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From simple athlete’s foot to eczema to skin cancers such as melanoma, all sorts of skin disorders can be found on the feet. Some are nuisances but others can be much more serious, however the most important factor in successful treatment is proper and prompt diagnosis.

Athlete’s foot can have many appearances—it can look like dry skin, may or may not be itchy and can be on any part of the foot, not just the toes.  But not all rashes are athlete’s foot.  Eczema, psoriasis and other disorders are all possible.  How to differentiate them?  Simple and usually painless skin biopsies sent to the lab will give us the right diagnosis and set us in the right direction for treatment.

Regardless of the season, whether you go on an island vacation in winter or the Jersey shore in summer, you can’t forget about skin cancers.  Melanoma constitutes 1 percent of skin cancers, but causes more cancer deaths than any other skin cancer. Between 3 and 15 percent of melanomas occur on the foot.

The first symptom in feet is usually a changing or unusual mole.  Sometimes it can be a dark streak under a nail plate.

The surprising fact is that just because a mole has been there ‘forever’, doesn’t guarantee that it is benign.  Early diagnosis is critical for skin cancers.  A biopsy will provide either peace of mind or a prompt entry into treatment protocols with improved chances of positive outcomes.

Here’s the takeaway point:  Have skin rashes examined and biopsied as needed for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Check suspicious symptoms with the ’CUBED’ acronym:  Is it Colored, Uncertain, Bleeding, Enlarged, or is there a Delay in healing of the lesions?  Don’t shy away from having a simple biopsy performed.  It could save your life.

For more information or an appointment, contact us at 732-382-3470 or visit our website at www.clarkpodiatry.com.

At Clark Podiatry Center, we want to keep you walking!

#melanoma #skincancer #ClarkPodiatry