Archive for category Toenail fungus
Foot Health Tips for Summer
Posted by drchrismilkie in General, Orthotics, Toenail fungus on July 4, 2010
I would like to share with you my Top Ten Summer Tips for Foot Health. Obviously, we expose our feet much more during the summer season, and have less support in our summer shoes. Add to that the heat and sun… well here goes:
1. Apply sunscreen to the top of your feet. Whether it’s going barefoot at the beach or around the pool, or wearing flip flops, our feet are much more exposed to direct sunlight. Applying sunscreen is easily forgotten but just as important as any other part of the body. Since the skin on our feet is less exposed to sunlight throughout the year, it is important to use at least 30 SPF sunscreen. Don’t let the fun of a day in the sun be ruined by the pain of sunburned feet.
2. Wear flip flops in public places such as pools, showers, and hotels. it is great protection against fungus and warts.
3. If you have othotics, wear them in the summer just as you would any other time of year.
4. Don’t go into a pool or lake with a suspected foot infection.
5. Wear a high quality pair of walking or running shoes at all our wonderful festivals and the State Fair.
6. Treat sweaty feel with an over-the-counter anti-fungual foot powder such as Zeasorb.
7. Avoid flip flops, bare feet and sandals when walking and standing for along period of time.
8. Wearing water shoes in lakes provides protection against injury form broken glass or sharp sticks or rocks.
9. Stress injuries to the feet increase in the summer, so ease into any outdoor exercises and activities.
10. Most foot problems can be fixed without surgery, so don’t wait to be seen because you are afraid of being laid up in the summer.
Learning To Say No To These Foot Disasters
Posted by articlemanager in Foot Pain, Toenail fungus on June 15, 2010
If you are a woman who strives to look her best, then chances are that your feet take quite a beating everyday! All joking aside, some of the most common foot practices of women can be quite detrimental to their long-term foot health. Between high-heeled shoes, locker room bathrooms, and public footbaths and spas, women put themselves at risk for foot problems nearly every day. To help you avoid several visits to your local podiatry clinic, here are some tips to help you avoid these foot care disasters. While some of them may seem like they are taking away your right to beautiful shoes and pedicures, believe this: your feet will thank you in the long run!
*Just Say No To High-Heeled Shoes. OK, so you probably think that giving up your high-heel collection would be a fate worse than death. But trust this: these high-heeled stiletto monsters are absolute torture on your feet. They can indeed cause a score of long-term foot problems, including everything from bunions, nerve damage in your toes, and ankle and heel pain. If you simply must keep high-heels as part of your wardrobe, strive to only wear high-heels that fall around one inch. And invest in some comfy gel inserts so you can create some much-needed arch support in these stressful shoes.
*Just Say No To Infection Hotbeds. If you workout or stay in hotels frequently, you are probably putting yourself at risk for warts and toenail fungus without even realizing it. Indeed, every time you walk on a gym locker room or hotel bathroom floor without shower shoes or flip-flops, you are seriously risking picking up the human papilloma virus (HPV, also known as the pesky little virus behind unsightly plantar warts) and toenail fungus. To ensure that you avoid these nasty little problems, always sport a pair of flip-flops or shower shoes when you walk in one of these public places.
*Just Say No To Spa Footbaths. Next time you are getting a pedicure, ask that the manicurist soak your feet in a basin of lukewarm water instead of submerging them in one of those public footbaths. The jets can be a hotbed of bacteria and viruses, all of which can cause a slew of foot and nail related problems.
It is pretty easy for the average woman to acquire a foot problem or condition thanks to the aforementioned culprits. But if you follow these easy tips, you are sure to keep your feet healthy and beautiful.
Yellow Thick Toenails May be Caused by Something Other than Fungus
Posted by xmlrpc in Laser Treatments, Toenail fungus on June 5, 2010
Toenails that have become discolored or thick and discolored are often a result of toenail fungus, otherwise known as onychomycosis. According to many studies approximately 20% of people age 40-60 have this condition. The color most often associated with this condition is yellow. Toenail fungus is so common because our feet are exposed to moisture, heat and darkness, all of which are the friend of fungi. The fungi first invade our skin and then assault our nails. So if you ever wondered where you got this condition from just look to your skin. Most people with toenail fungus have dry skin with areas that flake. Your feet don’t have to itch to have athlete’s foot. In fact the more common form of athlete’s foot is the dry, non-itchy kind.
But not all thick discolored nails are toenail fungus. Many of these nails have thickness of the nail bed called hyperkeratinization. It’s a callusing of the nail bed. It usually occurs because of microtrauma to the nail. This microtrauma is usually caused by an underlying abnormality of the bone structure or foot movement. A simple example is a hammertoe deformity. The toe bends downward leading to constant rubbing of the nail against the bottom of the shoe. Most people don’t feel the rubbing. The body responds to friction by building up callus to protect itself. The nail will become thick and often has a yellow or brown color. To determine whether the nail has fungus or just hyperkeratin a biopsy can be performed.
If the underlying bone deformity or biomechanical abnormality isn’t corrected the nail will continue to build up callus. Some deformities are easy to fix with a minor procedure or custom foot orthotics. Once the cause of the nail condition is addressed then the nail itself can be treated. If fungus is present then the new Laser treatment, oral medication or a combination of the two are the treatment options. In the absence of fungus, a thick nail has to be filed down and treated with Urea based products. Urea can help prevent recurrence of hyperkeratin.
Before you run to your family doctor or dermatologist to treat your “fungus” condition you should consult with a Podiatrist. A Podiatrist will not just focus on the nail condition but rather look at your entire foot for the root of the problem. Making the correct diagnosis will lead to a higher chance of success and will save you time and money.