Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDry SkinFlat FeetShortened Achilles TendonHammertoeToenail ChangesSeborrheic KeratosisArthritisCirculatory Problems

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Dry Skin

Flat Feet

Shortened Achilles Tendon

Hammertoe

Toenail Changes

Seborrheic Keratosis

Arthritis

Circulatory Problems

Aging takes its toll on your feet as it does with the rest of your body. Given the amount of stress we place on our feet over a lifetime, it’s easy to see why these problems occur. In addition to general wear-and-tear, there are physiological changes that will affect how your joints, bones, and tendons function.

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Feet dangling from dock with sun shining in background

These changes tend to develop gradually as cell turnover and collagen production begin to slow. As the skin starts to thin, so, too, will the fatty layer cushioning the soles and heels.

These changes can give rise to stability problems affecting the knees, hips, and lower back. The gradual wearing down of cartilage in the joint space, along withinflammation of bursaandtendons, only adds to the burden.

The most common aging-associated foot problems are those that affect the skin, connective tissues, joints, nails, and blood circulation.

If left untreated, cracked skin around the heel can make it painful to walk or even stand.

If cracks in the skin are deep enough, bacteria can infiltrate the exposed tissue and cause a foot infection. In older people or people with diabetes, this can lead to a potentially serious infection known ascellulitis.

As your feet age, connective tissues called ligaments can begin to stretch, reducing the height of your arch and leading to a condition commonly known asflat feet(pes planus).

Flat feet can also alter the angle of your foot, causingoverpronation, the loss of stability, and an increased risk of ankle and foot sprains.

When Do Your Feet Stop Growing?

Another type of connective tissue, known as a tendon, can begin to lose water as you age. Tendons connect muscle to bone, and, if these are shortened due to water loss, you may end up with a more flat-footed gait since you will be less able to flex your ankle, midfoot, and toes.

This is especially true of theAchilles tendonwhich connects the calf muscle to the heel bone (calcaneus).

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.

Toenails usually become thicker and more brittle as you age, making them more difficult to cut and maintain. One reason for this is that nail growth tends to slow in tandem with the decrease in hormone production in older adults.

Estrogenandtestosteroneboth stimulate the production of keratin and contribute to the smooth, firm appearance of toenails and fingernails. When these hormones decline, the reduced supply can cause our nails to discolor, crack, and form uneven ridges and layers.

Alhough proper nail care can significantly improve your nail’s appearance, it may not be enough to entirely avoid aging-related changes. Other common causes of toenail changes include:

A common skin condition affecting older adults is calledseborrheic keratosis. These raised, flesh-toned lesions are often mistaken for warts and typically affect the top of the feet, toes, and ankles. (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.

Types of Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment

See your healthcare provider if you notice any changes in the color, texture, or shape of the lesions. These may be an early sign of skin cancer, including pigmentedbasal cell carcinomaandcutaneous melanoma.

Osteoarthritis, also referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis, affects roughly 10% of men and 13% of women over 60. Theankle joint,subtalar joint, and thefirst metatarsophalangeal joint(big toe) are three joints commonly affected in the foot and ankle..

Common risk factors for foot osteoarthritis include.

Another foot condition commonly affecting older adults is gouty arthritis.Goutis an inflammatory disorder in which the accumulation of uric acid crystals around a joint causes acute and often debilitating pain, mainly in the big toe.

Edemais typically associated with conditions seen in older adults, such as:

The obstruction of a blood vessel can lead to venous edema, typically affecting one leg. Cardiovascular disease, certain medications, and hormonal changes may cause swelling in both legs, referred to as bilateral peripheral edema.

Diabetes can also affect blood circulation, particularly as you get older. If this happens, infections of the foot can be far more difficult to treat, leading to the formation of ulcers that just won’t heal.

Diabetic neuropathy, a pins-and-needles sensation mostly affecting the legs and feet, is another common consequence of long-term diabetes.

