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Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

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Foot Notes

Posts for tag: Athlete's Foot

By Clark Podiatry Center
December 26, 2018
Category: Foot Health Tips
Tags: Bunions   Orthotics   Athlete's Foot   fungal   toe exercises   wart   corn  

The holidays are coming to a close, and now it’s time to ring in the New Year! Whether you’re staying home with family or celebrating with friends at a party, remember to stay safe and keep your feet comfortable. After all, they’ve worked hard for you all year in 2018!

So how will you keep them healthy and in tip-top shape in the New Year? Here are some ways you can help your feet to be healthier and stronger so that they can keep you walking:

  • Daily foot hygiene is key to keeping your feet free from bacterial or fungal infection. Don’t start your year off with Athlete’s foot! Use flip flops in communal showers and wash your feet daily with soap and warm water! Why wait for infection symptoms when you can prevent them?
  • Incorporate foot exercises into your regular physical activity. Remember, we recommend moderate to vigorous activity, at least 3 times a week. Try doing exercises like calf stretches, heel-ups (tip toes), and toe exercises like curls with a small gym towel. You can even do some while sitting at your office desk, like foot circles, as well as pointing and flexing them.
  • Step it up! Got a new phone, smartwatch, or other activity trackers as a holiday gift? Put it to good use! Start tracking the number of steps you’re getting each day. It’s a great motivator to keep active instead of leading a sedentary lifestyle. You might be surprised just how much or how little steps you get in per day!
  • Start wearing the right shoes. We’re not necessarily saying that you are wearing the wrong shoes, but rather that there are shoes that may better suit your feet. Since they are working hard for us every day, why not get comfortable and supportive shoes for our feet? If you need orthotics, get them! That way they won’t be tired or sore at the end of a long day.
  • Stop ignoring your foot problems and finally get around to treating them. Had a pesky wart that doesn’t hurt but won’t go away? How about a new corn that’s been developing? Many women develop mild bunions and when left untreated, can become very large and disfigured. In the New Year, we urge you to come to see your podiatrist so that he can help you get the foot care that you need. Why wait for it to become a bigger problem?
  • Hydrate and Eat well. Most people want to start the year healthy. Eating a nutritious diet and remembering to stay hydrated is a great start. Not only will your whole body benefit, but you’ll also be reducing the risk of potential foot problems as well. Additionally, if you do have some foot problems, foods full of nutrients can help them heal more quickly.

Maybe you’ll incorporate these into your New Year’s Resolutions. It is, indeed the time to make important new healthy habits and break bad unhealthy ones.

Need some more help and encouragement for healthier feet in the New Year? Schedule your annual podiatry checkup by making an appointment to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at Clark Podiatry Center. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues and recommend some great ways to keep you walking. Come see us at our Clark, NJ office today!

 

 

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By Clark Podiatry Center
November 13, 2018
Category: skin conditions
Tags: blisters   corns   calluses   warts   Athlete's Foot   Shoes   diabetic   ulcer  

Your skin is one tough organ. It literally holds you together! But it’s also your first defense, making it more prone to attack from the outside world (and maybe some from inside your body). Your skin might not have 99 problems, but they surely are at risk of a lot!

Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi, Oh My!

  • These microorganisms usually live on and around us, but when we have a break in the skin and they get inside, that’s when an infection can occur. In most cases, cleaning and treating any cuts and scrapes can help to stop infections. However, other infections like Athlete’s foot (caused by the fungus tinea) might need more special care. Viral infections, like warts, can be more difficult and stubborn, ultimately needing podiatric intervention. Hygiene is the first defense and prevention tactic against these little troublemakers.

The attack of the shoes

  • You chose them and bought them – how could they be out to get you? Well, all of us have encountered uncomfortable shoes at one point or another. They can cause blisters, corns, and calluses if they are uncomfortable or cause excessive pressure on certain parts of the feet.
  • Don’t forget that bacteria and fungus can thrive in the moist and warm environment of your shoes, especially if you wear the same shoes every day.

Oops! and Ouch!

  • Oops, you dropped a heavy object on your foot! Ouch! That can really cause swelling, bruising, and turn your toenail black.
  • Oops, you forgot to wear sunblock with your sandals on a hot summer day! Ouch, sunburn got you good. Yes, even your feet are prone to sunburn!

Attack from within

  • Your own body can be your skin’s worst enemy. How? When you have neuropathy (such as diabetic neuropathy), your feet lose feeling. The nerves stop communicating and you can have poor circulation. Your skin can begin to break down and become an ulcer. When left untreated, that ulcer can lead to a really bad infection, gangrene, or even amputation!

Have we made our case for you to take care of your feet, including the skin? Be sure to wash your feet with soap and warm water each day. This is especially important if you go to communal locker rooms where you can easily pick up microorganisms while barefoot.

Noticed a skin problem on your foot? We can help assess your skin. Make an appointment today for a consultation at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your children’s feet to find the best solution for stinky feet! We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!

 

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By Clark Podiatry Center
September 18, 2018
Category: Toenail problems

The summer might be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your toenails! On the contrary, now that you might be wearing more closed-toed shoes with socks, you might be at more of a risk for fungal problems.

Today’s focus is on how fungal growth can mean infections on the toenails. Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is caused by the same family of fungus (tinea) that causes Athlete’s Foot and Ringworm. When the fungus affects the toenails, they can become brittle, discolored, and or thick.

Where do I get fungal toenails?

