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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
FOOT