For a number of people, their feet tend to be one of the most overlooked parts of their body. This is largely because people tend to take their feet for granted as long as they are not in any discomfort. However, your feet are exposed to a significant amount of pressure on a daily basis. Thus, although quite hardy, they are also prone to developing problems. It should be noted though that not all foot problems will present themselves with pain. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly inspect your feet so you can catch any abnormalities early on and have them addressed by a podiatrist. However, how do you know what to look for? The following are some of the signs that you need to pay a visit to a podiatrist.
Visible discolourations in your feet
If you begin to notice that there are parts of your foot that have developed a different colour, then this could indicate underlying foot problems. One of the more common discolourations would be your foot turning red in some places. This redness can be a symptom of a range of ailments including calluses, bunions, gout, corns, Morton's neuroma and more. On the other hand, if you find that your foot is turning blue, it could be indicative of a problem with your blood circulation and could adversely affect the health of your foot if left unchecked. It would be prudent to pay a visit to a podiatrist the moment that you find your feet are developing odd discolourations.
Long-term sores in your feet
Injuring your foot can be commonplace, especially if you engage in regular physical activity that is strenuous. However, having to contend with a wound in your foot that is not healing could be a warning sign of something more serious. Typically, sores and wounds that fail to heal are indicative of diabetes. However, they can also come about if your body is experiencing a problem with its circulation or if you have developed an infection in the wound. It would be essential to seek medical attention from a podiatrist, who would be able to avert any potential complications that may come about by leaving the sores to fester.
Painful lumps in your feet
A lump in your foot should immediately be addressed by a podiatrist. This is because it will typically be caused by abnormal growths in your feet. Some of the reasons why these lumps may come about include the development of a cyst in your foot, plantar fibromatosis or even a tumour in the worst-case scenario.
