This may be a stereotype, but men aren’t always the greatest at taking care of themselves, including their feet. Foot care for men is important—your feet carry you around all day, and foot pain or problems can really derail your enjoyment of everyday life.
So check out my tips on foot care for men.
Men’s foot care tip #1: treat your symptoms
Men, sorry to tell you this, but you’re much better at ignoring symptoms, thinking it will go away on its own. Studies show that men are less likely to go to the doctor for all kinds of health problems. This means that minor problems can fester into worse health conditions.
We see this daily in our Sydney podiatry clinic. Some men only present for treatment when things get really bad—which means treatment can be more difficult, more painful and last for longer duration. We see corns, warts, ingrown toenails in both men and women, but the men tend to wait much longer before seeking medical attention. Fellas—get on to it sooner!
Men’s foot care tip #2: watch out for tinea
Men are more susceptible to tinea because they wear enclosed shoes with socks more often. (Women tend to wear more open-toed shoes in warmer months.) Tinea is a fungal skin infection that commonly appears on the feet. It thrives in cool moist environments, like on sweaty feet with socks. Tradies in particular tend to suffer the worst cases. Tinea is pretty unpleasant — it’s itchy, and uncomfortable and it can take weeks to disappear. So prevention is better than cure. Try these tips:
- Keep your feet dry and well aired out
- Wear thongs in communal showers to avoid transmission (tinea is contagious)
- Wear natural, moisture-wicking socks
- Change your socks daily and wash after each wear
- Dry your feet thoroughly after showing, including between each toe
- If you get tinea, don’t ignore it — it needs to be treated
Men’s foot care tip #3: avoid tight shoes
I worked in a podiatry clinic in Bondi for four years, and I lost count of the men I treated for neuroma. This is a nerve condition whereby fluid builds up in the nerves, making them thicker and swollen, and eventually causing foot pain and trouble walking. Some cases are genetic, but many are caused by wearing too-small shoes. It used to be more common in women, as they wear high heels, but nowadays many men wear tight, narrow dress shoes that cramp the feet. This can lead to foot pain. Jamming your feet into small shoes and walking all day for 15-18 hours is a recipe for foot problems down the track. So men, you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for foot health, but make sure you’re wearing shoes that fit properly.
Men’s foot care tip #4: be more careful
We definitely treat more men for feet injuries than women. Even though women expose their feet more with strappy sandals, and injure themselves with high heels, men are just more risk takers in general, leading to higher risk of injury.
For example we see very few women for sea urchin injuries. These little devils are prevalent around Sydney’s rock pools, with more than 40 species inhabiting our beaches and waterways. Men are far more likely to visit us with sea urchin injuries.
Men are also more likely to suffer from glass injuries to their feet. We often see men with nasty glass injuries, or infections arising from stepping on shards of glass and ignoring the painful symptoms.
Not to mention men who are tradies, which is a male-dominated field, tend to have more workplace injuries—steel-capped boots are a must.
Men’s foot care tip #5: prevent ingrown toenails
Because men care less about the aesthetic appearance of their feet, they can be more likely to be a bit rough or a bit slack with cutting their toenails. This can lead to ingrown toenails. Men who play sports like AFL, kickboxing and soccer are also more likely to suffer ingrown toenails as the repeated kicking motion puts pressure on the foot.
Teenage boys in particular have the highest indcidence of ingrown nails because they’re more prone to excessive perspiration, play a lot of sports and perhaps are also not the greatest at foot hygiene.
To prevent ingrown toenails:
- Trim your toenails regularly
- When trimming, avoid jagged edges that may cut into the skin
- Wear proper fitting shoes and socks, especially when playing sport
And seek treatment early, as ingrown toenails get worse if ignored.
More men’s foot care tips
- aerate your feet and don’t keep them enclosed in socks all day—when you get home from work switch to bare feet or thongs
- wear good quality socks that don’t cause sweating, try moisture-wicking fabrics like cotton or bamboo
- when you get your ski boots fitted, don’t overestimate your skiing ability, or you’ll struggle on the snowfields — it’s fine to be a beginner
- to prevent smelly feet and tinea, wash your feet properly with soap and water and dry thoroughly, in between each toe
- wear shoes that support your arches
- if you work in a trade, always wear steel-capped boots
- get regular pedicures to get the right toenail trim and take care of your feet before problems arise
- change your socks daily and wash and dry them thoroughly between wears
If you have any questions or concerns about your foot health, get in touch for a consultation with our expert podiatrists.
About the Author: This article was written by Dr. Rudo Makuyana, a senior podiatrist with over 10 years of experience practicing in Sydney, Australia. Specializing in nail conditions and foot health, Dr. Makuyana has treated thousands of patients with toenail concerns and is passionate about providing accurate information and effective treatment options.
