Foot cream project

Name: - Namrata Pradhan (1215)

SYPGDPCM
Foot Care
Definition
Foot care invoved all aspects of preventative and corrective care of the foot and ankle.
Doctors specializing in foot careare called podiatrists.

Purpose
During an average lifetime, each person walks about 115,000 miles and three-
quarters of people have foot problems atsome point in their lives.
Foot problems can arise from wearing ill-
fitting shoes, from general wear and tear, as a result of injury, or as acomplication of dis
ease. People with diabetes
mellitus or circulatory diseases are 20 times more likely to have footproblems than the g
eneral public.
Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in treating the foot and ankle. Other doctors who
have experience with footproblems are family physicians, orthopedists, sports medicine
specialists, and those who care for diabetics. Problemswith the feet include foot pain, joi
nt inflammation, plantar warts, fungal infections (like athlete's foot), nerve disorders,torn
ligaments, broken bones, bacterial infections, and tissue injuries (like frostbite).

Precautions
People with diabetes or circulatory disorders should be alert to even small foot problems
. In these people, a break in theskin can lead to infection, gangrene, and amputation.

Description
Daily foot care for people likely to develop foot problems includes washing the feet in te
pid water with mild soap andoiling the feet with vegetable oil or a lanolin-
based lotion. Toenails should be cut straight across above the level of theskin after soak
ing the feet in tepid water. Corns and
calluses should not be cut. If they need removal, it should be doneunder the care of a d
octor. Athlete’s foot and plantar warts should also be treated by a doctor if they develop
in high riskpatients.
Many people with diabetes or circulatory disorders have problems with cold feet. These
problems can be reduced byavoiding smoking tobacco (smoking constricts the blood ve
ssels), wearing warm socks, not crossing the legs whilesitting or not sitting in one positi
on too long, or avoiding constricting stockings.
People with circulatory problems should not use heating pads or hot water bottles on th
eir feet, as even moderate heatcan damage the skin if circulation is impaired.
Preparation
No special preparation other than an understanding of the nature of foot problems is ne
cessary to begin routine foot care.

Aftercare
Foot care is preventative and should be ongoing throughout a person's life.

Risks
There are no risks associated with foot care. The risks are in ignoring the feet and allowi
ng problems to develop.

Normal results
With regular care, foot disorders such as infections, skin ulcers, and gangrene can be pr
evented.

Diseases:-
Diseases of the foot generally are not limited, that is they are related to or manifest
elsewhere in the body. However, the foot is often the first place some of these diseases
or a sign or symptom of others appears. This is because of the foot's distance from the
central circulation, the heart and its constant exposure to pressures from the ground
and the weight of the body.
The foot may look simple but is a complex structure with 26 bones, 33 joints,
numerous muscles, nerves and different ligament types. Any part of the foot can be
affected. Some foot disorders may present with just a mild ache, but other foot disorders
can be very serious and limit ability to walk or bear weight. Most minor cases of foot
pain respond to home care treatments except when severe pain is present as it is a
disabling condition and usually needs some type of medical attention. If foot pain is not
treated in time, it can lead to long term disability and continuing damage to the foot

Cause:-
The most common cause of foot pain is wearing ill fitting shoes. Women often wear tight
shoes that are narrow and constrictive, and thus are most prone to foot problems. Tight
shoes often cause overcrowding of toes and result in a variety of structural defects. The
next most common cause of foot disease is overuse or traumatic injuries.
Diagnosis: -
Besides a physical examination, an x-ray MRI or an ultrasound study may be obtained
to assess the soft tissues and blood vessels. Standardized questionnaires and scoring
systems, like the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) foot and ankle
questionnaires, can help elicit the history and physical exam necessary to make and
accurate diagnosis of foot and ankle conditions.

