Your feet are complex and sensitive, which is why you need to always make sure you are doing everything possible to care for their health. Further, you balance a great deal of weight on your feet on a daily basis, so the better condition you can keep your feet, the more health and comfort you'll have as you age. With that in mind, you should consider seeking a foot specialist, in order to make sure that your feet are cared for. A foot specialist, also known as a podiatrist, is a doctor that can help you keep your feet strong and healthy, while preventing you from suffering from a variety of foot-related conditions. Here are the benefits of seeing a podiatrist and ways you can take care of your own feet. 

What conditions does a podiatrist help with?

Since you expose your feet to a lot of stress and environments, your feet are also susceptible to a great deal of conditions. Consider some of the following conditions that your podiatrist can diagnose and treat:

1. Athletes foot: This fungus-based condition creates itching, inflammation, and discomfort in your feet
2. Flat footedness: Flat feet cause your feet to take on a lot of weight without even distribution, which can create a great deal of pain
3. Bunions: This condition causes a great deal of swelling at your joints, which can bring about intense pain
4. Plantar fasciitis: This type of condition involves swelling and pain in the plantar fascia, the ligament that connects your heel to your toes
5. Ulcers: These can bring about infection that necessitates amputation in diabetic patients

Do I need to pay a visit to a foot specialist?

Many people can get by visiting the foot specialist on an as-needed basis, but if you have a serious foot condition, you should make it a large priority to visit a specialist. If you are athletic or spend time on your feet a lot for work, it won't hurt to visit the podiatrist for a check up. However, if you experience discolorations in your feet, swelling to the point that one is bigger than the other, tingling and numbness, or serious pain that lasts more than a day, visit a foot specialist at once. 

How can I take care of my feet?

Aside from visiting the podiatrist, you'll need to exercise some practical tips for maintaining foot health, including the following:

• Keep your feet thoroughly clean, and make sure they stay dry by using foot powder, spray or corn starch
• Keep your nails trim to avoid ingrown nails and infection
• Avoid sharing shoes whenever possible
• Always wear shoes that fit snugly without movement, provide heel stabilization, and have arch support

Follow these guidelines so that you can protect your feet and your health for the long haul. Talk to a podiatrist for more information.