Your feet talk a lot about your health and they can show you if you need more care for your body and your feet. There are some common foot problems which can make it difficult for you to have the overall healthy life and body.

Athlete's Foot

This is a fungal infection which cause dry, scaly, red skin between the toes. The area may itch and burn. It is seen more during summer time because fungus thrives in warm and moist environments.

To prevent it you will need to wear light, monster wicking, synthetic socks. If you run, you should change out of your soggy socks and shoes and wear dry shoes. You should also air out your sweaty socks. It is better to sprinkle some antifungal powder on your feet before running.

Chafing

Skin to skin and skin to clothing rubbing can result in chafing, that shows up as a red, raw rash. It can bleed, sting and make you cringe in paying especially when you take a shower. Water, moisture or salt on the body make it worse. It is generally seen in underarms, inner thighs, along the bra line and nipples.

To prevent it, you need to wear moisture wicking, tag less and seamless gear. If your sports bra is too snug, or if you are wearing a baggy shirt, they can cause chafing. You can apply Vaseline, sports lube, Band-Aid, nipguards before you start your running sessions. Once you take shower after such a session, you should apply moisturiser on your skin. Keep your skin moisturise to avoid chafing risk.

Blisters

Blisters may appear as an injury after running or they may also show up because of some foot infection. These are fluid filled bubbles which happen because of friction, and excessive moisture. It happens when you wear a shoe that is too small, too big or tied too tight.

To prevent blisters, you need to buy properly fitted running shoes. It is possible that your feet can expand a half size over a day, you should shop for shoes in the late afternoon or evening. If you have not been running for some time, before you start running in the same old pair of shoes, you should see whether it fits you perfectly or not. As you age your feet flatten and lengthen and so you may have to go up a size. If you see toe blisters, you should wear toe socks. For immediate relief, you can put Vaseline, sports lube and bandages over blister prone spots. \

Runner's toes

This is another common foot problem. Many people who run including marathoners and ultra-runners, suffer from this problem. They often have discoloured toenails. The more miles you run, the more likely you are to bruise your nails. If you're wearing too small shoes or if you're running downhill often, it can cause your toes to slam into the front of your shoes and that can cause this problem. In some cases biomechanics can also be a factor of causing this problem. Some runners pull their toes up while running, which can cause toenail irritation. If you have unstable big toe joint, then also it can result in runner's toes in your case.

To prevent this common foot problem, you should wear properly fitted shoes. You should also trim your nails regularly because long nails can get injured more easily.

References

1. Treat Your Feet: Exercises to Treat And Prevent Common Foot Ailments
2. Foot Health
3. Foot Pain and Problems