As your child grows and starts to wear shoes make it a point to have their feet checked every two to four months at a reputable shoe shop.
The old method of placing a thumb at the back of your child’s foot and shoe doesn’t really cut it these days so have a expert measure the foot’s length and width ensuring there is enough room for push, growth, instep support and toe-unrolling. Remember that if your child’s shoes need to be changed then so do the size of their socks in order to ensure their feet are comfortable.
Some other common issues which you may be faced with as your child grows are athletes’ foot, blisters, in-growing toe nails and verrucas. These can be particularly common during the summer months. Below are the causes of these problems and ways you can deal with them.
A common skin condition which is more likely to occur with older children, you will usually notice a red, itchy, moist rash on the foot. Athletes’ foot can be prevented by washing feet daily, drying well, especially between the toes and absorbing any excess moisture by lightly dusting with talcum powder. It can be tricky to get rid of and is very contagious so it's best to treat with an anti-fungal spray, cream, or powder which can be bought in a chemist.
A good tip is to dust the foot area of socks, shoes, or tights with the anti-fungal powder to prevent re-infection.
A common cause of blisters are ill-fitting socks or shoes which cause the skin to break. Another cause is wearing shoes without socks during the summer months.
Use an antiseptic protective dressing to cover the sore area, or special blister plasters. If the inside of the shoe is causing blisters, try buying some special fabric padding strips which can be cut to shape and stuck in the shoe. If your child is still fairly young leave socks and shoes off to allow the blister to dry up. NEVER burst a blister as you could cause an infection.
If the sides of your child’s toenails are red and swollen they could have an ingrown toenail, which is usually caused by the incorrect cutting of the toenails. When clipping toenails, be sure to cut straight across the nail, rather than in a curve and if necessary file away any sharp edges. If your child complains of sore toenails then book an appointment with your GP.
If you notice a small wart on the bottom of your child’s foot with a black speck, or ‘root’ at the centre then this is most probably a verruca. Although they are not particularly troublesome and may eventually disappear by itself, just remember to cover with a plaster to limit spreading. If your child is going swimming, on holiday, or walking around communal areas with barefeet, it's best to treat the verucca and ensure your child is wearing a waterproof verucca sock during treatment period. Minor veruccas can be treated with anti-fungal cream, bought from a chemist. For more severe cases, freeze spraying or electro surgery are also available.
