Taking Care of Teenage Feet
At Goldsmith Podiatry, our goal is to serve the podiatric needs of the entire family. Adolescence brings its own set of foot and ankle issues, and we’d like to educate our Manhattan patients about some areas to focus on for this age group.
Athlete’s Foot—As children move into the tween and teen years, they transition from you taking care of their hygiene needs to self-care. It’s important to tell your child how to take care of his or her feet and then to follow up and make sure they are doing so. One reason this age group is at higher risk for athlete’s foot and other fungal infections is hygiene habits. A few basics to share with your teenagers:
Wash feet daily with soap and water. Dry completely, especially between the toes.
Wear clean socks every day. Change your socks if you notice they feel damp—fungal infections thrive in moist conditions.
Alternate your shoes.
Don’t share socks, shoes, towels, and other items that touch the feet.
Wear shower shoes or flip-flops in public showers and locker rooms.
Use foot powder or antiperspirant on your feet if they sweat excessively.
Foot Fatigue/Sever’s Disease—Your teen’s level of activity plays a key role in the health of their feet. If your child is a frequent or regular participant in a sport, they may experience heel pain resulting from a condition known as Sever’s Disease. Not actually a disease, this condition occurs in youth ages 8-15 where the bone is still developing at the growth plate in the back of the heel. Repetitive stress on this area can cause painful inflammation. Rest and/or a change in shoes is usually the remedy. On the flip side, if your teen is spending lots of time “virtual” and not getting much physical activity, they may find that their feet hurt when they are active. Regular exercise and not allowing your teen to be barefoot at home all the time should help.
Accessory Navicular Syndrome—A less common condition that may be present during adolescence is this congenital defect. Patients with this syndrome have an extra bone or piece of cartilage on the inner side of their foot right above the arch. Most noticeable is during the teen years when the bones are developing, and pain and or swelling develops.
If your teen experiences any pain or unusual symptoms in their feet or ankles, be sure to make an appointment at our Upper West Side NYC office by calling (212) 877-1002. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia will examine your teen and prescribe the correct treatment.