They hold up our weight and take us from one place to another. But they spend most of their time wrapped up in shoes or slippers and often do not get the attention they deserve. Taking care of your feet is a priority that should become a habit, if you want to avoid calluses, bunions and other common ailments which, while not serious, are terribly painful.

Corns and calluses
One of the most common problems with feet are corns: thick skin that develops in a spot subjected to excessive friction and which emerges from wearing inadequate or too-tight shoes. But they can also be caused by mechanical problems that cause people to walk or step the wrong way.

Corns are more frequent in older people because bone deterioration changes the structure of the foot and thus has a direct affect on the way people plant their feet and walk. Add dry skin to this and we have two factors that encourage the formation of corns. The best way to avoid this is to wear flexible shoes that support the foot but do not contract it.

As for mechanical problems, there is nothing better than seeing a podiatrist to study the morphology of the foot, observe where corns form and determine if they stem from other problems. Keeping the feet moisturized with special creams also helps alleviate this problem or even keep it from emerging. To ease discomfort temporarily you can use special shoe pads sold in pharmacies.

Feared, painful bunions
Another common foot problem is that of bunions. Here we are talking about a deformation of the big toe that gives rise to a bulge that grows outward. They have an important genetic component. Bunions does not appear overnight. Rather, they form little by little. And they are closely linked to the kind of shoes you wear: shoes that are too tight around the toes, for instance. High heels are bad as well, and maybe this is why the problem is more common among women than men.

Osteoporosis - also more common among women - metabolic ailments and degenerative osteoarthritis are other factors that worsen bunions. The good news is that they can be treated effectively with surgery that is less and less aggressive and has shorter post-operative recovery periods. They can also be treated with special insoles to keep the problem from getting worse. As with any medical problem, the treatment is more efficient and less traumatic if you undergo it sooner rather than later and when the bunion is less developed. Needless to say, the best preventive measure is to refrain from wearing high heels, as glamorous and attractive as they may be.

Other common ailments
Athlete's foot is another common ailment. It is caused by an infection from fungus, and can develop by itself on one's foot or be caught from someone else's. The chances of getting it are greater in conditions with lots of moisture and friction. People who make their feet work hard, which causes them to sweat more, or who simply sweat a lot themselves should be especially careful and watch out for any symptom of athlete's foot. To avoid it, wear shoes when you walk in wet areas that are heavily transited, such as around swimming pools and gymnasiums; wear shoes that let the feet breathe; wear cotton socks and dry you feet thoroughly after taking a bath or shower.

Basic care
Whether or not you have a problem with your feet, general foot care involves frequent washing, not in the shower but specifically targeting the feet; trimming your toenails often but never in a round shape. Straight across is better. Keep your feet moisturized and above all wear quality shoes that are flexible and do not have an excessively high heel.

It is best to wear socks made of natural fabrics and check them carefully every now and then to see if there is damage and be able to nip it in the bud. Once pain starts, treatment is always more difficult and slow.  The podiatrist is the right person for treating calluses and corns, and it is best to check with this doctor rather than start some kind of treatment on your own. Don't forget that the term all-terrain defines feet perfectly. But this does not mean they do not minimal, constant upkeep.