January Question - What to do about cracked feet (heel fissures)? Cracked heels are a common foot problem that are often referred to as heel fissures. Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin (xerosis), and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel is thick (callus). For most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem but when the fissures or cracks are deep, they are painful to stand on and the skin can bleed - in severe cases this can become infected. Go to the link below for excellent advice about cracked heels.

Introduction to ePodiatry: Comprehensive data base of all aspects of Podiatric medicine and surgery. Suitable for podiatry students, clinicians, researchers and podiatric educators. New additions made daily. Over 5000 articles indexed.

February Question - What does a foot corn and foot callus look like? Corns appear as a horny thickening of the skin on the toes. This thickening appears as a cone shaped mass pointing down into the skin. Hard corns are usually located on the outer surface of the little toe or on the upper surface of the other toes, but can occur between the toes. A soft corn occurs between the toes and are kept soft by the moisture in this area. A callus is more diffuse area of thickening and does not have the focal point of the corn.

March Question - What disease accounts for the most foot amputations due to foot ulcers in the US? According to published studies, some 2.4 million diabetes patients, representing 15 percent of Americans afflicted with the disease, will develop a serious foot ulcer during their lifetime. Repetitive trauma or pressure that goes unnoticed due to sensory neuropathy can produce calluses that, without proper attention, eventually progress to ulcers. Chronic ulcers can become seriously infected if they are unnoticed or untreated. As a result, some 80,000 foot amputations are performed every year in the U.S. on patients with diabetes.

Early detection of risk factors associated with ulcer formation, therefore, is essential in the overall management of diabetic patients and can significantly reduce the incidence of ulcers and eventual amputation. Prompt and aggressive treatment of foot ulcers can prevent worsening and help accelerate healing. Diligent self care also is a key component for early detection.

Diabetic patients should inspect their feet every day, wear shoes that fit properly and minimize pressure, and maintain their blood glucose levels within the desired range. Regular visits to a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon for removal of calluses and ingrown toenails provide an opportunity to reinforce self-care behavior and detect new or impending foot problems. Diabetic patients should not try to remove calluses by themselves.

Diabetes accounts for over 80,000 foot amputations in the US every year - something that can be easily prevented with a simple daily foot inspection!

April Question - Here you will find answers to questions like Why do my heels hurt?, How can I treat my bunions?, and What is neuropathy and what can be done about it?. Browse through our General Foot Information pages, or find information on specific foot problems in the Foot Ailment pages that show why it is important to take care of your feet.

One important way you can take great care of year feet is to be sure you go barefoot as much as possible unless you have a diabetic condition - then you should really be careful to make sure where you walk is free of sharp objects or objects that cut your feet. If you do cut your foot, you need to make sure that you take care of this immediately especially if you are diabetic. Walking barefoot allows your feet to breath and spread out.

Introduction: Here you will find answers to questions like Why do my heels hurt?, How can I treat my bunions?, and What is neuropathy and what can be done about it?. Browse through our General Foot Information pages, or find information on specific foot problems in the Foot Ailment pages. If you have a question you can't find the answer to, feel free to "Ask the Foot Dr." Below is an excellent link called FootCare Direct:

May Question (Foot Massage) - What is the best way to give or get a foot massage? What are the benefits of a foot massage?

Introduction: Find hundreds of articles on foot and leg pain, a community of patients, plus a huge lower body health store with expert advice. Click HERE to find out how more from Dr. Foot.

Foot massage is one of the most unbelievably relaxing treats that you can give yourself or others. The ultimate study of foot massage is reflexology. Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way. A trained reflexologist can put pressure on different meridians or energy lines on the sole and side of the feet to determine the cause of illness.

The information below is a guide to foot massage not foot reflexology. Some benefits of reflexology will happen automatically simply by virtue of massaging the soles of the feet but the main objective is to help tired feet feel better!

Preparation for Foot Massage

If you are giving a foot massage to your partner or friend than ensure that the massage foot is comfortably reclined on a pillow or a sofa. If you treating yourself to a foot massage than find a comfortable chair or sofa and put your foot on your lap.

Foot Massage Techniques

1. Stroking

This technique stimulates the blood vessels in your feet and promotes gentle heat. Hold the foot in your hands and begin to massage the top surface of the foot. Use your thumbs in a slow, firm stroking motion, starting at the toes and moving up to the ankle. Once you have reached the ankle follow the same line back to the toes. Make sure you apply lighter pressure towards the toes than the ankle. Repeat this 5 times and then perform the same technique to the sole of the foot.

Firstly, gentle move the ankle side to side to loosen the ankle joint. Hold the heel of the foot in a cupping motion and hold the ball of the foot with the other hand. Rotate the foot clockwise and anticlockwise 3 or 4 times to relax the foot from the ankle joint, reversing the directions will calm and de-stress your senses. Make sure you perform this technique gently.

Gently hold the foot in you hand and use the other hand to massage the sole of the foot with your thumb. Begin with the area directly below the large toe and slowly move to the other toes. After initial pressure, roll the thumb back and forth. It may be seen as wiggling the thumb. Release pressure, and move. Pivoting can be a very relaxing especially if you vary the amount of pressure being applied to the ball of the foot.

Using the thumb or finger tips to knead back and forth on the sole of the foot. Kneading uses the knuckles at the second joints. "Knead" the area like dough with large pressing, rotating movements. Remember that the foot is not as adaptable as dough, so be gentle!

