plantar warts get their name because of their location (plantar is another word for the sole of the foot).

The warts are small, flat, and hard circular growths. Plantar warts resemble a corn, callus or blister but may also contain tiny black spots. Bearing weight (like when you walk or run) adds pressure to the wart. The added pressure against the bottom of your foot causes the wart to grow inward. Thus, walking or standing on warts may also hurt. In response, your body builds a layer of skin on top of the wart to try to protect itself. This skin buildup resembles a callus.

Plantar warts are not a skin condition specific to the youth. Anyone can get plantar warts. They are not a severe health condition and may go away independently, especially in children under 12. However, they are contagious. It’s best to treat plantar warts as soon as possible to prevent spreading to other body parts.

If left untreated, warts can last a few months to two years in children.

How do children get plantar warts?

Children get plantar warts by catching a specific type of HPV. The virus enters the body through direct contact between the skin and an infected surface. Since viruses thrive in warm, moist areas, shared spaces like spas, hot tubs, pools, or showers put children at risk.

Not everyone who catches the HPV strain gets plantar warts. Your immune system may be able to fend off the attack. If not, a plantar wart may surface.

Are children more likely to get plantar warts?

Yes, children and teenagers are more likely to get plantar warts than adults. According to the National Library of Medicine, various studies show that up to 33% of children and teenagers have warts. Between 3-5% of adults, by comparison, have warts.

Children and teenagers may be more likely to get plantar warts because of their environment. For instance, children and teenagers often use communal showers at pools or in locker rooms. If one child has a plantar wart, they may spread the virus to others. In some cases, children and teenagers may also get plantar warts due to a weakened immune system.

How can a parent help a child get rid of plantar warts?

A parent has several treatment options for their child if the child gets plantar warts. One is to allow plantar warts to go away on their own. Warts sometimes disappear in a few weeks or a few months on their own. During this period, parents should take precautions to avoid children spreading plantar warts to other body parts and people.

But warts can be uncomfortable (and aesthetically displeasing), and may persist or even spread and multiply. In these instances, a parent or child may desire more immediate action. Fortunately, that’s doable.

A chiropodist or foot doctor can provide wart removal treatments. For children, parents may prefer less invasive treatment methods. We’ve ranked various treatment methods from less intrusive to more intrusive.

Prescription Topical Solutions
Cryotherapy
Cantharone/Cantharone Plus
Needling
Excision

How do I prevent my children from getting plantar warts?

The key as a parent is to limit your child’s exposure to HPV when in shared spaces. Fortunately, there are many measures you can take.

Provide your child with sandals at school, the pool, or practice. Limiting their time barefoot in a locker room, a shower, or on deck at the pool can reduce their chances of catching HPV.
Encourage healthy foot hygiene. Use positive reinforcement and teach your child to keep their feet clean and dry.
Do not use instruments like pumice stones or nail files if previously used on a wart.
Inspect your child’s feet. Minor cuts or cracks in the skin put your child at greater risk of catching the plantar wart-causing virus. Apply a bandage or waterproof plaster on the area to reduce their exposure
If your child partakes in activities requiring them to be barefoot, like gymnastics or dance, cover any warts with a bandage to preventspreading to other children.

Get your child's plantar warts removed at Feet First Clinic

We treat plantar warts at all stages in children and teenagers. It’s easy to get started.

Contact our office to book an appointment for wart removal. Please fill out our online booking form, or call us at 416-769-3338. We’ll book you for your first appointments and follow-ups as we recommend subsequent visits.
During your appointment, the chiropodist will diagnose and assess the wart, debride it, and then determine the best course of treatment.
We recommend booking follow-up treatments ~2-3 weeks apart. Treatment may require several sessions to eradicate plantar warts.

