What's wrong with my feet?
I hope that you not only learn something about your feet but about what I am doing as Foot Health Practitioner.
If you have diabetes...
Diabetes, or hyperglycemia, is high blood glucose. People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing foot problems. You should therefore be looking after your feet on a daily basis. Minor foot problems, such as dry skin and callus could lead to foot ulcers and infections which, if untreated, can lead to amputation.
REDUCING THE RISK OF DEVELOPING FOOT PROBLEM
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CHECK
Look for changes or broken skin daily. Use a mirror to check the soles. Report any concerns to your GP, nurse or Foot Health Practitioner.
WASH
Wash and dry your feet daily, paying particular attention between the toes.
PROTECT
Apply a urea-based cream to your feet once daily.
FAQs
Why is it important to see a podiatrist as a diabetic?
The goal is the prevention of complication; having a full foot evaluation help to determine if there are any problems with your circulation, nerves, muscle function, or skin.
Why do I get burning, tingling, or numbness to my toes?
You have neuropathy. Neuropathy occurs in in patients with diabetes due to fluctuating or poorly controlled blood sugar. There is no fix for neuropathy,
To know your level of risk, make a foot check appointment here today.
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Ingrown Toenails
May be one of the most painful foot problems. The most common cause of ingrown toenail:
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Improperly cutting the nails,
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Ill-fitting or narrow shoes,
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Trauma
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Fungus
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Incorrectly performed pedicures.
Temporary removal of the ingrown toenail can be done by cutting the edge of the ingrown nail out.
FAQs:
Can ingrown toenail come back after surgery?
Yes. The % is low, only 3-5%; however, it is possible. If the nail is fungal or had trauma to it that would affect the growth of the nail.
Do children get ingrown toenails?
Yes. You may notice them limping in the shoe gear, or maybe they won't let you look at the foot because they're embarrassed or worried. Make sure you ask or watch for general signs of a foot problem.
Are ingrown toenails always infected?
No. The redness and swelling first noted at the site of an ingrown toenail are usually just inflammation from the constant pressure.
Corns & Calluses
Everyone has them, and no one can get rid of them.
What's the difference?
Both corns and calluses are hard or thick areas of skin that can be painful.
Calluses tend to be a larger, thicker spot on the bottom of the foot. The thickening is a normal protective response of the skin and become pathological only when it is so thick that it causes painful symptoms. Unlike corns are small lumps of hard skin. They develop because the joint is not moving properly, causing the skin to have an excess amount of pressure in a shoe or against another toe.
Corns and calluses are the body's way of protecting a vulnerable area that is receiving too much pressure.
If you have diabetes, it is recommended to see a Foot Health Practitioner, nurse or podiatrist regularly to shave your callus or corn, to prevent cuts, ulcers, or infections.
FAQs
Do corn removers work?
No. Don't use them! Unfortunately, they tend to cause blistering and pain and they don't work. People with compromised immune system, leading to infection and, in some cases, amputations.
Why do they form in the first place?
Pressure. Because we walk on our feet, corns & calluses are primed to develop there.
Two main reason to see podiatrist or Foot Healf Practitioner:
1. If you have pain, or
2. If you are DIABETIC (People with diabetes are at a higher risk of calluses or corns developing into open wounds called ulcerations that can be very difficult to heal.
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A Warts, also known as a verruca
Is a dermatologic problem that occur anywhere on the body. Is noncancerous skin growths caused due to infection by human papillomavirus (HPV).
Pain on the bottom of the foot, is usually drives a patient to seek treatment from a podiatrist or Foot Health Practitioner.
You my noticed black spots of dried blood from the vasculature of the virus.
Available treatments at my salon to treat verrucae is removal of the wart with small blade. Cutting out the wart is definitely the most aggressive option, but it is the most effective treatment method.
FAQs:
Are warts contagious?
Yes, they are. Can spread through direct and indirect transmission. And can spread to other body parts. Good hand hygiene is essential when treating warts with topical applications.
How quickly will warts go away?
Unfortunately, there is no way to know how long treatments will take to resolve warts because they are a virus. We can maintain your verruca.
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Nail & Foot Fungus
Do your feet itch? Is there a rash or dry skin? Fungal infection is one of the most frequent complains.
ATHLETE'S FOOT
Is the term used for fungal infection of the skin on your feet. You can spread through direct contact, by touching the affected area or spread through indirect contact, such as coming into contact with the fungus while barefoot at the pool, gym, sharing shoes, such as bowling. Another group at high risk are people whose feet sweat abundantly.
Foot fungus can be treated with oral and topical product.
FUNGAL TOENAILS
Is the most stubborn, frustrating thing to treat. There is no single, guarantied way to get rid of fungus on a toenail!
Fungal nails ore large, thick, crumbly, discolored, and sometimes painful.
FAQs
How do I get rid of nail fungus?
Options available to treat infected nail are topical and oral product, removal of the toenails, *medical toenail reconstruction. (*Available at my clinic)
Can fungus come back after I get rid of it?
Yes, unfortunately toenail fungus can recur once you stop treatment. Regular visits are essential to monitor treatment progress.
Can fungus cause any other problem in my body?
That depends. Nail fungus is specific to the nail plate. If you injure a noninfected toe, fungus inoculates may the skin beneath the nail.
Athlete's foot can develop in other areas of your body. (Skin fungal infection)
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Plantar Fibroma
They typically form in the arch of the foot and can be singular or multiple in number. They can present as small and not painful to large enough that it is difficult to walk. They are usually firm to the touch and can cause occasional pain. Plantar Fibroma can sometimes put pressure or wrap around a local nerve, which can lead to pain.
Another cause of PF is repetitive trauma or stress to the arch of your foot.
FAQs:
How can I get rid of my Fibroma?
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The simplest way to treat a Plantar Fibroma is doing nothing if doesn't hurt. If it is small and not irritating, then don't worry about it.
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Next option is offloading. A customized orthotic can be made that has a cutout in it to take the pressure off of the mass, which alleviates the pain.
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Verapamil cream, available by prescription (shrinking the size of plantar fibroma masses).
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Injecting a cortisone within the plantar fibroma can decrease the size of the mass.
Should I have my fibroma cut out?
No, PF have a high recurrence rate and typically come back larger and more painful than before the surgery.