As we age, many of us fuss about our feet much more than we did when we were young. How do you know you have a foot problem for which you should seek help?

In most cases, pain or excessive foot fatigue will alert you that you may have a foot problem. In the "normal" foot, moderate levels of activity do not cause sore or tired feet. Although overuse may cause foot fatigue, it rarely causes pain. If the foot problem persists after you have rested, consult a podiatrist.

Putting even a normal foot into inappro-priate shoes may cause foot problems like painful corns, calluses, and bunions. The podiatrist can usually make you comfortable and educate you about proper footwear.

Not every problem in your ankles and feet warrants an appointment with a podiatrist. Sometimes all you need is time, rest, ice, an anti-inflammatory, and even a change of shoes. But when certain problems crop up and just won't go away, that's a sure sign that you need an expert's help.

Just what is a podiatrist?

Podiatrists are medical practitioners who diagnose and treat disorders of the human foot and leg. Podiatrists in the United States possess the doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) degree, awarded by accredited four-year colleges of podiatric medicine. In most jurisdictions, podiatrists are licensed to diagnose and treat foot ailments by medical, orthopedic, and surgical means.

Podiatrists often recognize systemic disease by its manifestation in the foot. For example, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and vascular disease may first show up in the feet.

Here are some common foot and ankle problems that might indicate you need to see a podiatrist:

1. Toenail fungus. This is a common problem in which a fungus or bacteria attracted to dark, damp environments takes up residence under and around your toenails. It can result in discoloration of the toenail, swelling of the toe, thickening and crumbling of the nail, streaks or spots on the nail, and even complete loss of the nail. See a podiatrist before you begin treating an infection yourself.
2. Ingrown toenail. When the skin surrounding your toenail turns red and swollen and starts causing you a lot of discomfort, it is probable that your toenail has grown into your toe. Chronic ingrown toenails require the services of a podiatrist.
3. A flattened arch on one foot. One foot seeming flatter than the other could be a sign of a dysfunctional or even ruptured tendon. Tendons that don't work properly can lead to misaligned bones and cause arthritis in the joints. Treating a tendon problem early may prevent damage to your joints.
4. A sore or wound that doesn't heal. An open sore on your foot or ankle means you need to see a podiatrist, especially if you have diabetes. You have a better chance of healing more quickly if you see a doctor and start treatment right away. The longer you have an open sore, the stronger chance you have of developing a skin or bone infection.
5. Pain that increases with activity. If you suffer from a pain that gets worse with activity, you may have a stress fracture. Do not try to "work through" the pain. Instead, have a foot specialist look at it right away. Stress fractures that are not treated early can turn into stress fractures that will not heal or into actual broken bones.
6. Severe pain that lasts more than 24 hours. Especially if you have just had surgery, do not hesitate to call for help. Possible problems include tight dressings, deep-vein thrombosis, an infection, or compartment syndrome. You have many options for dealing with the pain, but only your doctor can help you figure out what is causing it.
7. Foot pain when your legs are elevated. If you experience pain in your feet when you are lying in bed and it goes away when you dangle your feet off the side of the bed, you may have peripheral artery disease or decreased blood flow. While you may need to see a podiatrist to start with, this condition also needs to be addressed by other doctors, such as a vascular surgeon.
8. Foot discolorations. For the most part, both of your feet should look the same; a problem may exist if there is a big difference in coloring between your two feet. Redness may indicate an infection or gout, while blue or purple may indicate a vein problem. Whiteness or pallor may signify decreased blood flow. If any of these color changes occur, see a doctor.
9. Pain and swelling in one foot. Swelling in both the feet and ankles, which is due to lymphedema, is common. But pain and swelling in one foot and not the other is not normal. A broken bone, tendonitis, and tendon rupture or infection could be causing it.
10. Numbness, burning, and tingling. These three symptoms can signal neuropathy, which causes decreased sensation in your feet. Diabetes is one cause of neuropathy, which needs to be monitored by a podiatrist. Neuropathy increases your risk of developing foot ulcers, so get your feet checked if you experience any of these symptoms regularly.
11. A mole that changes. A mole that has a funny shape, changes shape, gets bigger, bleeds, or changes color needs to be examined closely. These changes could be due to melanoma. You may start with a trip to the podiatrist, but may be referred to a dermatologist.
12. A lump or bump that grows or hurts. A lump or bump that is getting bigger and is painful should be looked at by a podiatrist. It may turn out to be a type of cyst, but there is also a chance it could be something more serious such as a tumor. Tumors in the foot are rare, but do occur.