Skin and nail:-

Often there is a distinction made between conditions of the dorsal skin and plantar skin.
Common examples include callus thickened skin, fungal infections of the skin (athlete's
foot) or nails, viral infection of verrucae, and in growing that may cause bacterial nail
infections (paronychia).
Corns and calluses are chunky tough layers of skin that develop on the foot to protect
underlying skin from pressure and friction. Corns and calluses are very common and do
not look pleasant. Corns and calluses generally need treatment only if they cause
problems. For most people, the best treatment of corns and calluses is to eliminate the
source of friction or pressure.
Ingrown toe nail is a disorder where the nail starts to grow into the soft fleshy area of
the toe. It causes intense redness, pain and swelling. Ingrown toe nails often affect the
big toe. The best treatment for ingrown toe nails is to get the nail partially or completely
removed.
Foot odor:-
Foot odor is a type of body odor that affects the feet of humans and is generally
considered to be an unpleasant smell.
Causes:-
The main cause is foot sweat (also see focal hyperhidrosis). Sweat itself is odorless,
but it creates a beneficial environment for certain bacteria to grow and produce bad-
smelling substances. These bacteria are naturally present on our skin as part of
the human flora (though more smell is created when closed-toe shoes are worn). The
front part of the foot is where it produces the most sweat. Therefore, more smell is
created with factors causing more sweating, such as wearing closed-toe shoes for many
hours. Socks generally do not cause foot odor on their own, but when worn along with
shoes, socks can help to trap the hair on the feet, especially on the toes, and may
contribute to the odor's intensity by adding increased surface area in which the bacteria
can thrive.
Given that socks directly contact the feet, their composition can affect foot
odor. Polyester and nylon are common synthetic materials used to make socks, but
generally provide less ventilation than cotton or wool does when used for the same
purpose. Wearing polyester or nylon socks may increase the amount of perspiration
because they do not let the feet breathe as well as cotton. This may intensify foot odor,
although polyester and nylon can help reduce blisters by keeping the perspiration away
from the foot. Many synthetic socks are treated with chemicals to help reduce odor.
Since the insides of shoes are typically not washed (unlike socks), and since socks also
help to absorb perspiration from feet, wearing closed-toe shoes without socks increases
the amount of sweat accumulating in shoes, enabling bacteria to grow over time.
Bacterial growth is facilitated in this case because closed-toe shoes do not receive
adequate air ventilation (especially in the toe area, where the feet produce the greatest
amount of sweat), so the sweat cannot evaporate while the shoe is being worn, in
addition to there being no socks to absorb the sweat. Dead skin cells, dirt and oils can
also accumulate in the shoe from the foot over time which can increase odor inside the
shoe. Mold and fungus are also more likely to form if socks are not worn which can
increase odors and other foot issues. If closed-toe shoes (such as ballet flats or pumps)
must be worn without socks, the best prevention of foot odor is to slip the shoes off
momentarily, at least part-way, whenever the feet start to feel "hot" or sweaty, to allow
sweat to evaporate from the feet and shoes.

Odor quality:-

The quality of foot odor is often reported as a thick, cheese-like smell. Some describe
the smell like that of malt vinegar. However, it can also be ammonia-
like. Brevibacteria are considered a major cause of foot odor because they ingest dead
skin on the feet and, in the process, convert amino acid methionine into methanethiol,
which is a colorless gas with a distinctive putrid smell that has a sulfuric aroma. The
dead skin that fuels this process is especially common on the soles and between the
toes. The brevibacteria are also what give cheeses such as Limburger, Bel Paese, Port
Sault, Pálpusztai and Munster their characteristic pungency.
Propionic acid (propanoic acid) is also present in many foot sweat samples. This acid is
a breakdown product of amino acids by Propionibacteria, which thrive in the ducts of
adolescent and adult sebaceous glands. The similarity in chemical structures between
propionic acid and acetic acid, which is a colorless liquid that would share many
physical characteristics such as odor, may account for foot odors identified as
being vinegar-like. Isovaleric acid (3-methyl butanoic acid) is the other source of foot
odor and is a result of actions of the bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis which are
also present in several strong cheese types.
Other implicated micro-organisms
include Micrococcaceae, Corynebacterium and Pityrosporum.
Bart Knols, of Wageningen Agricultural University, the Netherlands, received an "IG
Nobel" prize in 2006 for showing that the female malaria mosquito Anopheles
gambiae "is attracted equally to the smell of Limburger cheese and to the smell of
human feet".Fredros Okumu, of the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, received grants
in 2009 and 2011 to develop mosquito attractants and traps to combat malaria. He uses
a blend of eight chemicals, which is four times more effective than an actual human.
Prevention:-

