Myths About Foot Care

Summarized by Robert W. Griffith, MD
September 28, 2007

We are grateful to Dr Samuel Nava of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons for providing this list of common myths about foot health. Robert Griffith, Editor.

Introduction

"Don't cross your eyes, they'll stay that way!" Old wives' tales and myths like that example are fun to laugh at. We believed them growing up. "Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back." But there are other myths that are no laughing matter, especially when they involve your health.

From bunions to broken toes, doctors with the 6,000-member American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) have heard it all. Here are eight myths about foot care and the realities behind them.

Myth: Cutting a notch (a "V") in a toenail will relieve the pain of ingrown toenails.

Reality: When a toenail is ingrown, the nail curves downward and grows into the skin. Cutting a "V" does not affect the growth of the toenail. New nail growth will continue to curve downward. Cutting a "V" may actually cause more problems and is painful in many cases.

Myth: My foot or ankle can't be broken if I can walk on it.

Reality: It's entirely possible to walk on a foot or ankle with a broken bone. "It depends on your threshold for pain," as well as the severity of the injury, according to Samuel Nava, DPM, FACFAS, a Dallas-based spokesman for the College. But it's not a smart idea. Walking with a broken bone can cause further damage.

It's crucial to stay off an injured foot until diagnosis by a foot and ankle surgeon. Until then, apply ice, and elevate the foot to reduce pain.

Myth: Shoes cause bunions.

Reality: Bunions are most often caused by 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 a bunion. While wearing shoes that crowd the toes together can, over time, make bunions more painful, shoes themselves do not cause bunions.

Although some treatments can ease the pain of bunions, only surgery can correct the deformity.

Myth: A doctor can't fix a broken toe.

Reality: Nineteen of the 26 bones in the foot are toe-bones. "What I tell patients is, there are things we can do to make a broken toe heal better and prevent problems later on, like arthritis or toe deformities," Nava says.

Broken toes that aren't treated correctly can also make walking and wearing shoes difficult. A foot and ankle surgeon will x-ray the toe to learn more about the fracture. If the broken toe is out of alignment, the surgeon may have to insert a pin, screw or plate to reposition the bone.

Myth: Corns have roots.

Reality: A corn is a small build-up of skin caused by friction. Many corns result from a hammertoe deformity, where the toe knuckle rubs against the shoe. The only way to eliminate these corns is to surgically correct the hammertoe condition.

Unlike a callus, a corn has a central core of hard material. But corns do not have roots. Attempting to cut off a corn or applying medicated corn pads can lead to serious infection or even amputation. A foot and ankle surgeon can safely evaluate and treat corns and the conditions contributing to them.

Myth: I can't get skin cancer on my feet.

Reality: Skin cancers can occur anywhere on the body, regardless of sun exposure. Foot and ankle surgeons recommend routine foot self exams to spot suspicious moles, freckles and other spots on your feet that show the signs of melanoma.

Myth: Duct tape can remove a plantar wart.

Reality: Although there are many folk remedies for warts, patients should be aware that these remain unproven and may be dangerous. Patients should never try to remove a wart themselves - this can do more harm than good.

Myth: Putting cotton under an ingrown toenail will relieve the pain.

Reality: Cotton placed under the nail can be harmful. It can easily harbor bacteria and encourage infection.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional society of more than 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty, and to educate the public on foot health and conditions of the foot and ankle. To search for a local foot and ankle surgeon, visit the ACFAS consumer Web site, FootPhysicians.com.

Source

• Samuel Nava, DPM, FACFAS. Foot and Ankle Care Specialist, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Related Links
Foot and Ankle Conditions
Mayo Clinic: Ingrown Toenails
Mayo Clinic: Bunions
Mayo Clinic: Corns and Calluses

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