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Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
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Common foot problems include smelly feet, athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), fungal nail infections, warts, verrucas, corns and calluses, and cracked heels. Some of these conditions are caused by fungal infections, spread by moist environments such as showers, baths changing rooms, or are associated with excessive sweating, while others are caused by pressure points on the feet and may be due to the type or fit of shoes worn.
Smelly feet
Smelly feet are usually caused by excessive perspiration and an overgrowth of fungi and/or bacteria. This also increases the risk of developing other conditions such as fungal infections of the nail and foot.
Athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a common 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, and the fungi thrive in warm, moist environments.
Fungal nail infections
Fungal nail infections, also known as tinea unguium, are often caused by the spread of athlete’s foot but can occur on their own. Your toenail looks thick and discoloured (white or yellowish) and may be brittle or crumbly and parts, or all of it, may fall off. These infections are more difficult to treat as the entire nail must grow out.
Verrucas
Verrucas, also called plantar warts, are warts found on the sole of your foot. They are made flat by the weight of your body pushing down on your foot. They may 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 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 areas of your feet subject to pressure or rubbing. Corns are smaller than calluses and develop on nonweight-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 and less painful 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.
See Your Pharmacist or Medical Professional
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
if you are elderly; you may have poor circulation, which can lead to more serious foot problems developing
if there is any bleeding from your feet
if there are any signs of infection
if you are unsure of what you have; verrucas can be confused with calluses
if you have a severe fungal nail infection that involves most of the nail
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 which are thick and will absorb any moisture
wear leather shoes or open shoes, such as sandals, to reduce sweating
apply an antiperspirant after washing
check whether the odour is caused by an infection and treat it if necessary
Athlete’s foot, infected nails, verrucas
bleach the shower and bath areas to prevent spreading and reinfection
wash socks and towels in hot water and do not share towels with other people
wear thongs in communal changing areas to prevent spreading the infection
if you have sweaty feet, use an antiperspirant to help prevent athlete’s foot developing
dry your skin thoroughly after showering or bathing, using tissues rather than towels
it is important not to pick at verrucas to prevent them spreading
Corns and calluses
wear well-fitting shoes to reduce pressure and rubbing
see a podiatrist for orthotics if it is a recurring problem
corns and calluses can be cut away by a podiatrist; do not attempt to do this yourself
Treatment Options
Smelly feet
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. aluminium chlorohydrate (Neat Feet Roll On Deodorant), aluminium chloride hexahydrate (Driclor), diphemanil methylsulphate (Prantal Powder)
e.g. Odor Eaters, Scholl Heavy Duty Odour Control range a strong antiperspirant deodorant may be rolled or sprayed on the feet to prevent 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
washing feet with a mild antiseptic soap such as triclosan (Sapoderm) may help
people with sensitive skin should avoid aluminium hexahydrate (Driclor)
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 terbinafine do kill the fungi, which means that treatment courses are shorter
athlete’s foot can be treated with terbinafine for just one week, in most cases
there are also some Pharmacist Only products available which combine an antifungal with hydrocortisone (corticosteroid) cream, e.g. Resolve Plus 1.0 (miconazole + hydrocortisone) and Hydrozole Cream (clotrimazole + hydrocortisone)
these combination products can be useful if there is severe itching
these combination products should be used for a maximum of seven days; a product containing an antifungal alone should then be used for the rest of the treatment
this antifungal treatment is painted onto the affected nails and needs to be used for many weeks to be effective; see product details for directions
Corns, calluses, verrucas and warts
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g. salicylic acid products (DermaTech Wart Treatment, Duofilm range, Scholl Removal range); podophyllum resin and salicylic acid (Posalfilin Ointment and Paint)
do not use these products on the face, moles, birthmarks or broken skin
unaffected skin surrounding the corn, wart or verruca must be protected with Vaseline or a plaster
Posalfilin Ointment or Paint should be covered with a waterproof plaster following daily application and should not be used during pregnancy, on young children or by people with diabetes
Salicylic acid products should be applied as directed in the product instructions; some conditions may need treatment for 4 to 12 weeks. These products are not suitable for people with diabetes
clean and dry the affected areas and remove dead skin with a pumice stone or emery board prior to product application
stop use immediately if pain or irritation occurs, and start again once irritation has settled down
For veruccas and warts only
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g. dimethyl-ether propane spray (Wartner Wart and Verruca Remover)
the spray freezes the core of the verruca
apply to the wart for approximately 20 seconds only
over the 10 days following treatment the verruca will gradually disappear, or fall 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
For verrucas only
[PHARMACIST ONLY]
e.g. podophyllin + salicyclic acid (Posalfilin Ointment)
this product is stronger than the liquid used for common warts
protect healthy skin around the verruca with clear nail varnish, or a plaster
apply a very small amount of ointment and cover with a waterproof plaster
repeat the process every 2 days until the verruca becomes soft and spongy, then leave it exposed to the air
the verruca should fall off after one or two days; if not, repeat treatment
do not use on bleeding verrucas, or on birthmarks or moles
if pain or inflammation occurs, stop treatment until it goes away
podophyllin must not be used during pregnancy, on young children, or by people with diabetes
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