Four Symptoms of Athlete's Foot - The Texas Foot Specialists

Athlete’s foot like the term implies is a common foot condition among athletes. But this does not excuse anyone from being infected. Good thing about athlete’s foot is that it is not as resilient as its hosts. Treatments are available and it does not cost much and some could even be conveniently found in your kitchen.

But before we go exploring into the different way of treating Athlete’s foot we must first learn how to identify its signs and symptoms. Below are possible signs of Athlete’s foot.

1. Itchy and burning sensations on the feet and between the toes
2. Dry, scaly and flaky skin areas on the foot
3. Pain due to cracked skin exposing raw tissue underneath
4. Toes become thick and discolored

Just because you could easily tuck your feet inside a pair of nice looking shoes doesn’t mean that it is a medical condition that you could easily sweep aside. Athlete’s foot when left untreated can lead to complications. Touching the infection makes it easier to spread. Any type of foot infection can be serious for diabetics. For any sign of foot infection consult a podiatrist. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in foot care and treating foot disorders.

Treating Athlete’s Foot

Anti-fungal ointments are readily available. If Athlete’s foot is treated immediately, this could be done in as little as a day or a week. But if left untreated and allowed to progress, symptoms may last for month or years. If symptoms persist for more than two week consult a podiatrist.

• Soak the feet for 5 to 10 minutes in half a liter of warm water added with 2 teaspoons of salt
• Tea contains tannic acid a natural astringent. Soak your feet in a tea bath for half an hour
• Using yogurt as an ointment can help treat a fungal infection. it contains acidophilus bacteria which checks the growth of fungi
• Add a few drops of mustard oil into the foot bath. Soak your feet for half an hour.
• Let your feet breath. Wearing open shoes

Give these home remedies at least a few weeks to work. If Athlete’s Foot remains untreated, it can lead to skin cracks or open wounds that could cause more serious infections to set in.

 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.

Corns: What are Three Treatments? The Texas Foot Specialists

Many of us may not be familiar with the medical term heloma. But simply put, it is the medical term for a corn. Corns are thick areas found on the skin’s surface. If left untreated it can become painful and irritating.

What are corns?

Often confused with a callus, a corn is mostly surrounded by inflamed skin and usually smaller compared to calluses. It is circular or cone-shaped. It can be a raised bump which is painful to touch, and the thick area may become rough, dry or waxy. Corns develop in areas where there is pressure or friction. It can develop when the little toe rubs against the shoe.

Consult a podiatrist for chronic corn problems. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

What are some of the treatments for corns?

1. Primary treatment for corns is to remove dead skin that has already built-up on the affected area.
2. Salicylic acid. Purchased over-the-counter, salicylic acid is the most common treatment being used to get rid of corns. It can come in different forms such as drops, creams, or medicated pads. The acid functions as a dissolving agent for keratin, which is the protein that forms corns. If you are a diabetic person though, you should consult your doctor first as salicylic acid is contraindicated for you to use. Using salicylic acid is very easy, you can simply apply the medication directly on your corn. The uppermost layer of the corn will become white after use. Once the change in color occurs, you can peel away the layer of the skin and make the corn smaller.
3. Orthotic inserts. Orthotic inserts should be fitted by a podiatrist. These inserts will allow you to walk correctly as it helps adjust how your foot fits into your shoe. Inserts will help you reduce your chances of having corn formation and can even eradicate existing corns by decreasing friction caused by rubbing.
4. Surgery. This is the very last resort in corn treatment and is rarely used. It focuses more on the underlying tissues that causes the formation of corns. If the surgery is performed, the bone is shaved and the abnormalities are corrected so that there will be a reduced friction while walking.

Prevention

• When talking about corn prevention, the primary goal is to reduce friction.
• Wear shoes that fit well.
• Do not rub your feet. You can buy some pads if you notice that there is some rubbing.
• Wear cushioned insoles in your shoes as it always reduces friction.

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.

