A bump on the bottom of your foot, which is also called nodule, lump, tumor, cyst or contusion, is a localized episode of swelling, or growth that is apparent on the foot. This can be as a result of numerous conditions, including inflammation, infection or trauma.
The bumps can be painful or at times they appear without pain, depending on their cause and severity. In this discussion, we will talk about the conditions that lead to the formation of bumps on bottom of foot, as well as treatment methods.
A lump on foot is usually a swelling that is localized and can be caused due to inflammation, infection, trauma or tumors. Lump can be painless or painful, depending on the cause of the lump. If the lump in your foot is painless, you can follow the simple hot remedies we will talk about here. But if there is a pain and the lump size increases, you can go and see your doctor immediately.
What Causes Bumps on Bottom of Foot
As mentioned, numerous conditions can cause bumps on the bottom of your foot. These can range from trauma to infections and many other skin conditions. It is good to know the underlying cause of your condition so that you strike the best treatment. If you are unable to find the cause, you can visit your skin doctor who can help. The most common are listed below:
Plantar Fibroma
This condition is where a pimple-like nodule forms on the arch of the foot, grown inside the plantar fascia, which is a group of tissue that runs along the toes to the heel of the foot. This condition can affect either one of your foot or both. It is often benign but it may require treatment to get better.
The most notable sign is bumps on bottom of foot, with or without pain. To determine whether this condition is the cause of bumps on bottom of your foot, a medical professional will examine the bump, as well as carry out a proper examination or a scan to properly determine its cause.
Treatments
There are a number of non-surgical treatments that may be effective in pain relief associated with plantar fibroma but will likely not cause the growth to diminish or disappear. The following non-surgical options may be available with your health care professional:
- Steroid injections these are used to shrink the growth and reduce pain, although the growth often re-grows.
- Orthotic devices, also known as shoe inserts, it can help to relieve pain by removing weight from the fibroma.
- Physical therapy- itis sometimes used to treat the condition, including the use of anti-inflammatory medication tropically into the fibroma, with no need for an injection.
If the growth increases in size, or begins to produce more pain, then further evaluation from a health care professional may be required. If pain persists and there’re no signs of improvement, then surgery is often used to remove the bumps. It is important to note that surgery may lead to a flattening of the arch of the foot, which will need further treatment.
Corns and Calluses
These are growths that form when the skin attempts to protect itself from pressure and friction, causing hardened, thick layers of skin on the bottom of the foot. Most commonly they form on the toes and feet, but they also appear on the fingers and hands. They can be considered unsightly and some people may be embarrassed at their appearance.
In numerous occasions for healthy individuals, no treatment is required and simply stopping the cause of the friction will cause the bumps on bottom of foot to go away. Those people who have these conditions affecting their blood flow may have an increased risk of developing complications from calluses and corns, and it may require them to seek the advice of a medical professional.
Treatment
Surgery can be used to remove the growths, but there are non-surgical options to help treat the condition including:
- Moleskin pads, which can be used to help provide relief from corns.
- Medicinal patches, which can be used to remove calluses.
- Soaking your feet in warm and soapy water, will help soften the corns and/or calluses. This also will make the thick skin to come out. You can also try to rub the callus or corn with a nail file or similar apparatus after soaking to assist in the removal of hardened skin.
Plantar Warts
These types of warts are hold growths that usually form on the balls or heels of the feet, which is where the most pressure is applied. Plantar warts are generally caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, which enters the body through small breaks and cuts on the bottom of the feet. Usually, plantar warts should not cause you to worry, and generally do not require treatment. If they do cause discomfort or pain, then treatments are required to help relieve symptoms.
Treatments
As we have discussed above, this bumps on bottom of foot will usually disappear without the need of medical help; if this does not happen, then the following home treatment methods may be applied:
- Duct tape.In this treatment, place a small strip of duct tape over the wart and leave it there for around six days. Remove the tape after that and soak the wart in warm, soapy water, then rub it using a nail file or similar apparatus. Repeat this until the wart disappears.
- Over-the-counter wart treatments such as salicylic acid and cryotherapy may also help.
If home remedies prove not to be working, then the following medicinal treatments may be offered once you have paid a visit to a health care professional:
- Liquid nitrogento freeze the wart off of the foot
- Laser surgeryto remove the wart
- Medicationto assist the immune system in wart eradication
It is important to remember that even if the treatment proves to be successful, the wart can still come back.
