The most common causes of foot pain and how to treat it

These happen when any of your smaller toes curl up, sometimes because of — you guessed it — wearing shoes that are too tight in the toe box, and sometimes when someone with a very flat foot

does not get proper support over time. “If the tendinous and soft tissue structures don't get enough support,” Kor says, “the tendons going to the toes start to pull, which can lead to

a hammer toe.” What can you do? Wear shoes with wider toe boxes as often as you can. “Like bunions, hammer toes are foot deformities, and there is no device that will definitely cure them,”

he says, though small toe shields worn on top of the toes can reduce friction against shoes. FOR EXPERT TIPS TO HELP FEEL YOUR BEST, GET AARP’S MONTHLY HEALTH NEWSLETTER. LESS PADDING That

collagen you're losing in your face? It may be slowly disappearing in your feet, too. “There are fat pads on the ball of the foot, as well as on the heel, and as we age, they sometimes

atrophy,” says Kor, who particularly sees this problem in smokers. As with other ailments, wear orthotics, over-the-counter insoles and/or shoes with lots of support. Bass likes New Balance,

Brooks and Clarks. MORTON'S NEUROMA Morton's neuroma, an uncomfortable condition caused by a swollen, inflamed nerve, affects the ball of the foot, usually between the smaller

toes. It can feel like you've got a small rock in your shoe and most often affects women who have worn high heels or too-narrow shoes. The solution: Wear shoes with wider toe boxes, or

add shoe inserts designed specifically for this condition, either over-the-counter or doctor-prescribed. VERY DRY SKIN The skin on our feet, like all our skin, gets drier with age and can

develop cracks. “These fissures can be dangerous,” says Kor, “particularly in somebody who's neuropathic, meaning without sensation in the foot. If you have a crack, it's an open

invitation to bacterial infection. People often soak their feet, but that will dehydrate the skin and make the crack worse.” Instead, he says, moisturize with Eucerin, Aquaphor or

prescription Lac-Hydrin right after showering. EDEMA Swelling of the feet and ankles can be caused by many things, including poorer circulation, diabetes and a more sedentary lifestyle. “A

condition called venous insufficiency, in which our veins stop working properly, can lead to fluid accumulating in the feet at the end of the day,” says Kor. “That can lead to a condition

called venous stasis, in which the blood stagnates and bursts through the skin to form an open wound, which we call a venous stasis ulcer.” His advice: Elevate the feet above the waist for

20 to 30 minutes at least twice a day, wear compression socks and ask your doctor if you also need medication.