On the market there is a wide choice of safety shoes, and at first sight they look all the same, although there are actually great differences among the various types. In this article my goal is to give you some advice about the best Safety shoes against pitted keratolysis.
I will try to give you an idea of what problems can be avoided by using the right kind of safety shoes.
I am sure this article will be a big help to you so that you will be able to choose the perfect pair of safety shoes for your skin problem.
Contents
Keratolysis punctata (pitted keratolysis)
Pitted keratolysis (also called “Keratolysis plantare sulcatum”) is a cutaneous non-contagious infection which can be caused by the use of tight shoes or by excessive perspiration.
This infection is characterized by ring-shaped spots on the surface of the feet, between the toes and most of all on the soles of the feet. The treatment consists in taking topical antibiotics. Keratolysis is caused by bacteria which thrive in hot and humid environments.
What’s the cause of pitted keratolysis?
Keratolysis can be caused by several bacterial species including Corynebacterium, Dermatophilus congolensis, Kytococcus sedentarius, actinomyces and streptomycete. The ring-shaped spots are due to the destruction of the cells of the stratum corneum by the enzymes protease produced by the bacteria. The bacteria also produce the sulphur compounds which cause the bad smell.
Who’s at risk of pitted keratolysis?
Pitted keratolysis is much more common in men than in women.
The jobs where the risk of infection is highest are:
- Farmers
- Sailors and fishers
- Workers in the heavy industry
- Military
The factors which lead to the development of pitted Keratolysis include:
- heat
- humidity
- tight shoes, especially rubber boots
- excessive sweating of the hands and feet (hyperhidrosis)
- Thickened skin on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet (keratoderma)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Old age
- Immunodeficiency
Symptoms
The main symptoms of this sickness is the bad smell due to the infection. The forefoot, the heel or both become white, with clusters of spots. It looks worse when the feet get moist or wet. There’s a variant of this disease which leads to the formation of red patches on the soles of the feet. In any case the most common symptom is always the bad odor. The spots are, in themselves, harmless, but in some cases they can cause pain and itch, while you walk.
One of the major problems of safety shoes, I would say perhaps one of the major factors of lack of comfort of work shoes, is the ability to breathe the foot. In some cases this is due to the cheapness of the materials used for the construction of the upper but for water resistant models it is a structural feature. There are manufacturers of safety shoes who are actively working on increasing the breathability of safety shoes. I advise you to pay close attention to the ability of the shoes to breathe at the time of purchase. The luckiest workers are those who do not have the risk of getting their feet wet as they will be able to select s1 or s1p safety shoes, which in themselves, not having water resistance, can be equipped with lighter materials, but the best advice is to touch the products with your hand and if you have dermatitis problems you must always try to choose shoes that have the greatest breathability, because allowing the air to circulate inside the shoe will keep the foot dry and will reduce all the problems of dermatitis. The best materials, basically the most breathable, are the knitted fabrics which, moreover, make the shoes very flexible, light and breathable; if you don’t have the risk of getting your feet wet I recommend this type of solution. If, on the other hand, you have the risk of getting your feet wet during your work, you will have to pay more attention to the quality of the materials because it will be the only factor that will allow your foot to breathe and therefore avoid dermatitis problems.
Do not forget that the quality of the materials also affects dermatitis from an allergological point of view; many cheap materials favor allergies and other problems related to the foot so a basic rule is to try to avoid buying cheap shoes. The health of the feet is fundamental for the workers and the purchase of a quality safety shoe is an investment in one of the most important tools to carry out one’s work well, the feet, considering that the safety shoe is worn 8-10 hours per day.
Safety shoes against pitted keratolysis: recommended products
Pitted keratolysis is a bacterial infection which affects the stratum corneum of the skin, especially in the spaces between the toes and the soles of the feet. A predisposing factor is humidity: indeed Keratolysis also appears in patients suffering from hyperhidrosis, in this case causing no pain.
- You should make sure that your feet don’t get moist, wet and that they don’t sweat during work. The best solution is buying S1 or S1P perforated safety shoes of textiles, or safety sandals, or S2/S3 safety footwear made of high-quality full-grain leather, possibly shoes rather than boots and ankle-boots.
- Use work socks made of breathable materials, that let humidity and sweat go through
- Change your socks often, even twice a day if necessary, to keep your feet always dry and clean
- Choose safety shoes with high-quality insoles, with an antibacterial upper layer; if possible, you should own more than one pair of insoles and alternate them so that you can wash them and let them dry often.
Best BREATHABLE SAFETY SHOES and accessories, selected by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk
Safety shoes against pitted keratolysis: Conclusions
Those tips will help you to find the perfect type of safety shoes for your skin problem.
As soon as you learn the ropes and you get the right safety footwear for your needs, you will experience better comfort at work.
I assure you that if you wear the right type of safety footwear you will live a better work experience.
What’s your opinion on the subject?
Safety shoes against pitted keratolysis. Do you have anything to add?
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