Athlete’s Foot
Also known as tinea pedis, this condition is caused by a fungal infection, often beginning in between the toes, and often developing in individuals who usually have sweaty feet in tight fitting shoes. The condition often causes a rash on the affected area, itching, blisters, ulcers, or occasionally bumps on bottom of foot.
Some types of this athlete’s foot, such as the moccasin type, can lead to symptoms similar to eczema to form on the soles and sides of the feet. This condition can be passed from person-to-person, via infected floors, clothing, or towels.
Treatments
Normally, an anti-fungal ointment, powder, lotion, or spray can be used to treat mild instances of athlete’s foot. If these treatments prove ineffective, then stronger medication may be required via prescription and applied to the feet, or taken orally.
Foot Blisters
This condition can also cause bumps on bottom of foot, which look similar to bubbles. Blisters usually are caused by too much friction on the foot, often caused by tightly fitting or new shoes, which cause the outer layers of skin to rub against each other, separates, and proceed to fill with liquid.
Treatments
If the condition is not too painful then do not pop the blister, as the outer layer of skin, if un-popped, can help to prevent infections to the open wound. Ensure that you cover the blister with a plaster, or a tape.
Reasons for Itchy Bumps on Bottom of Foot
Painful lumps in the bottom of the foot are usually but not always associated with a thickening of the skin or callus. These areas are due to a prominence of the long bone behind the toe called the metatarsal bone.
When there is a mal-alignment of these bones, one or more of them may become propionate. When this occurs, the weight-bearing force across the bottom of the foot is disturbed. Weight is not evenly distributed across the bottom of the foot, and these areas absorb greater pressure.
The excessive pressure often forms a callus or thickening of the skin. People who have diabetes should watch these areas carefully. Over time, they can ulcerate the skin and become infected. Treatment consists of removing the pressure with pads or using a molded insole or orthotic in the shoes.
Within the arch of the foot, firm, nodular masses may form. These can occur as a single mass or numerous. Frequently, they will slowly enlarge causing pain while walking. Their cause cannot always be determined. Damage to the tendon will cause itchy bumps on bottom of foot and there is an association with taking the drug Dilantin. In 10% of the cases, patients will also demonstrate similar lumps in the palms of the hands called Dupuytren’s Contracture.
Treatment
This consists of padding the area to reduce pressure. Functional foot orthotics will take the strain off of the plantar fascia ligament and sometimes cause the fibromas to shrink in size. Cortisone injections are of little value and may even stimulate the mass to enlarge more.
Surgical excision of the bumps on bottom of foot requires removal of most of the plantar fascia. Simple excision of the mass without removal of the entire ligament generally results in recurrence of the lumps. Whenever surgery is contemplated, the patient should wear a functional foot orthotic after the surgery. The orthotic helps to accommodate for the loss of the plantar fascia and its effect on foot function.
Painful Lump on Bottom of Foot under Skin
A lump or painful bump on bottom of foot can be due to various causes such as infection, trauma or tumor. Some people also develop a hard spot on bottom of foot that is painless under the skin. These bumps may remain the same size or grow slowly or rapidly. If you have a painful spot on bottom of foot, find out what causes it and what remedies can help reduce or heal your symptoms.
Most foot lumps are harmless, but talk to your doctor about a persistent painful bump on bottom of foot more so if it is under the skin. It is important to find out if you have a serious problem or not.
A corn or a callus is the most common cause of painful bump on bottom of foot, which results from constant pressure or friction from your tight shoes. Repeated trauma can also cause a hard spot on bottom of foot. Calluses can be really painful especially if you often stand on your feet all day.
A plantar wart is a hard spot on bottom of foot, usually appearing on the heel/ball of the foot, where the most pressure occurs. Excessive pressure also may cause your plantar wart to grow beneath a callus. Foot blisters must not be ignored because they can develop bacterial infection, which can lead to impetigo or cellulitis. Diabetic individuals are more likely to develop foot blisters, which can become seriously infected.
If you are an athlete or just trying to exercise and have recurrent blisters that do not improve with these simple measures, consult a specialist who can perform a gait analysis on you. Your blisters may be due to some problem with your anatomical gait, which is causing the excessive friction on your skin.
Lump on Bottom of Foot near Toes that makes it hard to walk
There are a number of different causes of lumps and bumps on the bottom of the foot. Working from the toes to the heel, a painful lump may be formed on the bottom of the big toe. This condition often presents itself as a hard callused area. Sometimes a hard lump may be felt beneath the callused area.
The most common cause of this condition is a limitation of movement of the big toe joint while walking. If there is limitation of movement at this joint, then the big toe cannot bend upward as the heel comes off the ground while walking. As a consequence, there is excessive force placed on the bottom of the big toe and an enlargement of the bone in this area will occur after the pressure.
