Skin Conditions

Skin conditions affecting the feet can be both painful and unsightly. We offer specialized treatment for a variety of skin issues, including athlete’s foot, calluses, corns, ingrown toenails, and plantar warts. Our goal is to provide effective solutions that alleviate discomfort and restore the health and appearance of your skin. Learn more about each condition and how our treatments can benefit you.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot often first appears as an itchy red rash, typically beginning between the fourth and fifth toe. If left untreated, the skin may become highly sensitive to the touch. If allowed to progress, the condition can result in white, peeling skin.

What Can I Do?

It is important to treat athlete’s foot at the first sign of infection, as the body can become vulnerable to other bacterial infections when large cracks occur in the skin. The infection can also be transmitted to other parts of the body through bedding and clothes. Patients with serious cases of athlete’s foot may develop a rash that covers the sole of the foot. Known as “moccasin foot,” this manifestation of athlete’s foot creates extremely scaly, thick and rough skin on the bottom of the foot.

There are some simple precautions you can take to keep your feet healthy as a diabetic.

  • Check your feet daily.
  • Keep your diabetes under control.
  • Wash your feet daily.
  • Keep your feet moisturized (but no lotion between the toes, as moisture here can create conditions friendly to fungal infection).
  • Encourage circulation in your feet by wiggling your toes and changing positions regularly.
  • Meet regularly with your trusted podiatrist.

If you suffer from diabetes, it is crucial that you ensure foot health by working with your podiatrist to reduce the likelihood of infection and quickly treat any infection that arises. Contact us today to learn how we can help you protect your feet for a lifetime.

Calluses & Corns

Corns and calluses stem from the same root cause. They are both thick patches of skin that develop to protect you when the skin is subjected to excessive friction and pressure, but they can become problems themselves, particularly for diabetics or anyone with compromised circulation.

In some cases, the callus or corn may become sensitive or start to crack. Consistent foot care can help keep calluses supple and prevent them from growing large enough to be a problem. There are many products available to make foot care easier, including foot soaks and pumice stones.

Identifying a troublesome corn or callus is relatively simple ­ if they are bothering you or inhibiting your life in any way at all, see your podiatrist! Contact us today to learn more about calluses and what you can do to manage them.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails, where the toenail begins to grow into the skin surrounding it, often begin asnothing but a nuisance. Unfortunately, they can lead to infection if not properly treated.

Ingrown toenails are characterized by pain, swelling, redness and a feeling of warmth in the affected toe. If the nail digs into the flesh around the nail and causes the skin to break, bacteria can enter, resulting in an infection. The infection can increase the level of pain in the toe and create additional problems.

As long as an infection has not yet set in, caring for an infected toenail is straightforward. You may take an over­-the-­counter anti­-inflammatory for the pain. You can also soak your foot a few times a day, keeping it otherwise nice and dry, and wear comfortable shoes that aren’t too narrow. Of course, if you have a pre­existing condition, such as diabetes, you should see your podiatrist at the first sign of an ingrown toenail. Whatever you do, do not attempt to cut the nail free your own! This can worsen the infection, or create one where there wasn’t one before.

If your ingrown toenail doesn’t improve within a few days, make an appointment with your trusted podiatrist. We may prescribe antibiotics may be prescribed to manage the infection, and outpatient surgery may be necessary to remove the nail.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that occur on the sole, heel, or ball of the foot. Most plantar warts are diagnosed based on their appearance. They are generally rough and spongy, and most are gray, brown, or yellow with dark dots in the center. While you likely heard as a child that these are the ‘seeds’ of the wart, they are not ­ the little black dots are simply dried blood in your capillaries.

If you suffer from plantar warts, schedule an appointment with our practice. We can diagnose and treat your warts to remove them fast, and advise you on how to protect against them in the future.

When first diagnosed, individuals often feel a “lump” on the bottom of the foot when standing,similar to having a stone in their shoe. If left untreated, plantar warts can grow up to 1 inch incircumference and may spread into clusters (called mosaic warts). In severe cases, they cause a change in gait or posture that results in leg or back pain.

If you suffer from plantar warts, schedule an appointment with our practice. We can diagnose and treat your warts to remove them fast, and advise you on how to protect against them in the future.