Many of the issues that we see in our day to day work in the clinic start off small and non-symptomatic. If they were caught at this stage, treatments could be more effective and problems stopped before anything more serious occurs. If people were examining their feet more often, and knew what to look for, these issues could be stopped in their tracks. Another problem which can occur is numbness – a condition callus peripheral neuropathy which causes the sensation in the feet to gradually diminish. This is a serious issue as you will never feel a problem, no matter how serious it is. Foot examinations are therefore essential if you have this diagnosis.
What am I looking for?
During a foot exam, you want to check every part. Start with your nails. Are the plates a healthy pink/brown colour (depending on your skin tone)? Or are there any sideways or lengthways lines of a different colour? Black/purple/red can be a bleed, probably caused by some damage, but darker brown lines can very occasionally be a risk. White or yellow lines can indicate fungus. If this is caught early enough topical treatment, instead of needing antifungal tablets, will be effective.
Check between your toes. Do you have any inflamed skin? Any cracks in the skin or maceration (the white soggy appearance like you’ve been in the bath too long)? This might be a bacterial or fungal infection. Fungus under the foot often looks like sheets of peeling skin, white dusty cracks at the heels, inflammation, and spots under the arch.
Particularly important if you have neuropathy – is your skin in tact? Are there any breaches, cuts, bleeding or foreign bodies stuck in the skin? This type of check should be undertaken every day to ensure nothing bad has occurred during the day when walking around.
If you spot anything you are unsure about, come and see us at the clinic so we can diagnose it and recommend what to do. Contact us on 01603 737188 or fill out our contact form here to arrange an appointment