  • The gym – A common place of contagion is a gym locker room with showers. The damp and warm environment allows the fungus to thrive, making it easy to transfer from person to person when each is barefoot. (Use flip-flops at the gym!)
  • Your family member – If someone in your family has foot fungus or fungal toenails, it can spread via shared towels or showers that do not fully dry between uses.
  • Your roommate – Similarly, if you have a roommate with whom you share a bathroom, you can become infected via shared towels or showers.
  • The community pool – While the chlorine does its best to disinfect and reduce microorganism growth, most people have moments of being barefoot between the pool and the locker room. Foot fungus thrives in moisture associated with pool areas.

Wearing closed-toed shoes, especially if you wear them every day, can also be the culprit of a fungal infection. In the fall and winter, your feet are warm inside the shoes. Those who sweat in closed-toed shoes create the perfect environment for fungus to grow. When opportunity strikes, the microorganism can infect the skin and toenails.

How do I get rid of these unsightly fungal toenails?

Depending on the severity of the fungal toenails, Dr. Macy might suggest:

  • Antifungal creams or lotions directly to the nails.
  • Medicated nail polish: The prescribed nail polish has an antifungal in it and should be used once daily.
  • Oral antifungal medication if your infection sites are throughout the body. 
  • Laser Therapy: This is a low risk, painless treatment, which kills the fungus living in the toenails. As your nails grow out, it should grow without the fungal symptoms. Our office also has Keryflex available to cosmetically restore any damaged toenails, especially as you wait for your own nails to grow out.

Are your fungal toenails causing you embarrassment? Do you want to be free of unsightly toenails? Come to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy for an assessment. Make an appointment today to be rid of those fungal toenails. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!

 

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By Clark Podiatry Center
May 30, 2018
Category: Foot safety

It’s summertime! You might be going (or at least thinking of going) to the gym more often now to get your body beach-ready. But before you go too crazy exercising, consider the following tips for keeping your feet and ankles (and the rest of your body) safe at the gym:

Wear appropriate gym shoes. One of the most important ways you can protect your feet and ankles is to wear shoes that are right for the type of workout you are doing.

  • If you are primarily doing cardio, you’ll want to wear running shoes that have extra cushioning to reduce the impact on your joints.
  • If you are weight-lifting, you want stable shoes with a raised heel.
  • If you will be doing a variety of different exercises, including plyometrics, calisthenics, weight-training, etc., cross-training shoes will be best.

Use gym equipment safely and be wary of hidden dangers. Whether you will be working out at your home gym or fitness club, you can prevent injury if you use equipment safely.

  • If you don’t know how to use a machine, ask a staff member or look at a manual.
  • Do not alter equipment unless it is made to do so. For example, do not add or remove weights from the weight stack.
  • Make sure that your workout area is not wet from spilled water, pooled sweat, or recent mopping. If the floor seems to be a bit slippery, use a rubber mat or change your shoes to ones with more traction.

Use a spotter. If you will be lifting heavy weights, it’s best to have a spotter. You may accidentally misstep and tweak your foot or ankle.

Increase speed/intensity slowly. Whether you are sprinting, squatting, or spinning, make sure you increase the intensity of your workout slowly. Dramatic increases in speed or intensity can cause excessive strain on your soft tissues. It can aggravate overuse problems like sesamoiditis or Achilles tendonitis.

Wash feet and use flip-flops. It’s best to shower after a sweaty workout, but this is especially true for your feet if you did your work out barefoot. Additionally, if you are walking around barefoot in communal locker rooms, you should wash your feet as well to prevent contagious disease like Athlete’s Foot. In fact, it’s best to wear non-slip flip-flops when in the communal shower.

If you sustain an injury while working out, be sure to use the RICE method to find pain relief until you can make an appointment to see us at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your feet and ankles to find the best treatment. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
April 25, 2018
Category: Laser therapy

Some of the worst villains in movie history use “lasers” in their plan to destroy the world. In the podiatry world, however, we use lasers for good, not for evil. When the terrible, horrible symptoms of pain and inflammation wreak havoc on your feet and ankles, you look to lasers for help.

Laser therapy is typically an option after conservative treatments prove to be unsuccessful. It uses a focused light beam to stimulate healing by encouraging cell metabolism. The treatment is easy and healing time is reduced. What would normally take months to properly heal now takes only a few treatments (about 10-12) of about 10 minutes per session.

For foot pain, a laser is commonly used to treat:

  • Plantar fasciitis – arch or heel pain due to strained plantar fascia ligaments; usually affects people with flat feet or high arches.
  • Achilles tendonitis – heel pain in the back of the heel bone (Achilles) due to a strained foot or ankle sprain; often due to over or under pronation.
  • Neuromas – numbness or pain due to thickened nerve tissue in a specific area; typically experienced if you wear shoes that put excessive force on a specific part of your feet, such as the balls of the feet.

If you’ve been suffering from foot pain, well why wouldn’t you want fast, easy, painless treatment?

But did you know that a laser can also be used to fight the battle against fungal toenails! While the fungal infection might not be causing terrible, horrible pain, they could be the cause of your ugly, brittle, discolored toenails. Unfortunately, you probably picked it up from a family member or from walking barefoot in the gym locker room.

If left untreated, the fungal infection can spread to the surrounding skin on the feet and cause a rash or scaly dry skin. It can spread from one part of the foot to the other because fungal toenails and Athlete’s foot are caused by the same fungus. Laser therapy can be used to treat the toenails so that new toenails do not grow back with a fungal infection!

So if you’ve got a persistent heel pain or fungal infection that won’t respond to conservative treatments, come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy for an assessment. If laser therapy is right for you, we can get started on treatments right away. Using orthotics in conjunction with laser therapy might be a treatment option too! Make an appointment today to have your feet treated with care. We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all of Union County! We keep you walking!

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1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470