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Foot Notes

Posts for tag: calluses

By Clark Podiatry Center
August 07, 2019

There are many types of doctors a person can see, depending on what part of the body needs attention. For the heart it is a cardiologist, for the kidneys, it is a nephrologist, and for the skin, it’s a dermatologist. For your feet, though, it’s a podiatrist. But why see a podiatrist? Aren’t foot problems really minor and something you can handle yourself? Well, the answer is not quite so simple.

While some foot conditions can be treated at home, many can become very serious if they’re not treated appropriately and treated immediately. It is not uncommon for people to try to treat themselves, but it is also quite common for these treatments to really need professional care.

Some conditions that are best treated by a podiatrist and why include:

  • Corns and calluses – if not treated correctly can lead to blisters and infections
  • Bunions – usually are painful and indicative of more complicated factors. Also, it may require surgery
  • Hammertoe – can lead to other conditions and can also require surgery
  • Heel issues – will affect your gait if not properly diagnosed and lead to other issues, possibly with your back
  • Metatarsalgia – painful condition that is best diagnosed and treated by a professional
  • Athlete’s feet – can spread to hands and beyond and may require strong medicine prescribed by a doctor.
  • Plantar fasciitis – will likely require specific doctor prescribed medicine
  • Flat feet – can affect your gait and cause back issues. May require a custom orthotic
  • Severs disease – common in children, but not easily diagnosed unless by a trained professional
  • Neuromas – can feel like several other conditions. Only a podiatrist can properly diagnose
  • Diabetes – this is perhaps the most serious of conditions and if not cared for properly can lead to a series of very serious medical conditions and even amputation

In fact, just about any foot-related concern, a person can have needs to be looked at by a podiatrist. What may be a more complicated, but easily treated condition, can very easily be mistaken for something else? So why take the risk and especially regarding your children? With so much to do every day, why not leave the doctoring to the doctor? Take the time to let a professionally trained person handle foot related medical issues. It is, after all, why they went to school.

If you have any concerns about the health of your feet or just have questions, please make an appointment with us. Dr. Brandon A. Macy, who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute, will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.

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By Clark Podiatry Center
July 31, 2019
Category: Running

As the weather gets warmer, more and more people will go outside to participate in a popular and healthy activity; running. With this can come some foot health issues. They include:

  • Corns and Calluses – hardened areas of skin where there is friction between the toes, feet, and shoe
  • Blisters – open sores due to poor footwear support
  • Ingrown toenails – toenails that have been pushed inward and cut into the toe causing pain
  • Bunions – bony protrusions on your big toes due to poorly shoes or genetics
  • Athlete’s foot – a fungal infection often caused when people go barefoot in public pools and showers
  • Strains and sprains – overuse of the foot or ankle muscles especially if you haven’t stretched
  • Shin splints – a painful inflammation of the shin caused by repeated pounding on a hard surface

Runners can avoid these problems by taking the necessary precautions. Ways to avoid these foot issues include:

  • Making sure you have well-fitted shoes – this will cut down on corns, calluses, bunions, ingrown toenails and blisters
  • Dry socks - make sure you have replacement socks as moist socks will breed bacteria which will lead to athlete’s feet
  • Never share shoes or socks – prevents the sharing of the athlete’s foot fungus
  • Never walk barefoot in a public shower or pool – prevents athlete’s foot fungus from spreading
  • Stretch your foot and leg muscles – will help avoid strains and sprains
  • Avoid hard surfaces when running – seek out softer surfaces like artificial track surfaces or the good old earth. Dirt is better than pavement and gives more on contact  

Taking these precautions will help you keep running and getting into the best shape you can. Taking care of your feet is the same as taking care of the special tires used for NASCAR and other types of racing. Without them, racers could not successfully compete.

If you are you a concerned runner or athlete or are just generally concerned about the health of your feet, schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues making sure that you not only choose the right shoes but also keep your feet healthy. See us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
June 26, 2019

Keeping in good health requires constant effort, whether it is through regular exercise or a healthy diet. The same goes for your feet. Regular checkups with your Primary Care physician are essential, as are regular checkups with your podiatrist. While you may be able to detect many foot problems, your podiatrist is best qualified to diagnose any issues, which may arise regarding your feet. Regardless, there are certain things you can do to help.