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September 15, 2022

Causes of Plantar Warts and Solutions

Warts can occur anywhere on your body. These small, circular growths are a type of skin infection that stand out because of their roughness, slight discolouration, and sometimes pain. When it comes to your feet, the soles are a common place for warts. This skin condition is known as plantar warts. Although warts on your feet are a common occurrence, this condition comes with very treatable solutions. From self-care remedies to visiting a foot specialist, the scale of treatment methods varies based on the persistence level of warts. If you're looking to avoid plantar warts altogether, learn about what causes them, or how to get rid of them, you've come to the right place. In this article, we explore plantar warts, their causes, how to get rid of plantar warts, and finally how to book an appointment with a foot specialist if you have persistent plantar warts. What are plantar warts? Plantar warts are common viral skin infections that grow on the bottom of the feet. They are small, flat, and hard circular growths that look like a corn, callus or blister. Walking puts pressure on the wart, which makes it grow inward and builds a hard layer of skin overtop. Applying pressure to plantar warts (walking, standing, or running) may be uncomfortable, if not painful. Anyone can get plantar warts: they are not a severe health condition and sometimes go away on their own. However, they are contagious. If they persist, they can grow, spread and cause foot pain when you stand or walk on them. What causes plantar warts? Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes foot warts by infecting the foot's outer layer of skin. HPVs are a group of more than 200 related viruses. In the case of plantar warts, the strain of HPV causing this foot condition is not severe and varies from the strain that infects the reproductive tract. If you think plantar warts and herpes or genital warts, are related, don't worry - the HPV strains are different. Usually, the virus enters the skin through a perforation like a cut or small breaks in the skin. Frequenting high-traffic common areas like showers, change rooms, and pool decks increase your likelihood of contracting the HPV that causes warts because the virus can spread more easily in these areas. Understandably, the wart-causing virus thrives in warm, moist environments. (This can be said for several other foot conditions, actually, including athlete's foot.) Wearing Crocs or flip-flops will help lessen your chances of catching this virus by ensuring your bare feet do not come in contact with the virus. Children and teenagers are more likely to get plantar warts because of their hobbies; additionally, those with weakened immune systems are at heightened risk. That said, like many foot conditions, anyone can get plantar warts. So, what happens when you get plantar warts? Fortunately, there are several treatment options, including DIY methods as well as visiting a foot specialist. Plantar warts treatments Sometimes, plantar warts will treat themselves and go away with time. If that's not the case, a foot specialist like a chiropodist can easily remove plantar warts. There are also different treatments depending on how resistant the wart is to certain methods. For instance, if the wart is not responding to one treatment, a more aggressive treatment may be tried. Regardless of the treatment method you choose, it's best to follow these practices: Cover the wart to help prevent it from spreading to either other people or another part of your body Wash your hands any time you touch the wart, accidentally or intentionally Below you'll find a mix of at-home treatment methods and procedures done by a foot specialist at a local clinic: Cryotherapy Cryotherapy is a method by which extreme cold is used to freeze and remove a plantar wart. This procedure is quick and easy, and generally low risk. Instead of cryotherapy performed in a cold tank, this kind is slightly different and more concentrated. Cold therapy is performed via liquid nitrogen on a cotton swab. This treatment is performed every two weeks, and often requires several treatments to eradicate the wart. Salicylic acid Salicylic acid is a topical medication that is applied to the wart. It softens the skin and helps shed layers of skin (and the wart) bit by bit. It is found in many over-the-counter wart removal products, and a chiropodist can prescribe a high-strength salicylic acid topical solution that you can apply regularly at home. The higher the dose of salicylic acid, the better its treatment. Laser treatment Laser treatment involves cauterizing blood vessels. Ouch, that sounds intense. But, your medical practitioner will numb your skin first. To be effective, this treatment can be repeated every 2-4 weeks. Blister-inducing medicine View this post on Instagram A post shared by Feet First Clinic (@feetfirstclinic_) A foot specialist can help induce a blister under the wart by applying cantharidin, a type of burn agent. This is applied every 2 to 3 weeks by a chiropodist. The cantharidin forms a blister over the wart and separates the wart from the skin covering it and brings the wart to the surface. The blister then dries over the next few days and the wart falls off. The treatment is repeated until the wart is fully removed. Needling Needling is a simple, but more invasive wart removal procedure with roughly 70% effectiveness. After a local anesthetic is administered, a specialist punctures the wart with a sterile needle about 100 times. This method pushes the HPV away from the surface of the skin and internally where an immune reaction is triggered. If successful, your body's immune system will do the rest. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Feet First Clinic (@feetfirstclinic_) Excision Excision is used for plantar warts that resist other treatments. The foot is first numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, as the name implies, the wart is cut away (or “excised”) from the skin. The base is also cauterized to ensure no living viral tissue is left behind. There is a risk of scarring, so this method isn’t used unless other treatments have failed. Duct tape Duct tape is a common yet relatively unproven method for treating plantar warts (largely because plantar warts can disappear on their own, which makes it difficult to attribute to the treatment method). This DIY method relies on suffocating the plantar wart and stripping away the outer layer of the skin to help rid the virus.

