Foot Care
Common foot problems include smelly feet, athlete’s foot, fungal nail infections, warts, verrucas, corns and calluses, cracked heels, and blisters. Some of these conditions are caused by fungal infections, which spread easily in moist environments and via surfaces in showers, baths, changing rooms. Some can be associated with excessive sweating, while others are caused by pressure points on the feet and may be due to the type of shoes worn or how they fit.
Smelly feet
Feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body and feet can start to smell when the sweat cannot evaporate and becomes trapped inside footwear, providing a nice, warm, and moist environment for odour-producing fungi and bacteria to grow.
Some people are genetically more prone to sweaty feet (also see our topic on excessive sweating) and may need to regularly use a foot antiperspirant. Bacterial infections and Athlete's foot are also more common in people with sweaty feet, compounding the foot odour problem.
Athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of skin between the toes, which can spread further onto your foot if left untreated. It appears as patches of soft, white, cracked skin, sometimes with red areas visible underneath. Athlete’s foot may cause itching, burning or stinging and can have an unpleasant odour. It spreads via wet floors and shared footwear or towels.
Fungal nail infections
Fungal nail infections are often caused by the spread of athlete’s foot but can occur on their own. The infected nail looks thick and discoloured – white or yellowish. It may be brittle or crumbly and parts, or all of it, may fall off. The infection can take a long time to clear up properly, but filing down the nail as much as possible and applying an antifungal nail paint can usually help.
Verrucas
Verrucas are flattish warts found on the sole of your foot. They can occur in clusters and appear as a round area of thickened skin, with an uneven or slightly lumpy surface. Verrucas may look white or grey and there may be small, black dots on them. They are often painful.
Verrucas also spread via wet floors, such as changing rooms, showers, baths. They can clear up without treatment; however, this may take up to two years, which increases the risk of spreading them to others.
Corns and calluses
Corns and calluses are areas of hard, thickened skin, which build up on the areas of your feet subjected to pressure or rubbing. Corns are smaller than calluses and develop on non-weight bearing parts of your foot, such as the tops of your toes. They have a hard centre and can be very painful. Calluses are flatter than corns and are found on the soles of your feet, particularly the heel or ball of your foot.
Cracked heels
Cracked heels are common in summer when people wear sandals or go barefoot, and the skin on their feet dries out.
Blisters
Blisters can form on the feet (particularly the heels) from rubbing or friction due to poor-fitting shoes. Fluid collects between the skin layers and forms a small bubble or pocket. It is best not to intentionally burst these blisters since they protect the skin tissue underneath and allow it to heal, however they often burst by themselves.
See Your Pharmacist or Medical Professional
If you have other medical conditions that affect your circulation, or if the person with the foot problem is a child you should always talk to a pharmacist. Also talk to the pharmacist if:
You have diabetes – you may have reduced feeling and/or poor circulation in your feet, and can be more at risk of developing ulcers or infections
You are elderly – you may have poor circulation, which can lead to more serious foot problems developing
There is any bleeding from your feet, especially with cracked heels
Several nails on your feet have evidence of infection
A similar problem is affecting other parts of your body (such as your face or scalp, or fingernails)
Your foot problem is affecting your ability to walk
You have a blister that looks very red or there are signs of pus
You are unsure of what foot problem you have – verrucas can be confused with calluses
You are over 50 and this is the first time you have experienced a verrucae
You have tried treatment in the past without success.
Treatment Tips
Smelly feet
Wash feet twice daily and dry thoroughly with a clean towel, particularly between your toes
Change your socks daily – choose cotton ones
Wear leather shoes or open shoes, such as sandals, to reduce sweating
Use an antiperspirant designed for feet if you are prone to sweaty feet
Check whether the odour is caused by an infection such as athlete's foot and seek treatment if necessary.
Athlete’s foot, infected nails, verrucas
Bleach the shower/bath area to prevent spreading and reinfection
Wash socks and towels in hot water
Wear jandals in communal changing areas to prevent spreading the infection
If you have sweaty feet, use an antiperspirant to help prevent athlete’s foot developing.
Corns and calluses, blisters
Wear well-fitting shoes to reduce pressure and rubbing
Pad corns and calluses with moleskin or thin podiatry felt if uncomfortable
Corns and calluses can be cut away by a podiatrist – do not attempt to do this yourself.