Another cause is the presence of an extra bone or piece of cartilage in the area. However, it is the limitation of movement in the big toe joint that causes the area to become enlarged and painful.
People who have diabetes must watch these areas closely. Over time, the excessive pressure can cause this area to break down and ulcerate. One way to check to see if there is a limitation of movement of the big toe joint is to perform the following test. While standing on a flat surface, have another person try to bend the big toe upward. The joint that must move is the joint where the toe attaches to the foot. There is a joint in the middle of the big toe and this is not the one you are checking.
If the big toe joint cannot be bent upward then a limitation of motion exists. Testing the movement at the joint without putting weight on the foot will give a false impression as to the available movement at the joint while you are walking. This limitation of movement of the big toe while walking can, over, time create an arthritic condition in the joint.
A bony mass may then form on the top of this joint as a result of jamming in the joint. This condition is called hallux limitus or hallux rigidus. Treatment for the painful lesion in the bottom of the big toe joint consists of using functional foot orthotics to correct the functional limitation of the big toe joint motion or may consist of surgical correction. Rarely is surgery to remove only the lesion on the bottom of the toe alone, successful, because the cause of the initial problem still exists.
How to Treat Bumps on Bottom of Foot
A lump in the foot can make anyone feel discouraged. Of all the parts of the body, our feet work hard and there is no denying of the fact. We are able to move around, thanks to our feet. But they are most likely to get injured and hurt. There are many issues that can inflict our feet and leave us in discomfort and pain. These can range from stinking due to closed shoes and excessive sweating to ligament tears or shin pains.
There are many simple remedies for the day to day problem related to your feet. Today, more and more people complain of developing bumps on bottom of foot, largely due to the changing lifestyle and habits. If you have developed a lump that refuses to go, read on to know how simple remedies can put you at ease!
Effective Home Remedies
Use Cold And Hot Water:
One can use hot and cold water alternately to improve the circulation of blood in the feet. This will decrease the swelling and treat the lumps on foot. One can use ice packs and hot water bottles alternately to treat lump on the foot.
Use of Epsom Salt:
Take a tub or half bucket of warm water and add some Epsom salt to it. Now, soak your feet for about 15 minutes in this soothing water. This will reduce the pain and bring down the swelling as well. Apply a lot of moisturizer to improve blood circulation and to prevent the skin on your feet from drying up.
Vinegar to Reduce Lumps:
Foot lumps can be effectively treated with vinegar. Take a bucket full of water and mix some Epsom salt and a little vinegar in it. Soak the towel in this mixture and wrap them around your feet. Repeat this 4-5 times a day for relief.
Clove Oil:
Clove oil is known to provide relief from pain of all kinds. Massaging the affected feet with clove oil will help bring down inflammation, improve blood circulation and provide relief from the pain as well.
Ice Baby:
Ice is an age old trusted recipe that many athletes use to treat pain and swelling. But it is important to use ice wisely and only for limited periods of time as excessive use can damage the feet and nerve endings.
Cayenne Pepper:
Capsaicin found in cayenne pepper is an effective way to reduce all kind of pain and inflammation. Put some cayenne pepper powder in your socks before you wear them to get some relief. Alternately, you can also soak the affected feet in hot water mixed with some cayenne powder.
Exercise Your Foot:
Moderate exercise is the key to good health. There is no such ailment that asks of you to refrain from mild or moderate exercising. Many a times, the foot needs only a little exercise to get better. Try simple toe stretching exercises to get instant relief from the pain and swelling.
Use Right Shoes:
Sometimes, the problem is not due to any stress, but due to wearing the wrong shoes! To get relief, try to find any other shoe that allows your feet to breathe and relax.
Start Walking Barefoot:
There are many simple ways to let your feet be comfortable and one of them is to let them be free! Try walking barefoot on the grass for a few minutes or at least half an hours each day to get relief.
Use Shoe Inserts:
One of the most effective ways of treating foot lumps is to use foot inserts.
These simple remedies can go a long way to treat foot lumps effectively at home. If it gets worse, you can visit a doctor and consult him/her for further course of action.
More references
- Lumps and bumps on the bottom of the foot: http://www.podiatrynetwork.com/document_disorders.cfm?id=122
- What causes painful bumps on bottom of foot: http://www.md-health.com/Painful-Bump-on-Bottom-of-Foot.html
- Risks of developing dyshidrotic eczema: http://www.healthline.com/health/dyshidrotic-eczema#Causes3