March 9, 2023

Preventing the Spread of Plantar Warts: A Guide for Athletes and Gym-goers

Plantar warts and sports are an "iconic" duo of foot conditions and risk factors. Many athletes are looking for a quick fix for their plantar wart woes. But the truth is, switching your mindset towards prevention and medical foot care is just as important. Let's look at our plantar wart guide for athletes and gym-goers! We'll answer some of your most pressing questions and dive into the following: What are plantar warts? Why are athletes prone to plantar warts? Preventing plantar warts: foot hygiene and foot care Prevention plantar warts: shoe choices What are Plantar Warts? Plantar warts are viral skin infections caused by the Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) that appear on the bottom of the feet. Many people assume that HPV is solely a sexually transmitted infection, but there are over 200 strains, some causing warts and others causing cancer. People usually contract this virus strain by walking or running barefoot on an infected surface, which enters the skin via contact or through small cracks in the skin. Warts appear round and look deceptively like corns, calluses and blisters. They result from the body's failure to fight off the HPV, which can sometimes disappear on its own depending on the strain. Symptoms and signs of plantar warts include: A hard and "grainy" growth on the bottom of the foot, often on the ball of the foot or base of the toes On dark skin, it may appear lighter than the surrounding skin Calluses surrounding the wart if it has started to grow inward "Wart seeds" - which look like a small black dot in the wart Pain when walking or touching the wart Mosaic warts or a cluster of warts Treatment options from a foot clinic include cryotherapy and needling. You can read about treatments in more detail here. Why are Athletes Prone to Plantar Warts? Plantar warts have the potential to debilitate athletes and gym-goers and severely impact their physical progress. But why are the physically fit more likely to contract them in the first place? HPV loves warm, moist environments. These include communal showers and locker rooms where sports teams typically congregate without shoes or socks. So without adequate foot protection, members of the same team can unknowingly pass on this troublesome skin infection to each other. Competitive swimmers are also at risk since the walking area surrounding the swimming pools is also communal with heavy, barefoot traffic. Furthermore, the rough surfaces of pool decks may cause micro-trauma to the bottom of the feet, increasing the risk of viral contraction. Athletes and fitness lovers are also more likely to experience hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating of the feet, which can increase the risk. Athletes often also share infected gym equipment, such as mats, without thorough cleaning. Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels Plantar Wart Prevention: Foot Hygiene and Foot Care The best way to prevent plantar warts is to strictly monitor your foot health and keep your feet clean. If you already have plantar warts, these practices can help prevent the condition from worsening. Here are some practices to abide by: Follow a daily foot care routine, being careful not to miss days when you play sports or go to the gym. It should include cleaning, exfoliation, moisturizing, and more. Here is an excellent one to follow! Lightly dust your feet with baby powder. This can also help with foot odour! You can also try Gehwol Foot Powder. Wear moisture-wicking socks, foot pads or other protective products. Never go barefoot in a communal area like a locker room, shower or pool deck. Always wear protective footwear like sandals or shower shoes while in these spaces. Don't scratch or pick at any pre-existing plantar warts. Air out your shoes after using them. Always wash your hands if you touch one of your plantar warts. Don't share shoes, socks, towels and other products with other people. Plantar Wart Prevention: Shoe Choices Athletes can't avoid keeping their feet cooped up in runners all day. What they can do, however, is make shoe choices that help to prevent the growth of plantar warts. Shoes should be breathable and waterproof. You know how some runners have those mini holes in the upper that let air enter and escape? Those are the ones you should be on the hunt for! The ventilation keeps your foot environment fresh and healthy while you spend the day exerting energy. When shopping for shoes or attending a shoe fitting, stress the importance of finding shoes like these by asking for breathable options. You can also look for shoes made with GORE-TEX fabric, which repels moisture while letting water vapour from sweat exit the shoe. Looking For More Info on Plantar Warts? We know that athletes are at risk of developing plantar warts, but did you know children are also vulnerable? If you're a concerned parent, check out this blog on managing plantar warts in children.

