Safe Toenail Trimming

Communal areas are the most likely place to be exposed to the fungi which attack your toenails. Showers in locker rooms, pools, and bath houses see a lot of traffic and provide the warm, wet, dark environments that fungi flourish in. Likewise, nail salons are a point of exposure for many people to these fungi. This is because these salons see a lot of feet coming in and out. And some people do not realize that although they handle the cosmetics of your toenails, they are not the experts in your toenail (and total foot and ankle care). So they go to their nail salon for help in clearing toenail fungus. This is not altogether wrong, since nail salons often stock over the counter products for toenail fungus. But they may not be able to offer you the range of advise, products, or other care that your podiatrist can. If you ever have a problem with your feet or toenails, be sure to contact your podiatrist for expert advise and treatment options.

One reason that toenail fungus can be spread at a nail salon is not using sanitary tools. If any tool is re-used before being sanitised, it can result in the spread of toenail fungus. You should double check the procedures at your nail salon to be sure that they are operating a sanitary business. Another way to double check that you are receiving sanitary care is to bring your own instruments. Many people feel more comfortable knowing that the instruments for their pedicure are used only for them. This means that you can clean and sanitize your own tools, as well as guaranteeing that you won't be sharing any germs that can cause Fungal nail infections, Athletes foot, Bacterial infections, Warts, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

If you are looking for a convenient pedicure kit, then we have such a product on our online store. Just visit: http://www.ourdoctorstore.com/vail/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=480 to see the SOS Safe Salon Pedicure Kit. This kit includes all natural tea tree and lavender Sole Savior Essential Moisturizing Oil (15ml), a professional grade cuticle nipper, a nail clipper, a cuticle pusher and curette cleaner, a nail brush, a nail file/buffer, a foot file, and toe separators (2 sets). All of this comes in a convenient case to help you keep it organized. Perhaps with all these tools you will feel confident in your ability to perform your own pedicures, saving you the time and money of going to the nail salon. These kits also make great gifts.

Findlay's Day of Dance

The Advanced Footcare Clinic will be at the Day of Dance for Health event sponsored by Blanchard Valley Health Systems! The event is to raise awareness for women's health issues, as well as enjoy a day to enjoy different dance styles, watch dance performance groups, take in music, eat good food, sign up for give-a-ways, receive health screenings and even win door prizes. Our office will have a booth at this event to share valuable health information about your feet. When you are exercising or dancing regularly you can really improve your over-all health. But nothing will hinder your ability to do so quicker than sore feet. So we want to give you tips on how to avoid this type of pain, as well as making you aware that we are available when you do experience foot problems. We will also have special offers and products from our office. Our display will include examples of our new therapeutic shoes. We want our patients to see that our shoes are not what they traditionally think of as therapeutic shoes, but they have been updated to offer great style as well as great footcare. And these shoes are available to all our patients, not just diabetics. We will also have an offer on a free pair of Dr. Comfort brand slippers for anyone who makes an appointment to see the podiatrist. And lastly, we will be offering free giveaways on some of our most recommended moisturizers, creams, scrubs, soaks, and other products.

The event will be held on Saturday, February 27th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. It will be in the University of Findlay's Koehler Center and the admission fee is a toothbrush and/or tube of tooth paste for charity. There is no preregistration required. Any questions can be directed to 419-423-5551. We look forward to seeing you that Saturday to enjoy yourself and learn all about women's health needs.

Two Quick Tips

Here are two quick tips for keeping your feet free from the fungi that cause athlete's foot and toenail fungal infections:

1. Use foot powder. There are many powders available for your shoes. The powder helps absorb the moisture released as your feet sweat throughout the day. Fungi thrive in moist, dark, warm environments, and removing the moisture helps you battle the fungi. It also helps reduce odors as bacteria in your sweat are what cause foot odor. When the sweat isn't absorbed into your shoes, it won't leave a residual smell in them. If you sweat excessively, you should change your socks and re-powder your shoes in the middle of the day. Remember to alternate shoes every day as the day off gives them a chance to dry out between wears. If you sweat excessively, you can make an appointment with your podiatrist to discuss treatment options and because the doctor can recommend products that go beyond the treatment of the typical foot powder.

