These changes tend to develop gradually as cell turnover and collagen production begin to slow.
These changes can give rise to stability problems affecting the knees, hips, and lower back.
If left untreated, cracked skin around the heel can make it painful to walk or even stand.
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In older people or people with diabetes, this can lead to a potentially serious infection known ascellulitis.
Hip, knee, and lower back pain are also common.
This is especially true of theAchilles tendonwhich connects the calf muscle to the heel bone (calcaneus).
Hammertoes are prone to calluses andcorns.
Joint stiffness, discomfort, swelling, and pain are also common.
Once they develop, hammertoes are essentially permanent unless surgery (such asarthrodesisorarthroplasty) can realign the toe joints.
Stretching may help restore some of the mobility but doesn’t necessarily reverse the condition.
Toe pads, splints, and well-fitted shoes can help relieve some of the discomfort and pain.
Estrogenandtestosteroneboth stimulate the production of keratin and contribute to the smooth, firm appearance of toenails and fingernails.
(They are never seen on the soles of the feet.)
Though the seborrheic lesions are not painful, they can sometimes be itchy or cause irritation when wearing shoes.
These may be an early sign of skin cancer, including pigmentedbasal cell carcinomaandcutaneous melanoma.
Diabetes can also affect blood circulation, particularly as you get older.
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