13 Most Common Aging-Related Conditions

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alpert, A.Podiatric issues in older adults.Home Health Care Manage Pract.2016;28(4). doi:10.1177/1084822316638836.Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against skin aging: The way from bench to bedside.Cell Transplant.2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755Gross KD, Felson DT, Niu J, et al.Association of flat feet with knee pain and cartilage damage in older adults.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(7):937-44. doi:10.1002/acr.20431Singh G, Haneef NS, Uday A.Nail changes and disorders among the elderly.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol.2005;71(6):386-92. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.18941Wollina U.Recent advances in managing and understanding seborrheic keratosis.F1000Res. 2019;8 doi:10.12688/f1000research.18983.1Zhang Y, Jordan JM.Epidemiology of osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010;26(3):355-69. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001Roddy E, Menz HB.Foot osteoarthritis: Latest evidence and developments.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.2018;10(4):91-103. doi:10.1177/1759720X17753337Pellicori P, Kaur K, Clark AL.Fluid management in patients with chronic heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2015;1(2):90‐95. doi:10.15420/cfr.2015.1.2.90

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alpert, A.Podiatric issues in older adults.Home Health Care Manage Pract.2016;28(4). doi:10.1177/1084822316638836.Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against skin aging: The way from bench to bedside.Cell Transplant.2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755Gross KD, Felson DT, Niu J, et al.Association of flat feet with knee pain and cartilage damage in older adults.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(7):937-44. doi:10.1002/acr.20431Singh G, Haneef NS, Uday A.Nail changes and disorders among the elderly.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol.2005;71(6):386-92. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.18941Wollina U.Recent advances in managing and understanding seborrheic keratosis.F1000Res. 2019;8 doi:10.12688/f1000research.18983.1Zhang Y, Jordan JM.Epidemiology of osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010;26(3):355-69. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001Roddy E, Menz HB.Foot osteoarthritis: Latest evidence and developments.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.2018;10(4):91-103. doi:10.1177/1759720X17753337Pellicori P, Kaur K, Clark AL.Fluid management in patients with chronic heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2015;1(2):90‐95. doi:10.15420/cfr.2015.1.2.90

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Alpert, A.Podiatric issues in older adults.Home Health Care Manage Pract.2016;28(4). doi:10.1177/1084822316638836.Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against skin aging: The way from bench to bedside.Cell Transplant.2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755Gross KD, Felson DT, Niu J, et al.Association of flat feet with knee pain and cartilage damage in older adults.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(7):937-44. doi:10.1002/acr.20431Singh G, Haneef NS, Uday A.Nail changes and disorders among the elderly.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol.2005;71(6):386-92. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.18941Wollina U.Recent advances in managing and understanding seborrheic keratosis.F1000Res. 2019;8 doi:10.12688/f1000research.18983.1Zhang Y, Jordan JM.Epidemiology of osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010;26(3):355-69. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001Roddy E, Menz HB.Foot osteoarthritis: Latest evidence and developments.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.2018;10(4):91-103. doi:10.1177/1759720X17753337Pellicori P, Kaur K, Clark AL.Fluid management in patients with chronic heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2015;1(2):90‐95. doi:10.15420/cfr.2015.1.2.90

Alpert, A.Podiatric issues in older adults.Home Health Care Manage Pract.2016;28(4). doi:10.1177/1084822316638836.

Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against skin aging: The way from bench to bedside.Cell Transplant.2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755

Gross KD, Felson DT, Niu J, et al.Association of flat feet with knee pain and cartilage damage in older adults.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(7):937-44. doi:10.1002/acr.20431

Singh G, Haneef NS, Uday A.Nail changes and disorders among the elderly.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol.2005;71(6):386-92. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.18941

Wollina U.Recent advances in managing and understanding seborrheic keratosis.F1000Res. 2019;8 doi:10.12688/f1000research.18983.1

Zhang Y, Jordan JM.Epidemiology of osteoarthritis.Clin Geriatr Med. 2010;26(3):355-69. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2010.03.001

Roddy E, Menz HB.Foot osteoarthritis: Latest evidence and developments.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.2018;10(4):91-103. doi:10.1177/1759720X17753337

Pellicori P, Kaur K, Clark AL.Fluid management in patients with chronic heart failure.Card Fail Rev. 2015;1(2):90‐95. doi:10.15420/cfr.2015.1.2.90

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