28 things your podiatrist won’t tell you

From ingrown toenails and bunions to sprains, strains, and broken bones in the foot and ankle, there are lots of reasons you might visit a podiatrist. Your foot doctor will no doubt give you all the information you need to help with your condition, but they can cover only so much ground during an office visit.

So there’s so much more they’d like you to know about avoiding foot pain, preventing infections, and keeping your feet and toenails healthy.

Have your feet professionally measured every time you shop for shoes. Natural ageing and changes in your health can cause the size of your feet to change. Measure both feet – late in the day – and shop for the larger foot, advises podiatrist, Dr Lori Weisenfeld.

Namely, walking barefoot around the house all day. It’s leading to things like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and other types of tendinitis warns podiatrist, Dr Jane Andersen.

Podiatrist, Dr Jacqueline Sutera recommends this DIY foot soak to help clear up foot and toenail fungus, brighten nails and soften skin: combine 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and 2 tablespoons baking soda. Soak for 20 minutes a few times a week.

You use antiperspirant on your armpits to keep them from getting stinky, right? Well, the same stuff works on your feet.  Dr Andersen advises trying a spray and alternating your shoes so they have a chance to dry completely. Wear socks, as well, otherwise, the sweat will promote the growth of bacteria that stay in your shoes.

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If you want to avoid scary pedicure dangers, Dr Sutera recommends to book the first appointment of the day, when the equipment is cleaner. Those footbaths can be especially germy. Even if technicians spray the basin between customers, many of the tubs have drains and filters that don’t get cleaned.

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Why? Because bacteria and fungus can move easily from one person to the next if the salon doesn’t use proper sterilisation techniques, warns Dr Weisenfeld.

…but they aren’t going to get rid of hammertoes and bunions. Dr Sutera says that you have to visit a podiatrist for that. If you have a structural problem, a $6 device like a toe separator isn’t going to reverse anything.

These are the shoe mistakes you’re making that hurt your feet.

A well-trained staff at an athletic shoe store will help you get the right shoe for your exercise of choice. They will typically analyse your foot and gait, offering the best sneakers to fit your needs, says Dr Sutera.

Want to know how to walk properly? Here are some tips to fix your walking form.

You really shouldn’t clean your loaded gun after you’ve had a couple of beers. Another dumb move, says podiatrist Dr Marlene Reid, is mowing the lawn in flip-flops. The first weekend of every spring, doctors see a lot of injuries.