Posts Tagged laser
All About Plantar Warts
Posted by drchrismilkie in General on September 1, 2009
Plantar warts are benign (non-cancerous) growths that occur on the sole (plantar surface), heel or ball of the foot. Pressure from standing and walking often causes them to grow into deep layers of the skin.
Plantar warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). There are over 100 different kinds of HPV. In some cases, the HPV virus dies with 1 or 2 years, the warts simply disappear. Other types of HPV viruses can survive for many years and even multiply. Since we cannot know which HPV virus a patient has, it is best to treat all warts to protect the risk of spreading.
Warts occur when the virus invades the body through tiny cuts or breaks in the skin on the bottom of the feet. The virus is encountered on contaminated surfaces, such as the tile floor of public locker rooms, showers, hotel rooms and swimming pools. Not everyone who comes in contact with the virus gets infected. The most common age groups to get warts are those under 16 and between 30 and 40.
Plantar warts usually are rough and spongy. Most are gray, brown or yellow with dark pinpoints. Scraping a wart may cause it to bleed because they have many blood vessels. Warts may also cause pain. Patients often feel a “lump” on the bottom of the foot. They can look like a callous. Many people come in thinking they have a callous only to find out it is a wart. Left untreated, warts can grow up to 1 inch in circumference and may spread into clusters (called mosaic warts).
Treatment for warts can consist of many different options. There are several over-the-counter medications that contain chemicals that can destroy the virus, but they don’t work very often. Other treatments consist of applying strong acid by a doctor, cold therapy, laser and cutting them out. There isn’t one treatment that is more effective than the other; treating warts is usually trial and error.
The best treatment for warts is preventing them from invading your feet. The following may help prevent plantar warts:
Avoid walking barefoot whenever possible
Change shoes and socks daily
Keep feet clean and dry
Check children’s feet periodically
Avoid direct contact with warts on other person’s or on other
parts of the body
If you have a spot on your foot that you are unsure about, it is always best to play it safe and have it evaluated- some skin lesions can be cancerous.
Milwaukee Toenail Fungus Sufferers Finally Get Relief with New Laser Procedure
Posted by drchrismilkie in General on July 7, 2009
Since early February, Wisconsin residents with toenail fungus infection have had access to a new laser-light treatment that demonstrates an 88% success rate.
Onychomycosis, an ugly and sometimes painful disease affecting over 23 million people in the U.S., previously has had no good treatment options. Topical treatments rarely work and the oral antifungal medications must be taken for 3 months with a risk of liver toxicity.
Karen Hughes, one of the first individuals in Wisconsin to have this new treatment, said “I was thrilled to hear that a laser treatment for nail fungus was available in the Milwaukee area. After trying to treat my toenail fungus for the past 3 years with topicals and medication to no avail, I was referred to Dr. Milkie. After his thorough explanation of using laser-light as a treatment I immediately decided to have the procedure done. It was quick and 100% painless–and now I’m looking forward to wearing sandals again.”
Margaret M. states, “I was the very first person in the state to undergo the new laser treatment for toenail fungus. I had an advantage in trusting Dr. Milkie to be the first in the state… I am married to him! I have been waiting a long time for a treatment like this to come along. I am really looking forward to enjoying this summer with friends and family!”
To date, nearly 300 patients have been treated here locally. The procedure takes less that 30 minutes, and is pain free. Nationally, the laser treatment has been used for a year, and the results have been nothing short of miraculous. Dr. Milkie states, “It is such a pleasure to finally be able to offer patients in Wisconsin a real cure for toenail fungus. Some of these patients have been suffering for 30 years!”
Dr. Chris Milkie, one of just 49 podiatrists in the U.S. using the FDA-cleared PinPointe* FootLaser*, said, “Since early February, when I started offering the new laser-light treatment, I’ve found the most common reasons for people choosing to have this procedure are embarrassment by the look of their toes, pain, and concern about spreading the fungus to family members. People have driven from as far away as Fond du Lac to have the procedure.”
Dr. Chris Milkie is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and is the chairman of the Podiatry Department at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-St. Joseph Hospital. He has been in private practice since 1991 and has offices in Wauwatosa and Fox Point. Dr. Milkie is an enthusiastic interviewee on topics related to foot conditions who has been featured on Today’s TMJ4 and Fox 6 News. In February 2009, he expanded his practice to offer laser treatment of toenail fungus infections.