2. Lysol your shoes. Using a disinfectant spray on your shoes kills the fungi and bacteria living in your shoes. This will help reduce the risk of fungal infections and reduce foot odor. You should spray your shoes and then let them air dry. You can speed the drying along with a hair dryer, but be careful not to shove the dryer down in the shoes and burn out the motor. Lysoling your shoes once a week will eliminate any fungus that may have developed while you were wearing those shoes and helps protect your feet.

Try these two tips not only along with treatment of a fungal infection, but as preventative measures against the appearance or return of fungi. If you notice the signs of a fungal infection in any of your nails, contact your podiatrist and schedule an appointment. Treatment is more effective when it is started early.

Winter Moisturizer

Winter is a tough season on your skin. This is the time of year your skin is most likely to dry out and even crack. Not only can cracks in the skin be painful, they can allow bacteria and viruses to gain access to your body. Cracks in the skin of your feet also make you more susceptible to fungal infections. You spend time moisturizing your skin and protecting your lips with lip balm. During this season where skin care is paramount, do not neglect your feet. Your feet are the base of your whole body. You will spend very miserable days standing and walking on cracked skin on your feet. You should moisturize feet daily. The best time is right after your shower and before bed. You may want to consider wearing socks to bed to keep your feet exposed to the moisturizer longer. You should moisturize both the top and bottom of your feet, but do not moisturize between your toes. Here is a product from our online store to help you weather the season:

Pedifix Mango Magic Foot Lotion
Instantly Moisturizes Skin with Healthy Nutrients
Pamper your feet! This salon-style lotion will soothe and soften rough, dry feet and refresh your skin. It features mineral oil, aloe vera, vitamin E, lanolin and urea to nourish your skin while it stimulates your senses with the tropical-fresh scent of mangos. Also works great as an all-over body lotion.

8 oz. Bottle

Massage cream into skin as needed, particularly after bathing and just before bedtime.

Proper Toenail Trimming

You may not be aware, but there is a correct way to trim your toenails. You should cut your toenails straight across. This is important because it prevents you from cutting the edges of your toenails back to far, possibly causing them to grow back ingrown. You should also make sure you don't cut your toenails too close because this can damage the tissues of the nail bed. You should not trim the skin around your nails. You also need to remember to trim your toenails, as long nails can cause shoes to be uncomfortable. And trimming your toenails the correct way can prevent them from future damage, which can make the nail more susceptible to fungal infections. Correct trimming is quite simple, and doesn't take very long, but it does ensure that you avoid unnecessary complications.

Footcare in the News

Eli Manning, the quarterback for the New York Giants football team, has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis after injuring his right heel in the fourth quarter of the Giants' win over Kansas City. He has been reported to have pain, and inflammation/swelling around his heel.

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tendon which connects the heel to the toes along the bottom of the foot. This injury is common not only for athletes. It is often the result of overuse, acute trauma (like in Manning's case), wearing footwear without adequate supports, and working/standing/walking on hard surfaces. The condition is usually conspicuous through symptoms like pain in and around the heel and bottom of the foot, tightness in the arch of the foot, and swelling and inflammation of the heel and tendon. Often people experience the pain from this injury in the morning, and it subsides as the tendon stretches out during the course of the day. It is also common to experience pain after sitting (resting) and getting back up after being on your feet for extended periods.

There are a number of treatments for plantar fascia. Taping can help relieve the pressure on the tendon, as can wearing a night splint over night to avoid tightening of the tendon. Often a stretching program or physical therapy can help strengthen the plantar fascia. Orthotic inserts for the patient's shoes are a very common treatment as well, and they tend to be effective even in difficult cases. Cortisone shots are also recommended frequently. Our office also offers APC (autologous platelet concentration) injections and ESWT (electronic shock wave therapy) to aid in sever cases of plantar fascia. The APC injection helped Hines Ward return from a knee injury just in time to aid the Steelers in their 2009 Superbowl win. One or a combination of these treatments could help Manning return to good playing condition and reduce his pain throughout the season.

