Genetically speaking, my dad has given me a lot of good stuff. I’m tall, with blue eyes and clear skin. There are also things that I’m less than thrilled by, like his curly hair and short temper. But there’s one little genetic gift that I’m quite glad I didn’t get—hammertoes. One look at those gnarly phalanges is enough to make even a family member cringe.
Women are particularly plagued by foot problems, possibly from wearing high heels. But regardless of sex, there are a lot of funky problems that can befall our feet. They may keep podiatrists in business, but for those who have to suffer with these ailments, it’s no cakewalk.
Bunions
These troubling protrusions are among the most common foot problems. Bunions develop when the bone on the side of the foot near the big toe enlarges and grows outward. Bunions are usually accompanied by a misalignment of the big toe, which causes it to grow sideways toward the second toe. Bunions get progressively worse and are usually a result of improper foot function, or an effect of an anatomical characteristic like flat feet. They tend to run in families, so many podiatrists believe there is a genetic component to bunions. Not only can bunions be painful, but they can also make it difficult to find shoes that fit, so many sufferers choose to have surgery to realign the enlarged bone with the crooked toe.
When a bunion occurs on the outside of the foot, near the fifth toe, it’s called a “bunionette,” or “Tailor’s bunion.” Bunionettes have the same causes—a misaligned toe and an enlarged bone—but luckily they are a bit smaller.
Plantar Warts
They may not threaten overall health, but they are uncomfortable and can be very difficult to get rid of. Plantar warts are small, fleshy bumps with small black pinpoints that occur on the soles of the feet as the result of exposure to a strain of human papillomavirus. The black specks are actually small, clotted blood vessels, and not “wart seeds,” as some old wives’ tales speculate. The virus that causes plantar warts thrives in warm, moist environments and places like public showers and locker rooms are the prime places to pick it up. Everyone’s immune response is different, so only some people contract the virus. Even so, it’s wise to take precautions while walking barefoot in communal locker rooms, swimming pools, and showers. Teenagers seem to be particularly susceptible to plantar warts, making gym class an even more traumatic experience than it already is.