Taking at Close Look at Five Causes Of Foot Blisters - The Texas Foot Specialists

Foot blisters are a common occurrence among people who wear tight or ill-fitting shoes that causes rubbing between the feet and the skin. While this is often dismissed as a simple discomfort, it can affect how we go about our normal daily routine. Walking or running could become difficult. So before we dismiss it, let us take a closer look into foot blister and possible ways of treating and preventing it.

What is a blister?

A blister is a small fluid-filled pocket. It mostly forms in the upper layers of the skin since these layers are often loose which allows blisters to form easily. The usual fluid found in a blister is a clear and watery-like liquid and is not a major cause for concern. But this can be alarming when a blister is already filled with blood and if you can already see pus.

When foot blisters become severe and chronic, consult a podiatrist. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

Five causes of blisters

1. Shoes rubbing against the foot
2. Friction
3. Shoes that do not fit properly
4. Walking for long periods of time
5. Moist foot

What should I do?

• Blisters may cause infection and pain. Hence, the number one priority for any blister treatment is to prevent infection and lessen complications. You can do so by doing these simple home treatments:
• Cover the blister with a sterile bandage. This will help the healing process as well as prevent any bacteria from infecting it.
• Using a sterilized pin, you can try to pop the blister. However, if you are afraid to do this by yourself, you can just wait for it to pop by itself as a new skin will form under it.
• If you can already see pus or blood forming in your blister, you need to consult with a doctor immediately. This may mean that the blister is already infected or that it cuts deep in your skin. Your doctor may give you antibiotics to kill the bacteria inside the blister. However, do not self-prescribe any antibiotics to yourself. It is still best if you check with your doctor what his proper prescription is.

Prevention

• Keep feet dry and ensure that the pair of shoes that you are wearing fits properly. Shoes that are too tight or too loose will only allow your feet to slide against it and can cause blisters.
• Place a bandage on the area where you think a blister is about to form so that the bandage can serve as a barrier between your foot and your shoe. 

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.

You don’t have to be in Sports to have Athlete’s Foot - The Texas Foot Specialists

Almost everyone is familiar with the foot condition called Athlete’s foot. This is a contagious infection caused by a fungus. Signs of this fungal infection include burning, itching, flaking and dry feet. The fungus tinea pedis is responsible for Athlete’s foot. It thrives in moist and dark areas.

Nine common places of infection:

1. Gyms
2. Shower floors
3. Socks and shoes
4. Public changing areas
5. Common areas
6. Bathrooms
7. Locker rooms
8. Public swimming pools
9. Dormitory style houses

Consult a podiatrist for more information on proper foot care Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

How does the fungus spread?

• Direct contact with an infected person’s body part
• Sharing contaminated clothing
• Touching other objects or body parts that were exposed to the fungus
• Athlete’s foot is hard to treat considering the highly contagious nature of the fungus.

Most commonly affected parts of the fungus

• Hands
• Groin
• Scalp
• Feet

The feet is an ideal location for the fundus to spread and grow. The term Athlete’s foot is used because the fungus is commonly found in the area but this could easily spread to other parts of the body.

Some signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot

• Mild to moderate flaking
• Intense itching and burning
• Redness
• Cracking and bleeding skin
• Pain experience while walking or standing
• Formation of blisters
• Prevention and treatment

The best way to treat athlete’s foot is through prevention because of the recurring nature of the tinea fungus. There are a lot of helpful preventive measures that you can do to counter the fungus. Here are some of the preventive measures that you can do:

• Wear flip flops or sandals while you are in the locker rooms or public showers to minimize your contact with the floor.
• Keep your feet clean and dry. You can apply foot powders to help keep them dry.
• Allow your feet to breath. Expose them to light and cool air to prevent tinea growth.

If you already have athlete’s foot, use topical medicated, ointments, sprays and creams. These medications will help eliminate and prevent the fungus from coming back.

It has been said that almost 70% of the population had suffer from a tinea infection at least once in their lives. 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.