Tips to follow for healthy feet:

  • Don’t ignore foot pain – pain or discomfort is a sign that something is wrong. Stop and look.
  • Trim your nails – keep your nails neatly trimmed to avoid the collection of bacteria or other problems.
  • Make sure you dry your feet after a shower or bath – not doing so can contribute to athlete’s feet.
  • Regularly inspect for calluses, corns, blisters, redness, swelling or other unusual changes in your feet – every time you change socks or shoes take a quick look.
  • Wear properly fitted footwear and socks – this is very important for good foot health.
  • Alternate shoes – this varies the pressure and lets the older shoes air out reducing bacteria buildup.
  • Keep your feet soft and smooth – use a good moisturizer. Over the counter medicines are fine.
  • Maintain a good exercise regimen to keep the blood flowing in your feet – walk, run, play basketball.
  • If you have diabetes, it is crucial you keep an eye on your sugar level.

Your foot health is up to you. Your podiatrist stands ready to help but needs you to participate and care. Life seems so full these days, stopping to check out our feet may seem trivial, but it isn’t. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pain!

Do you need some more help and encouragement in caring for your feet or choosing the right shoe?  Schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that no issues are making sure that you not only choose the right shoes but also keep your feet healthy. Call us at 732-382-3470 and see us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
June 19, 2019
Category: skin conditions
Tags: blisters   corns   calluses   salicylic acid   pumice stone  

People often get calluses, and corns mixed up as both are the hardened area of the skin. Corns are smaller, painful, and usually have a hard center. Calluses typically develop on the bottom of your feet, where corns can be found in non-weight bearing parts of the foot like between toes.

Traits of a Callus include:

  • Hardened, thick area of skin – usually found on the sole or bottom of your feet
  • Yellow skin – discolored skin
  • Caused by friction, pressure or irritation
  • Can also be found on elbows and knees
  • Will likely cover a bony area of the foot

If there is a lot of pressure exerted on the foot over a short period of time, blisters may also occur.

It is not recommended that over the counter callus removers be used because of the strong acid, which if not applied correctly, can burn the skin. Some people use medicated pads which may reduce pain, but it is best to consult with your podiatrist if you believe you are developing a callus.

Home treatment can include:

  • Soaking your feet in warm water to loosen skin
  • Use a pumice stone to file away the callus gently
  • Good fitting shoes and socks
  • Use a moisturizer to soften the callus

If home treatments do not help, then a podiatrist can do several of the following to relieve your feet of a painful callus:

  • Cutting and trimming the callus
  • Using salicylic acid to burn away the skin (should only be done by a podiatrist to prevent against burns)
  • X-ray – a doctor may take an x-ray to determine if there is a problem with your bones which may require surgery
  • Surgery – may be needed to relieve pressure on a specific part of your foot

Need some more help and encouragement in caring for your feet or choosing the right shoe?  Schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues and making sure that you not only choose the right shoe, but also keep your feet healthy. Call us at 732-382-3470 and see us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

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By Clark Podiatry Center
June 11, 2019
Category: warts

Sometimes foot problems can be misidentified causing the wrong treatment to be applied. Plantar warts are one such issue. Often taken for corns or calluses, a plantar wart is a small growth that appears on the heel or other weight-bearing surfaces of your feet.  Plantar warts are caused by the HPV virus or human papillomavirus that enters through cracks in your feet.

Signs of a plantar wart include:

  • Small fleshy growth – occurs on the bottom of your feet
  • Black pinpoints – actually small blood vessels
  • Pain – tenderness in the ball of your foot or another weight-bearing areas
  • Hardened area of the skin – may indicate where the wart has grown inward in your foot

Risk Factors for a plantar wart include:

  • Children and teenagers
  • People that walk barefoot in public places like locker rooms or pools
  • Men and women with weakened immune systems
  • If you’ve had a plantar wart before

Ways to avoid developing a plantar wart include:

  • Wearing sandals in locker rooms or pools
  • Avoid touching a wart, if you do, wash your hands thoroughly
  • Keep your feet clean and dry
  • Alternate shoes and socks

Plantar warts can go away on their own but can take quite a while. You may want to treat the wart yourself or see your podiatrist.

Treating a plantar wart includes:

  • Using an over the counter medicine
  • Salicylic acid – applied by your podiatrist, it will help peel away the wart
  • Cryotherapy – Your podiatrist will freeze it off
  • Surgery – Cutting the wart by an electric needle. Requires a pain medicine
  • Immune therapy – Strengthening your immune system to fight the plantar wart itself
  • Laser therapy – treating the wart with a laser. Must repeated several times to be effective

If you believe you have a plantar wart or any other foot concerns, please make an appointment with Dr. Brandon A. Macy, who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute. He will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.

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