February 27, 2023

The Impact of Poor Foot Health

Poor foot health can significantly impact a person's everyday life. It can not only be painful and uncomfortable, but it could also be costly, lead to skin and fungal infections or foot conditions, and be generally unpleasant. Poor foot health can mean several things, including: A lack of foot hygiene. Ignoring aches and pains. Wearing unsuitable shoes (whether it's the type or sizing). Skipping regular checkups. Any individual or combination of habits can contribute to poor foot health. The absence of proper foot health may lead to minor conditions that could manifest into more severe foot conditions. In this article, get the inside scoop on how poor foot health can contribute to the following issues: Pain and Discomfort Foot and Skin Infections Limitations in Footwear Choices Added Costs Reduced Mobility Affects on Physical appearance/aesthetics We'll also give you our top tips for how to prevent these issues and keep your feet in tip-top shape. 1. Pain and discomfort First and foremost, poor foot health can be painful and cause discomfort. Pain is a symptom of poor foot health that cannot be ignored. Walking, running, or physical activity can become arduous and uncomfortable. The source of the pain may be any number of skin or musculoskeletal foot conditions. Poor foot health can lead to painful skin conditions, including blisters, calluses, ingrown toenails, and cracked heels. Skin conditions are generally quicker to develop and may be more manageable. Additionally, poor foot health can lead to short- and long-term musculoskeletal foot conditions, including bunions, hallux rigidus, osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, gout, and more. Both skin and musculoskeletal foot conditions can be painful and uncomfortable. Pain and discomfort from poor foot health not only affects the feet. After all, the feet are our body's foundation. If you have poor foot mechanics, you may begin to compensate in other parts of your body. For instance, poor foot mechanics can misalign your pelvis, causing lower back pain. 2. Foot and skin infections Poor hygiene and neglect to clean and care for your feet can lead to infections such as athlete's foot, which can be painful and spread to other body parts. Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that targets the skin on the feet, especially between the toes. Fungi called dermatophytes, which thrive in warm and moist environments, such as inside shoes or public showers, cause the condition. Proper foot health to help prevent foot infections includes keeping the feet dry, avoiding being barefoot in public places, and not sharing linens or shoes with others. 3. Limitations in footwear choices Poor foot health can cause deformities and inconsistencies in your feet. Irregular foot shapes can make it more challenging to wear standard footwear for work, at home, or for exercise. Foot conditions like corns, calluses, and bunions can cause outgrowths. Outgrowths, whether bony or skin, may change the shape and size of your feet. This limits the types of shoes a person can wear, reducing their options for comfortable and stylish footwear. 4. Added costs You may find that you're spending more money due to doing less. That's right. Inaction in the form of poor foot health or hygiene can be costly in the long run. You may need new footwear, require physiotherapy, or find you spend more on medication. The best treatment is prevention. In more severe cases, you may require surgery, forcing you to take time off work and being unable to drive during your recovery period. For bunion surgery, for instance, it's recommended not to drive for 6-8 weeks if you have surgery on your right foot. 5. Reduced mobility Poor foot health can impact a person's mobility in a restrictive way. The onset of various foot conditions can make standing, walking, running, or engaging in physical activity more difficult. Reduced mobility can also lead to a cycle of inactivity. A lack of physical activity can further exacerbate foot conditions like gout as joints and muscles seize up over time. 6. Affects on Physical Appearance/Aesthetics Poor foot health can be a sight for sore eyes. Many foot conditions and injuries are visible, which can make you may feel less comfortable barefoot, especially in public. For instance, fungal infections and thick and discoloured toenails may be visually unappealing. You may notice decreased confidence or greater self-consciousness if you experience poor foot health. How to prevent poor foot health: 10 tips Now that you know that poor foot care can impact your quality of life, what can you do? Fortunately, preventing poor foot health, or building healthy feet, is simple if you put some work into it. Investing in your feet is the most effective way to prevent poor foot health. Prevention means following positive foot care habits like regular toenail trimming and moisturizing. It can also mean scheduling regular foot assessments or buying the proper footwear. Here are our top 10 tips to prevent poor foot health: Wear comfortable and suitable shoes. First and foremost, wear shoes that fit well and are comfortable. Avoid high heels or shoes with pointed toes for extended periods. Practice good hygiene habits. Keep your feet clean and dry. Wash them regularly with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly after bathing or showering. Moisturize your feet. Use a good quality foot cream to moisturize your feet and prevent cracking. Care for your toenails. Keep your toenails trimmed and filed to prevent ingrown toenails. Stretch your feet. Stretch your feet and toes regularly to improve flexibility and prevent foot problems. Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help improve circulation and keep your feet healthy. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight can add strain to your feet, so it helps to maintain a healthy weight. Avoid smoking. Smoking can reduce circulation to your feet, making it harder for them to heal if injured. Wear appropriate socks. Wear socks that fit well and wick away moisture to prevent fungal infections and blisters. Schedule regular checkups. See a chiropodist regularly to check your feet for any problems and get professional advice on foot care.