Cracked heels
Inspect feet daily and apply a moisturising cream 2-3 times daily at the first sign of cracking
Use a pumice stone to remove any rough skin before applying moisturiser
If no improvement is seen after a week of self-treatment, seek treatment from a podiatrist.
Treatment Options
Always discuss treatment options with a pharmacist to ensure the best outcome.
Smelly feet
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g., Gran’s Remedy Powder, Odor Eaters, Prantal Powder, Neat Feet Roll-On Foot Deodorant, Nodour Foot odour, QV Foot Sure, Scholl Odour Attack
A strong antiperspirant deodorant may be rolled or sprayed on the feet – this prevents feet sweating
When using a roll-on deodorant, do not use the same container for feet and underarms as this can spread infection
Powder may be put onto the feet or into socks
Cushioned inner soles containing charcoal may also be effective.
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) - topical antifungals
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g., Mycota cream or powder
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g., Canesten Bifonazole Once Daily, Canesten range, Daktagold, Daktarin range, Lamisil range (including Cream, Dermgel, Jock Itch, Spray, Lamisil Once), Pevaryl range, SolvEasy Tinea Cream 1%
Topical antifungals are available as creams, gels, liquids, spray powders and powders – ask your pharmacist which product is most suitable for you
Most antifungal products stop the growth of fungi but do not kill them
Continue treatment for at least 14 days after the area has healed, because the body needs to shed the infected skin for complete eradication of the fungi
Products such as Lamisil (terbinafine) do kill the fungi, meaning treatment courses are shorter
Athlete’s foot can be treated with terbinafine for just one week, in most cases
There are also products available [Pharmacist Only] which combine an antifungal with hydrocortisone (steroid) cream, such as Daktacort (miconazole + hydrocortisone)
These combination products can be useful if there is severe itching
These combination products should be used for a maximum of two weeks – then a product containing an antifungal alone should be used for the rest of the treatment.
Mycota powder can be used to prevent athlete’s foot from recurring – sprinkle into socks and shoes each day.
Fungal nail infection
[PHARMACIST ONLY]
e.g., Batrafen nail lacquer, Loceryl nail lacquer
These are antifungal treatments which are painted onto the affected nails. They need to be used for many weeks to work properly – see products for directions
If several nails are infected, consider talking to your doctor about oral antifungal treatment.
Corns, calluses, verrucas and warts
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g., Carnation Corn Caps, Duofilm range, Scholl Removal range
Do not use these products on moles, birthmarks or broken skin
The ingredients in these products also erodes normal skin, so unaffected skin surrounding the corn, wart or verruca must be protected with Vaseline or a plaster
Apply as directed on product instructions – some conditions may need treatment for four to 12 weeks
Stop use immediately if pain or irritation occurs, and start again once irritation has settled down
These products are not suitable for people with diabetes.
For veruccas and warts only
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g., Wartner Wart and Verruca Remover
The spray freezes the core of the verruca
Over the 10 days following treatment the verruca will gradually disappear, or fall off
The treatment may need to be repeated once after 15 days if the verucca or wart has not fallen off
Do not use on bleeding verrucas, or on birthmarks or moles
Not to be used by people with diabetes, during pregnancy or on children under four years old.
Cracked heels
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g., Alpha Keri Heel Balm, Du'it Foot & Heel Balm, Ellgy Plus Cracked Heel Cream, Eulactol Heel Balm range, QV Heel Balm
Use regularly to prevent cracked heels and for treatment, should they occur
Wearing socks after applying the heel cream may speed recovery.
Blisters
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g., Compeed Blister packs
Provide pain relief and speed up blister healing
Protect the blister from further rubbing.
Natural/herbal products/supplements
e.g., bitter orange, garlic, tea-tree oil, distilled vinegar, silica
Bitter orange, garlic and tea-tree oil have all been used in the treatment of athlete's foot
Tea-tree oil and vinegar may be helpful in the treatment of fungal nail infections but must be applied regularly
Oral or topical silica can help with cracked heels.
More Information
Availability of medicines
GENERAL SALE available through pharmacies and possibly other retail outlets.
PHARMACY ONLY available for sale through pharmacies only.
PHARMACIST ONLY may only be sold by a pharmacist.
Consumer Medicine Information on some medicines is available at the government website www.medsafe.govt.nz