Maintaining good foot hygiene is the best way to prevent foot odor as it eliminates odor
causing bacteria and removes dead skin cells as well as sebum. A foot files or pumice
stone can be used to remove dead skin cells. Dirty feet and dirty socks, instead of
clean, dry socks changed frequently can contribute to odor. Socks that are made of
synthetic materials are more prone to becoming smelly than natural or blended fabrics,
such as a blend of cotton and polyester.
Sodium bicarbonate is used as an inexpensive home remedy for the prevention of foot
odor. However, the extent of the antimicrobial effect on the odor-causing bacteria is
unclear. A solution of 10% household bleach in 90% water kills the odor-causing
bacteria. A brush can be used to clean between the toes. Swabbing feet twice daily
with isopropyl alcohol is another home remedy.
Some powders and activated charcoal insoles, such as odor eaters, have been
developed with the purpose of preventing foot odor by keeping the feet dry. Special
cedarsoles and socks with silver fibers with antibacterial characteristics are available.
Bamboo fabric socks are naturally anti-microbial, anti bacterial and moisture wicking,
cutting odor and abating athlete’s foot.

Urea containing cream:-

Urea, also known as carbamide-containing cream, is used as a medication and applied
to the skin to treat dryness and itching such as may occur in psoriasis, dermatitis,
or ichthyosis. It may also be used to soften nails.
In adults side effects are generally few. It may occasionally cause skin irritation. Urea
works in part by loosening dried skin. Preparations generally contain 5 to 50% urea.
Urea containing creams have been used since the 1940s. It is on the WHO Model List
of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health
system. It is available over the counter. In the United Kingdom 100 g of 10% cream
costs the NHS about 4.37 pounds.
Medical use:-
Urea cream is indicated for debridement and promotion of normal healing of skin areas
with hyperkeratosis, particularly where healing is inhibited by local skin infection,
skin necrosis, fibrinous or itching debris or eschar. Specific condition with
hyperkeratosis where urea cream is useful includes:

 Dry skin and rough skin

 Dermatitis
 Psoriasis
 Ichthyosis
 Eczema
 Keratosis
 Keratoderma
 Corns
 Calluses
 Damaged, ingrown and devitalized nails

Side effect:-
More common side effects of urea cream are:

 Mild skin irritation

 Temporary burning sensation
 Stinging sensation
 Itching
In severe cases, there can be an allergic reaction with symptoms such as skin
rash, urticaria, difficulty breathing and swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.

Mechanism of action:-
Urea dissolves the intercellular matrix of the cells of the stratum corneum,
promoting desquamation of scaly skin, eventually resulting in softening
of hyperkeratotic areas. In nails, urea causes softening and eventually debridement of
the nail plate

Onychomycosis:-
Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a fungal infection of the nail. This
condition may affect toenails or fingernails, but toenail infections are particularly
common.
Treatment may be based on the signs. Treatment may be with the
medication terbinafine.
It occurs in about 10 percent of the adult population. It is the most common disease of
the nails and constitutes about half of all nail abnormalities.

Sign:-
The most common symptom of a fungal nail infection is the nail becoming thickened
and discolored: white, black, yellow or green. As the infection progresses the nail can
become brittle, with pieces breaking off or coming away from the toe or finger
completely. If left untreated, the skin underneath and around the nail can become
inflamed and painful. There may also be white or yellow patches on the nailed or scaly
skin next to the nail, and a foul smell. There is usually no pain or other bodily symptoms,
unless the disease is severe. People with onychomycosis may experience
significant psychosocial problems due to the appearance of the nail, particularly when
fingers – which are always visible – rather than toenails are affected.
Dermatophytids are fungus-free skin lesions that sometimes form as a result of a fungus
infection in another part of the body. This could take the form of a rash or itch in an area
of the body that is not infected with the fungus. Dermatophytids can be thought of as
an allergic reaction to the fungus.

Tinea:-
Tinea, or ringworm, is any of a variety of skin mycoses. Tinea is a very common fungal
infection of the skin. Tinea is often called "ringworm" because the rash is circular, with a
ring-like appearance.
It is sometimes equated with dermatophytosis, and, while most conditions identified as
"tinea" are members of the imperfect fungi that make up the dermatophytes, conditions
such as tinea nigra and tinea versicolor are not caused by dermatophytes.

Tina unguium (nails):

Onychomycosis (also known as "dermatophytic onychomycosis or "tinea unguium" is
a fungal infection of the nail. It is the most common disease of the nails and constitutes
about half of all nail abnormalities.
This condition may affect toenails or fingernails, but toenail infections are particularly
common. It occurs in about 10% of the adult population.

Ingredients: - (foot cream ingredient and properties)