January 30, 2023

Managing Plantar Warts in Children: A Guide for Parents

As a parent, your children's health is a top priority. When it comes to their feet, it may be trickier to tell whether anything is wrong. Our feet are often covered; even then, certain conditions can be tricky to recognize. Plantar warts can be a painful and unsightly problem, especially in children. But don't worry - you're not alone as a parent. Fortunately, plantar warts aren't severe. Most of the time, there is no cause for concern. Several effective treatment methods exist for children and teenagers, who are particularly susceptible to getting plantar warts. Many types of warts exist. They can also target various parts of the body. Wart variations include common warts, flat warts, mosaic warts, filiform warts, and plantar warts. Warts on the feet are the focus of this article. In this blog article, our medical team provides a complete guide for parents to recognize, prevent, and effectively treat plantar warts in children. With this guide, there's no need to let plantar warts interfere with your child's active lifestyle. What are plantar warts? Plantar warts are viral skin infections that grow on the feet's underside. HPV (human papillomavirus) causes plantar warts. HPV can infiltrate the body through skin contact, sometimes via a cut or break in the skin on foot. It's important to note that only certain types of HPV cause plantar warts. After all, there are 100+ types of the virus. (The HPV strain responsible for plantar warts differs from the HPV that targets the reproductive tract.) Plantar warts get their name because of their location (plantar is another word for the sole of the foot). The warts are small, flat, and hard circular growths. Plantar warts resemble a corn, callus or blister but may also contain tiny black spots. Bearing weight (like when you walk or run) adds pressure to the wart. The added pressure against the bottom of your foot causes the wart to grow inward. Thus, walking or standing on warts may also hurt. In response, your body builds a layer of skin on top of the wart to try to protect itself. This skin buildup resembles a callus. Plantar warts are not a skin condition specific to the youth. Anyone can get plantar warts. They are not a severe health condition and may go away independently, especially in children under 12. However, they are contagious. It's best to treat plantar warts as soon as possible to prevent spreading to other body parts. If left untreated, warts can last a few months to two years in children. How do children get plantar warts? Children get plantar warts by catching a specific type of HPV. The virus enters the body through direct contact between the skin and an infected surface. Since viruses thrive in warm, moist areas, shared spaces like spas, hot tubs, pools, or showers put children at risk. Not everyone who catches the HPV strain gets plantar warts. Your immune system may be able to fend off the attack. If not, a plantar wart may surface. Are children more likely to get plantar warts? Yes, children and teenagers are more likely to get plantar warts than adults. According to the National Library of Medicine, various studies show that up to 33% of children and teenagers have warts. Between 3-5% of adults, by comparison, have warts. Children and teenagers may be more likely to get plantar warts because of their environment. For instance, children and teenagers often use communal showers at pools or in locker rooms. If one child has a plantar wart, they may spread the virus to others. In some cases, children and teenagers may also get plantar warts due to a weakened immune system. How can a parent help a child get rid of plantar warts? A parent has several treatment options for their child if the child gets plantar warts. One is to allow plantar warts to go away on their own. Warts sometimes disappear in a few weeks or a few months on their own. During this period, parents should take precautions to avoid children spreading plantar warts to other body parts and people. But warts can be uncomfortable (and aesthetically displeasing), and may persist or even spread and multiply. In these instances, a parent or child may desire more immediate action. Fortunately, that's doable. A chiropodist or foot doctor can provide wart removal treatments. For children, parents may prefer less invasive treatment methods. We've ranked various treatment methods from less intrusive to more intrusive. Prescription Topical Solutions Cryotherapy Cantharone/Cantharone Plus Needling Excision How do I prevent my children from getting plantar warts? The key as a parent is to limit your child's exposure to HPV when in shared spaces. Fortunately, there are many measures you can take. Provide your child with sandals at school, the pool, or practice. Limiting their time barefoot in a locker room, a shower, or on deck at the pool can reduce their chances of catching HPV. Encourage healthy foot hygiene. Use positive reinforcement and teach your child to keep their feet clean and dry. Do not use instruments like pumice stones or nail files if previously used on a wart. Inspect your child's feet. Minor cuts or cracks in the skin put your child at greater risk of catching the plantar wart-causing virus. Apply a bandage or waterproof plaster on the area to reduce their exposure If your child partakes in activities requiring them to be barefoot, like gymnastics or dance, cover any warts with a bandage to preventspreading to other children.

