Foot & Ankle Care for Victoria & Vancouver Island

While not life threatening, athlete’s foot infections and corns can be painful and cause problems with shoe fitting, walking and daily activities.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects the skin of the foot. Symptoms include itching and burning, the formation of small blisters, inflammation and cracked, scaly skin between the toes.

Athlete's foot is caused by the tinea fungus, which you can pick up by having contact with a person who already is infected or from walking on damp floors in public showers or locker rooms. Men are more likely to develop athlete's foot than women, and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of contracting it.

Most cases of athlete’s foot can be cured by keeping your feet clean and dry, wearing cotton socks that are changed daily, and treating the infection with over-the-counter or prescription medications and drugs. In severe cases antibiotics may be prescribed to combat secondary bacterial infections that can develop as a result of scratching infected skin.

Corns

Corns are similar to calluses in that both are made up of the same material (keratin) and both are caused by localised pressure, such as wearing shoes that are too tight or too narrow to accommodate your foot. However, corns can also form between toes, on the top surface of toes, or on the soles of the feet as a result of poor alignment of the bones in the feet.

Corns can be successfully treated by a podiatrist when both the symptom and the cause are addressed. After first removing the corn, your podiatrist will determine what caused the corn to form and then offer advice on how to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

If you are bothered by athlete’s foot, corns, or any other foot condition, Dr. Doug Lamb can help. Contact our office today for professional advice and management and treatment options.