Katie Holmes has a not so perfect feet? The Texas Foot Specialists

Katie Holmes, one of the richest and most famous celebrities in Hollywood also has her own share of physical flaw. The popular actress is rumoured to have corns and calluses on her feet. But what are corn and calluses?

Corn and calluses are a painful thickening of the skin that usually occurs on the feet and is caused by friction or pressure. A callus is a more diffuse, flat area of the thick skin while the appearance of corn is a waxy, flaky, and translucent. Corns and calluses usually occur in feet and causes pain and discomfort when walking.

To understand more about corns and calluses, consult a podiatrist. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

What are some of the causes of corn and calluses?

• Repeated pressure on the feet like walking or running
• Dry skin
• Deformities in the foot
• Incorrect walking motion
• Reduced fatty padding
• Wearing high-heeled shoes
• Wearing of ill-fitting shoes
• Wearing shoes or sandals with no socks

What are the possible sign and symptoms of corn and calluses?

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of corns and calluses:

• Area of flaky, dry skin
• Skin is bumpy
• Pain or tenderness
• Pain felt under the skin
• Skin is thick and has a hard patch

How to treat corns and calluses?

With the help of some medicated products, treating corns and calluses is possible. Always check with your podiatrist first before treatment. Treating corns and calluses involves the removal of the thickened skin as well as getting rid of the pressure and friction.

• Hard skin removal
• Protective corn plasters
• Use of silicone wedges that redistribute pressure evenly
• Soft padding or foam insoles
• Special rehydration cream intended for corns and calluses treatment
• Salicylic acid patches
• Wearing of comfortable flat shoes instead of high-heeled shoes
• Do not wear high-heeled shoes again

If you happened to notice that your corn and calluses are swelling or you are in pain, see your doctor right away.

Can we prevent corns and calluses?

By reducing or eliminating activities that lead to increased pressure on the feet, it is possible to prevent the development of corns and calluses. By looking at your feet, you are helping yourself to prevent corns and calluses.

• After washing, dry your feet thoroughly and apply a moisturizing foot cream
• Wear only the right pair of shoes
• Never hesitate to visit a podiatrist if you are already feeling pain
• To remove hard skin, use pumice stone or foot file
• Wear shoes that are perfectly and comfortably fitted to your foot

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Patrick Duffy Suffering from Morton’s Neuroma? Texas Foot Specialists

Patrick Duffy is an accomplished American actor that is best known for his role as Bobby Ewing in Dallas. The National Enquirer reported that he is suffering from Morton’s Neuroma, a painful foot condition.

Morton’s Neuroma is a condition that affects the nerves of the feet, most commonly the area between the third and fourth toes. These causes the nerves around the feet to enlarge that will cause pain in the feet.

How does Morton’s Neuroma occur?Morton’s Neuroma occurs as a response to irritation, pressure, or injury to one of the nerves of the foot. Consult a podiatrist for any chronic foot pain. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with chronic foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes. High heeled shoes and tight shoes can put extra pressure on your toes and on the ball of your foot.
• High impact exercise. Participating in certain sports such as running, hiking, or jumping will cause your feet to repetitive trauma.
• Walking incorrectly. People who have bunions, hammertoes and other foot deformities are at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma.

What are the symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma?

• Burning sharp pain and numbness on the bottom of the foot
• The pain increases while walking and is gone when resting
• Tingling sensation in the spaces between your toes

These symptoms can also be caused by wearing high heeled shoes and standing for a long period of time. If the symptoms of Morton's Neuroma is persistent, the best way to do is to visit a podiatrist so he can suggest measures to reduce the symptoms or to recommend treatments.

Treating Morton’s Neuroma

Make sure you check with your Podiatrist before treating your neuroma. The treatment depends on how long you have had the condition and its severity. If your Morton's Neuroma is painful, your doctor will start treating you using conservative and non-surgical methods.

The following are some the non-surgical ways on how to treat Morton's Neuroma:

• Change your footwear. Avoid using high heeled and narrow shoes. Ease the pressure on the nerve of your foot by wearing orthotic pads such as metatarsal pads and good arch support.
• Losing weight. Exercising and losing weight will reduce the strain on your feet.
• Painkillers. Using anti-inflammatory drugs will reduce the pain
• Injections. A steroid injection medication will offer real pain relief that will last for some time.

Can Morton's Neuroma be prevented?

It is not always possible to prevent Morton’s Neuroma but you can reduce the risk by wearing and using low-heeled, well-fitting and wider shoes. The symptoms will come and go and sometimes, it will go away completely. At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize suffering from Morton's Neuroma. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.