December 29, 2022

Cracked Heels and What to Do

Dry, cracked heels are a burden that several people suffer with. And as winter progresses and summer feels like a faraway dream, many people are on the look out for the perfect cracked heels remedy. But first, it's important to learn why cracked heels occur in the first place. Understanding this skin condition is the first step towards successful treatment and pain-free winter adventures! Today's blog will answer: What are cracked heels? What causes cracked heels? What are some cracked heels remedies? What Are Cracked Heels? Cracked heels, sometimes called heel fissures, develop when the bottom of your heels become hard and dry, splitting open the skin. Cracked heels may also stem from having excessive, thick calluses. As other symptoms progress, like flaking and crusting of the skin, dry cracked heels can become much more than a cosmetic issue. And while they don't often enter serious foot condition territory, deep cracked heels may start bleeding and cause severe pain, making it extremely difficult to move freely. What Causes Cracked Heels? You may assume that because you rarely go barefoot, that your heels shouldn't crack. But a variety of outside elements and risk factors can make your heels more vulnerable. Common Causes of Cracked Heels Cold weather: The cold temperatures and dry air you experience in winter are a recipe for cracked heel development. Removing your socks from the skin on your heels can feel like velcro, and you may find "foot dandruff" residue on your black socks as well. Wearing Ill-fitting footwear: The fat pad, or cushioning, under your heel will take on sufficient damage if you stand on your feet for long periods while wearing shoes with very minimal heel support. Wear flip-flops in the summer: Similarly, this can set you up for a worsening condition when winter rolls around. Using harsh soaps: This can strip away the skin's natural oil barriers, which can lead to dryness and eventually, cracked heels. The winter months can exacerbate this issue since people want to take long, hot baths more often. Cracked Heels: Risk Factors Age: Skin loses natural elasticity with age. Obesity: Holding extra weight can lead to excessive pressure on the heels. Having diabetes or a thyroid disorder: When diabetes damages the nerves in the feet, it can cause your feet to produce insufficient sweat, causing dryness. Hypothyroidism can cause a hormonal imbalance, leading to cracked heels. Cracked Heels Remedies Now that you know how this pesky condition started, it's time to find the cracked heel remedy that works best for you! Your best bet will be utilizing a combination of the following treatments: Moisturize Without moisturizing your feet, you won't be able to fully solved your cracked heels issue. Use products (oil-based balms and foot creams) with skin softening agents (urea is one of the most common), as these can boost the skin's natural moisture production and rid your feet of dead skin. For the best results, moisturize your feet twice a day, after showering or bathing. Check out this blog for more details on the best products for moisturizing your heels! Lifestyle Changes Sometimes a little goes a long way, and the perfect cracked heels remedy includes making changes. Try a complete footwear overhaul, which includes ditching shoes with little to no heel support and investing in supportive footwear. You can also try over-the-counter insoles that provide extra heel support. You should also exfoliate your feet and buff them with a foot file. However, make sure you do this as part of a routine and not just to rid yourself of current cracked heels. And lastly, switch from harsh, scented soaps to gentle, relatively scent-free products and assess what products you may be allergic. See Your Chiropodist Your trusted foot specialist can not only remove calluses on the feet, but they have extensive knowledge on foot care products and which ones would be best for you. Your chiropodist can also work to offload pressure on your heels, allowing the cracked to heal and close.

