What is Athlete’s Foot?

What is Athlete’s Foot?                                      
Athlete’s foot is a common skin problem caused by a fungus. Usually beginning on the skin between the toes, the fungus infection becomes scaly and itchy. Over time it may cause a break in the skin and become sore. Another term for athlete’s foot is tinea pedis.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include:                                                                                                           
- Itching
- Cracking and peeling skin between toes
- Soreness
- Blisters (occasionally)

How does it occur?
The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is everywhere in the environment. It is commonly from the floors of showers, locker rooms, and exercise facilities. The fungus likely grows on sweaty, constantly wet, or improperly dried feet (especially in shoes with poor ventilation).

How is it diagnosed?
We can usually diagnose athlete’s foot after examining your skin.

How is it treated?
The infection may clear up without treatment, but most fungal infections are treated with medicine put on the skin. If the infection is severe or widespread, we may prescribe a medication to take by mouth.

How can I help prevent athlete’s foot?
Follow these guidelines:

- Wear cotton socks when you exercise
- Change your socks every day
- Wear sandals or shoes with ventilation holes (a natural material like canvas or leather)
- Air out your shoes after wearing them
- Wear sandals when showering in a locker room
- Dry your feet well, especially between toes
- Apply an antifungal powder on affected area
- Disinfect shower and locker room floors

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Ingrown Toenails

Let us help with Ingrown Toenails! This is such a common question, and we get asked all the time the best way to handle Ingrown Toenails.

Ingrown Toenails can be extremely painful and are often caused by cutting our toenails incorrectly. There are a few people who inherited really bad toenails, but the rest are self-inflicted. Then we shove our foot into shoes that are too narrow or tight and we make them even worse!

Help is on the way! There are some simple steps you can follow to avoid ingrown toenails. First, cut your toenails straight across the top, not rounded. Second, avoid tight shoes and socks. Yes, the socks can do it! Third, and most important, stop picking at your toenails! Fourth, (and yes it sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised) please clean your toenail clippers with alcohol before you cut your nails. Self-inflicted infections are common.

If you are like many of the poor souls who are seeking help, it is time to come to our office so we can take a look. Often, a round of antibiotics and a minor procedure in the office are all that is needed to alleviate your pain. Sometimes, a more advanced procedure, called a matrixectomy, is needed to remove a deformed toenail permanently.

Do not perform bathroom surgery on your ingrown toenails! This can lead to a significant infection and even toe loss in the immunocompromised population with diabetes or vascular disease.

Contact Us for immediate help and we can help you get rid your toe pain!

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Plantar Fasciitis

Is Plantar Fasciitis Common?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the connective tissue that supports the arch of your foot. It often causes intense arch and heel pain. Those who have had it know that it can be a stubborn problem that likes to linger on for months or even years. Plantar fasciitiscan affect people of all ages, foot type, and activity level.

How Do You Treat It?

Most cases of plantar fasciitis respond to aggressive conservative treatment, with surgeryrarely needed. Typical treatment includes rest from activity, immobilization in a boot, ice, anti-inflammatories, stretching, orthotics and physical therapy. Immobilization in a cast may also be an option for quicker recovery.

How Do You Get a Tear?

If left untreated, plantar fasciitis can weaken the plantar fascia to such an extent that a sudden push off force, even if a mild one, can cause a rupture or tear of the plantar fascia. Steroid injections for plantar fasciitis may also weaken the plantar fascia, if done repeatedly over too short a period of time, causing it to tear as well.

If you suspect that you may be suffering from plantar fasciits or have even had it in the past, don’t get off on the wrong foot, make an appointment with Advanced Podiatry Group today!

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Bunions

Do you ever have pain in your big toe? Have you ever experienced pain when pushing off the
ground, when walking? If so, you might be experiencing bunion pains. Bunions are one of
the most common foot problems. Bunions can come in two types, structural and biomechanical. Structural bunions can form due to the increase in the angle between your 1st and 2nd
toes naturally as you age. Biomechanical bunions can be formed based on your gait and they
way you walk over time these might develop. Structural and Biomechanical bunions both can
affect the joint causing premature arthritis. As podiatrists and parents, we all know that
it’s better to catch a problem early in its stages before it becomes worst.

Bunion symptoms can range from a foot deformity, noticing a bump on the inside of your
first toe to painful shooting pain that radiates through your foot. You might notice that
you need to buy wider shoes, than previously purchased. You might experience some soreness
or calluses developing on the side of your first toe. Also you might notice more shoe
wear on the sides of your shoes.

But have no fear there are many treatment options for bunions. There is a multitude of
conservative treatments to consider such as topical creams to relieve the pain, pads to
cushion the painful areas, and also bunion splits etc.

If you or someone you know is experiencing bunion pain, we welcome you to visit our office
Advanced Podiatry Group. We would be more than happy to schedule an appointment
for your foot evaluation with Dr. Ramin Nadjafi, DPM.

www.apgpodiatry.com | (407) 423-9401 | plus.google.com/+AdvancedPodiatryGroupOrlando