If you are experiencing pain from plantar fascia, or any foot pain, do not hesitate to contact our office. Many people delay the treatment of this condition because they think they need to just bear the pain. This is not true. There is no reason to suffer when we can help you find relief.

Risk Factors for Fungal Nail Infections

There are a number of factors which can influence your risk of contracting a nail fungus. These events or considerations can influence how your body fights against and interacts with different fungi-causing agents.

-Tight Footwear. Wearing footwear that is too tight crowds your toes together. The result of this is that they tend to stay warmer, promoting sweating, and fungi grow best in warm, moist locations. This makes sizing your shoes correctly important, not only for your comfort, but so that your toes get the appropriate amount of air.

-Exercise. Although good for your over-all health, exercise can cause repeated minor trauma to your nails. This allows fungi to get a foot hold on your nail, providing the physical location for them to grow and also access to the inside of the nail. Keep in mind that you are of greater risk if you tend to slam your feet into the front of your shoes, whether when running or doing an activity which requires you to stop quickly and repeatedly. Wearing tight shoes can be a factor here again, as your foot doesn't have the necessary room inside your shoes. This is not to discourage you from your favorite exercises, but to remind you to check your toenails and between your toes regularly. Most people who exercise regularly are also prone to fungal infections which cause athlete's foot, hence the name. You should check for fungal infections regularly, and be sure to wash your feet thoroughly.

-Communal showers. Communal showers are used mostly in conjunction with pools, locker rooms, and residence halls. Because of the amount of traffic through these shared showers, it is more likely that they have been exposed to fungi. It is a good idea to keep a pair of flip flops or other shower sandals handy where ever you are exposed to a communal shower. Keep them in your dorm room, work out bag, locker, or pool tote. They can help reduce your foot's exposure to fungi.

-Immune deficiencies. If you have an immune deficiency for any reason (perhaps due to illness, disease, or birth defect) your body has a hard time fighting off fungi, as well as all pathogens. You need to check your feet for any signs of fungi regularly and wash your feet thoroughly every day. You may also want to invest in a product like FungaSoap or Tea Tree Soaks which have been featured on this blog. These products help kill the fungus before it can grow on your feet.

Podiatrist and Fungal Nails

Fungal nails are caused by an infection that occurs underneath the surface of your nails. Sometimes the infection can penetrate inside your nails. In both cases that can be quite painful and impede your ability to walk or run. The fungus can cause the nail to become discolored, misshapen, and malodorous. Sometimes we can prescribe oral or topical medication and remove the diseased nail portions through a process known as debridement. In other cases we can surgically remove the infected nail and eliminate the fungus completely. This can allow a new, healthy nail to grow.

Tea Tree Soaking Crystals for Clear Toenails

Another product we have in our office to help keep your toenails clear of fungus is Tea Tree Ultimates Soaking Crystals, by PediFix. These all natural soaks are a blend of tea tree and peppermint essential oils, Epsom salt and sea salt. Tea tree oil is a natural defense against fungi that cause a range of problems, including toenail fungus and athlete's foot. This soak is also great at relieving aches and pains, itching skin, foot odor, and it helps to soften corns and calluses. Your feet are left refreshed, clean and great smelling. You can even use these crystals as a full body soak to relive sore muscles and joint stiffness, while still eliminating fungi and bacteria. And the manufacturer is so sure that you'll love their product, they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

This product is also very simple to use. Simply fill a basin or tub with warm water, add contents of the packet, and stir with your hand. This will activate the essential oils. Then simply immerse your feet or your self into the basin or tub and enjoy a relaxing soak, muscle relief, and fungi-free feet! Here's a tip for use: adjust the temperature of the water to whatever is most soothing for you. If you want to take a long, full body soak, you can turn up the heat a little bit to have a long lasting, warm, enjoyable experience.

We especially recommend this product to patients who are susceptible to or are often exposed to sources of fungus. This product works equally well as a preventative measure, as well as a curative one. If you find yourself exposed to fungal agents (i.e. spending a lot of time around pools, public showers and other warm, damp areas) then this is a product you may want to consider using. Swing by our office for more information or to purchase these Soaking Crystals with Tea Tree Oil.