December 15, 2022

Foot Care Gift Guide 2022

Holiday shopping can feel like a daunting ordeal that takes away from the fun. Your list is long, and you don't have ideas for some people --- which is okay! But it doesn't have to cause so much stress. When you're stuck on what gift to get for your grandparents, friends, and other relatives, medical gifts may inspire you more than you realize. The health and wellness industry is known for producing excellent products, opening your mind to many gift options. Gifts that promote foot health can help those with debilitating foot issues. But they can also help prevent foot conditions before they develop. And they're simply fun to use. We're talking foot creams, scrubs, and other luxurious products fit for a spa session! The gifts we'll discuss today focus on skincare; they shine on their own and work well as stocking stuffers. But the best way to gift products from a foot care clinic is by compiling a foot care gift set! It's fun to try more than one product, and it gives loved ones the tools for a great self-care day. Let's take a look at our top picks! Foot Care and Medical Gifts: Gift Guide 2022 Below is a general overview of the products in our gift guide. But don't worry, we'll cover all the details. Bath products Scrubs, creams, and deodorants Leg balms Dermal therapy heel care Foot Bath Products Products like Gehwol's Revitalizing Bath Salt and their Refreshing Foot Bath are underrated and affordable medical gifts. They're suitable for people of all ages and help loosen and soothe dry skin. But they do even more for the body than you may realize. First, foot bath products combined with hot water help promote healthy blood flow, which can relieve pain from foot conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions, etc. They can also warm your overall body temperature, which alleviates muscle tension, reduces stress, and may help prevent sickness or fight flu symptoms by strengthening your natural immunity (perfect for the winter!). Helpful tip: It's best to start a spa session by bathing your feet, as it leaves a clean base for exfoliation and moisturizing by washing away bacteria and dirt. Scrubs, Creams and Deodorants Foot Scrubs Many bath products prep the feet for exfoliation by softening the skin. But gifting someone an additional exfoliation product will take your medical gift game to the next level. Exfoliation tools prevent itchy, flaky dead skin from building up while simultaneously unclogging your pores. Gehwol's Soft Feet Scrub is a nice gift choice. Moreover, you can toss an affordable foot file into your gift box to buff the skin. Foot Creams To restore the skin's natural barrier functions, you should always moisturize after soaking and exfoliating. Gehwol's Soft Feet Cream, Universal Foot Cream, and Med Lipidro Cream are just a few examples of medicinal moisturizers that work wonders. So why not gift them to someone you love? They'll get to enjoy smooth skin and fewer cracks and calluses. If your loved one already has severely painful cracked heels, try gifting them Gehwol's Med Salve for Cracked Skin or Dermal Therapy Heel Care instead. Foot Deodorants Deodorants are useful to have on hand. Moreover, they fit in nicely with a foot care gift set but can also hold their own amongst other stocking stuffers. Regarding health benefits, foot deodorants (sprays, powders, etc.) can fight foot odour and target plantar hyperhidrosis (excessive foot sweating). The latter is extra common in winter as we stuff our feet into warm winter boots. Leg Balms Many of our elderly loved ones suffer from lower leg issues and have mobility problems. Likewise, if your grandparents struggle to move freely, it can lead to neglect, and problems like skin irritation and severe blood flow restriction can arise. A good gift for grandparents is a high-quality leg balm. Gehwol's Leg Balm prevents leg ailments, slows skin aging, and can even strengthen your veins. Gehwol's Fusskraft Leg Vitality also refreshes tired legs. But again, don't assume medical gifts are just for your grandparents. Many young people credit Gehwol's leg products for helping with tired achy legs after a long day. While this product doesn't necessarily scream "spa day," it still works as a part of a general foot care routine. So feel free to include it in a gift box or use it as a standalone present for someone who will cherish it. Dermal Therapy Heel Care Hopefully, it's becoming clear that medical gifts can be more valuable than gifts that sit around collecting dust. And Dermal Therapy Heel Care is one of, if not the best, medicinal products. Cracked heels have the potential to burden everyone, from your best friend to your grandmother --- dry skin doesn't discriminate! Severely cracked heels can make walking almost unbearable and cause swelling, inflammation, and bleeding. So if you're catching wind that someone you love is suffering, why not brighten their holidays by gifting them some relief? Dermal Therapy helps skin cells deep below the surface absorb and lock in moisture, which fights cracked heels. This cream is a moisturizer and exfoliator that removes dead cells, revealing fresh, young skin.

