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HEALTH&FITNESS

312

November14

FALLACIES

By Amy Greenburg

Some old wives’ tales and myths may be good for

a giggle, but certainly not when it comes to caring

for our feet. We asked podiatrists PETER BARKER

and TIMOTHY MAIDEN to share some of the most

common toenail and foot-care fallacies and fill us on

the realities.

MYTH:

Cutting a “V” in an ingrown toenail will relieve the pain.

TRUTH:

When a toenail is ingrown, the nail curves downward and

grows into the skin. Cutting a notch, or V, doesn’t affect the growth

of the toenail, as it will just continue to curve downward; in fact,

cutting a V may cause more problems and the toe may become

even more painful.

MYTH:

Shoes cause bunions.

TRUTH:

Bunions are most often related to an inherited, faulty

mechanical structure of the foot. It’s not the bunion itself that

is inherited, but certain foot types make a person prone to

developing one. Wearing shoes that crowd the toes can, over

time, make bunions more painful, but shoes themselves do not

cause bunions. Podiatrists can provide treatments to ease bunion

pain, but only surgery can correct the deformity.

MYTH:

I don’t have to put sunscreen on my feet.

TRUTH:

Skin cancer on the legs and feet actually has a high

mortality rate due to people forgetting to do skin checks on that

area. In addition, many people simply forget to apply or reapply

sunscreen to their lower extremities. Regardless of race or

ethnicity, the legs and feet are not immune to the sun’s effects;

and women have an even greater chance of developing skin

cancer than men because they often have more of their legs

exposed. The best protection is to apply sunscreen with an SPF

of at least 15 with both UVB and UVA protection, and reapply it

every few hours.

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DEBUNKED

MYTH:

Soaking feet in vinegar will cure toenail fungus.

TRUTH:

The myth that vinegar is a cure-all solution is a

common one that’s perpetuated by both physicians and

patients alike. However, vinegar can’t penetrate the layers

of the nail to get to the infection site, and without proper

treatment, the infection can spread to other nails. The best

way to get rid of fungal nails is to see a podiatrist; he or she

can see if it’s a true fungal infection, or something else.

MYTH:

Wearing flip-flops or flats and going barefoot

are good for our feet.

TRUTH:

This is a common misconception. We often hear

about problems associated with high heels, but flip-

flops and going barefoot present their own types of

problems. Flip-flips don’t provide any support and can

lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains and

tendonitis. Flats look comfortable, but closed ones can

crowd toes and cause heel pain, blisters, hammertoes

and painful bunions. Walking barefoot can also lead

to foot problems such as cuts, abrasions, bruises and

puncture wounds from foreign objects, and can make

you vulnerable to skin issues or nail injuries. It’s fine to

wear flip-flops or flats, but only for a few hours at a time.

Body With Soul

44/45 Rochester Park

6779 0660 | bodywithsoul.com

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