Visualize the foot as a series of squares the size of the second toe (about1/2" sq.). Walk your fingers horizontally, one square to the next, and then down to the next row of squares. Massage one foot, and then the next. Begin at the big toe.

Foot Massage Oils

A soothing, gentle and, potentially sensual way to relieve exhausted and fatigued feet. Aromatherapy and therapeutic massage oils have been used for centuries for enriching and deepening the massage experience. Now you and your loved ones can easily enjoy that experience naturally, and in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Massage oils available include Stress Rub, Sensual, Joint Ease and Warming and Uplifting.

Note: One of my great services is training in oil blending and aromatherapy training workshop for my clients, health care professionals, beauticians, and spa owners to use for themselves or in their businesses. Check out my workshop section by clicking on this link.

Find hundreds of articles on foot and leg pain, a community of patients, plus a huge lower body health store with expert advice. Click on the link below to find out how more from Dr. Foot.

June Question - What do steps can I take during the summer to keep my feet and skin in great shape?

July Question - What types of foot symptoms require me to go to a foot care professional for medical help?

Introduction: New England Podiatry Associates is a group practice specializing in medical, biomechanical and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the foot. The practice was established in 1984 with the goal of providing the community with much needed expertise in foot related ailments. The practice has grown to become a 4 physician, full-scope podiatric practice. The group's doctors are board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Click Here to find out more.

Foot Care Checklist for Medical Help

If you have any of the symptoms below, you may require a medical doctor to do a foot examination.

Foot Pain
Pain, redness or swelling surrounding the toenails
Irritations on the top or sides of your toes
Bumps or swelling in the back of the heel
Pain beneath the heel bone
Red, cracked skin or white irritation between the toes
Burning pain on the top or bottom of the foot
Numbness and tingling of the toes
Ankle, calf, or shin pain
Painful corns, calluses, or bunions

It is a common MISCONCEPTION that only older people have foot problems. In reality, all age groups can be affected, whether an infant, adolescent, teenager, adult or senior citizen. A podiatric examination may make life easier to "stand."

Other common MISCONCEPTIONS about feet:

Flat feet are normal in children... False
Healthy people do not have foot problems...False
Warts are attached to bones...False
High heel shoes cause bunions...False
Broken toes do not require treatment...False
If a bone is broken, you couldn't walk on it...False
Feet are supposed to hurt...False

Adapted from New England Podiatry

August Question - What is the Marigold Treatment for bunions and does it work?

Introduction: Unidentified Blogger on Web who advocates this type of treatment. Check out their Blog site at Marigold Bunion Experiment

Marigold Treatment for Bunions

What to expect from the marigold treatment for bunions?

To be perfectly honest, I had expected a bit more from the marigold therapy. But then, maybe my expectations were set too high. I read an article about a woman who also tried this marigold treatment for bunions and who noticed a significant improvement after just one week. Unfortunately, that was not the case with me.

What is the marigold treatment for bunions exactly?
The marigold bunion treatment is a treatment based on the anti-inflammatory properties of marigold. The treatment consists of two stages:

During stage I you apply marigold paste to your bunions, cover it with a pad, and use bandages to secure the pad. At the end of the week you remove everything and repeat the process for another two or three weeks.

During the second stage you apply marigold tincture and oil to your bunions 1 to 3 times a day, take regular foot baths, wear tubifoam over your big toes for a certain period of time and perform daily exercises. Stage II takes a bit longer than stage I: up to three months.

The moment I write this page, I've just finished stage I of the treatment. I had thought wearing the pad and bandage would cause some discomfort, but that wasn't the case at all. I was even allowed to take short showers (no more than 3 minutes for the first couple of days). The pad stayed in place and dried quickly. Of course I had to wear roomy shoes during those three weeks – as you can see on the picture the pad does take up some space in your shoes!

Did I see any results? Well, hardly, but judge for yourself. (The 'before' picture is taken before I started the marigold treatment and the 'after' picture on the day I finished stage I.) It looks like there's a slight improvement, but it's certainly not dramatic. Nevertheless, I'll continue the program until I've finished stage II as well.

I have to tell you though that some people do benefit from this marigold bunion treatment a lot more than I did. The treatment has been thoroughly researched, and subjected to clinical trials. What follows is an abstract published in the July 1996 issue of the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology:

To assess the effectiveness of marigold therapy using Tagetes patula preparations, a double-blind placebo-controlled trial was designed to be carried out over a period of eight weeks. Sixty patients were entered in the trial.

Twenty patients with bilateral hallux abducto valgus and its associated condition, bunion, were randomly selected from 37 subjects for group A. For group B, 40 patients with unilateral hallux abducto valgus and bunion were randomly selected from 69 subjects and subdivided into groups Ba and Bb. Patients with ulcerated conditions, those on medication and those who had undergone surgery for the condition were excluded.

The results obtained were highly significant (P less than 0.001), suggesting that T. patula preparations, plus protective pad, were effective in reducing the width of the lesion and level of pain of hallux abducto valgus. (Source).

So even though the results I experienced myself weren't spectacular, I still think this marigold treatment for bunions is worth a try – especially when you suffer from bunion pain a lot. And it's not very expensive: I only paid £ 47 for a home treatment.

I found the best way to contact the Marigold Footcare Clinic is by phone. They don't always answer the phone, but my call was always returned when I left a message on their answering machine with my contact details. You have to be patient though: I got the impression that they've more work than they can handle. If you live in the UK, it's probably best to try to find a foot health practitioner who offers marigold therapy as a treatment for bunions.

Adapted from the Bunion Experiment