December 12, 2022

Medical Gift Guide 2022

This holiday season, let's consider healthcare during our shopping trips. Medical gifts are often on the wish lists of people we love, like our grandparents or even our doctors and medical student friends. They want useful gifts that not only ease foot pain and provide comfort, are also special for folks who like to showcase their foot health knowledge and care about preventing foot conditions. But maybe you don't know where to start as you hunt for a healthy gift. That's where we come into the picture! Feet First Clinic has curated the ultimate medical gift guide with a special focus on foot health. These goodies are affordable and can be stocking stuffers or larger gifts. Useful Medical Gifts for Foot Care and Wellness Here are some great finds in our holiday gift guide: Shoes, shoes, and more shoes Medical compression stockings Orthopedic slippers Therapeutic massage balls Superfeet insoles Foot files Gehwol products Shoes, Shoes, and More Shoes For the loved one who is infamous for buying ill-fitting footwear. Show someone you care by investing in a long-lasting pair of shoes that provide comfort and the right support. Of course, it can be tricky to surprise someone without knowing how a shoe will fit, so you can offer to take your loved one on a shopping trip and treat them to a proper shoe fitting. At the end of the session, they'll leave with a great new pair of runners, winter boots, or another type of shoe they need. To ensure you snag the right shoes to gift someone, consider this trusty shoe-shopping checklist! Medical Compression Stockings For the loved one going through pregnancy or struggling with edema-related(swelling) conditions. There is a lot of misinformation about compression stockings. Some claim that they're only suitable for seniors, they cut off blood circulation, and they're bulky and ugly. But they couldn't be more wrong! Compression stockings are great for young people too! They stimulate blood flow and are super stylish! Compression stockings help pregnant women and those suffering from foot swelling, and they're a great idea for frequent travellers and people who stand all day long at work. They're also great for athletes who need an oxygen boost for their muscles. They're a wonderfully versatile gift. To arrange this type of gifting, instruct your loved one to attend a complimentary fitting and then cover the cost when the stockings arrive. Orthopedic Slippers For the loved one who wants some extra support and coziness at home. Orthopedic slippers are a fun gift that would make almost anybody happy simply because they feel so soft and comforting. As a bonus, they can also increase blood circulation, help with spinal issues and lower back pain, and reduce the risk of sustaining an injury from a fall. You can have some fun shopping for supportive slippers. Some come with furry collars and several colours to choose from. There are also broad selections for both men and women. Check out this blog to learn why these slippers are a great medical gift idea! Therapeutic Massage Balls For the loved one struggling with pain at the bottom of their feet. This tiny ball works wonders and is the perfect stocking stuffer. You can also include them in a foot care gift box if you'd like them to be a part of a major gift! They're an accompaniment to several foot exercises (use them instead of tennis balls), and regularly using them can make a big difference in your loved one's quality of life. Specifically, therapeutic massage balls help loosen tense muscles on the bottom of your feet. You can also use them to help with back and neck pain as they work out knots and boost blood circulation. Superfeet Insoles For the loved one looking for extra support to accommodate their footwear. As far as medical gifts go, Superfeet insoles are a wonderful route to take. The general use of their most popular colour, green, is to provide extra support for people with flat feet, plantar fasciitis and other types of foot pain. They're also great at ensuring your footwear fits more snugly. But if you have a loved one with more specific needs, worry not! Superfeet produces several insoles with colours that indicate how they stand out. For example, Superfeet Berry is made specifically for women and comes with a slimmer heel and an arch length to fit the proportions of the female foot. And Superfeet Black is a versatile, low-profile option for people with flat feet. And that's just the beginning! Foot Files For the loved one who likes to practice a solid foot care routine. You can gift someone a foot file as a stocking stuffer or as part of a gift box (throw in some Gehwol products and a massage ball for the perfect foot care selection!). But why do we need them? Foot files remove hard, scaly dead skin from the bottom of the foot, making them feel silky smooth. The perfect tool for concluding a luxurious at-home foot care session, you should give them some consideration as you shop for medical gifts. Gehwol Products For the loved one who embraces skincare. Gehwol is known for its abundance of high-quality foot creams, sprays and powders. They also make lovely bath foams and revitalizing bath salts for tired, achy feet. You can gift someone one product as a stocking stuffer or try creating a gift bundle with some variety. Here's a great example of a Gehwol gift bundle: Gehwol's Fusskraft Herbal Foot Bath Gehwol's Med Salve for Cracked Skin Gehwol's Foot and Shoe Deodorant Gehwol's Med Lipidro Cream

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Foot Care Gift Guide 2022

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