Dr. Rosenstein,
I am embarrassed about my feet, particularly my nails. I don't even want to see a doctor about them, but I think I may have some type of fungus. Is there something I can buy at the drugstore?
People are generally embarrassed because they feel it reflects poor hygiene. The general opinion is that you catch fungus from shower floors, locker rooms, swimming pools, and the unhygienic people who use them, but that always isn't always the case. Fungi are everywhere-in the air, dust, and the soil.
Hygienic measures such as spraying socks and footgear may help a little bit. However, avoiding tight, non-breathing shoes, or steering clear of athletic floors may very well be more trouble than they're worth. Wearing white socks also does not help.
Daily washing of the feet and drying between the toes can help to prevent nail fungus.
One thing is sure, though: once fungus gets a foothold, so to speak, it hangs around indefinitely and often recurs even after successful treatment. However, it is not contagious!
It's always a good idea to have a podiatrists check out your feet if you suspect fungal infection because there are some other conditions you may have instead of fungal nails:
- Lines and Ridges- These are common and may be considered normal.
- Whitish or Yellowish Nails- Due to onycholysis. This means separation of the nail bed. The color you see is air.
- Red or Black Nails- Due to a hematoma, or blood under the nail, usually from trauma (like whacking yourself on the thumb with a hammer).
- Green Nails- Caused by pseudomonas bacteria, which live silently under many nails. This bacteria grows under a nail that has partially separated from the nail bed, thereby producing a green pigment.
- Pitted Nails- May be associated with psoriasis or other skin problems that affect the nail matrix, the area under the skin just behind the nail. This is the area from which the nail grows.
- Swelling and Redness of the Skin around the Nail- Called paronychia. This condition occurs when yeast infects a damaged cuticle.
Creams and other topical medications are usually not effective against nail fungus. This is because nails are too hard for external applications to penetrate. However, a new medicated nail lacquer ciclopirox (Penlac) Topical Solution 8% has been approved to treat finger or toenail fungus that does not involve the white portion of the nail (lunula) in persons with normal immune systems.
For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at
440-946-5858 or visit our website www.DrRobertRosenstein.com
And remember....." When your feet hurt, you hurt all over!"
Dr Rosenstein,
I have never had this problem before. It appears to be some kind of wart on the bottom of my foot and it hurts. What can I do to get rid of it?
Warts are caused by a virus and can appear anywhere on the skin. Warts on the foot are referred to as plantar warts.
On the bottom of the feet, plantar warts are usually hard and flat, rough, with well-defined boundries; but they are generally fleshier on the top of the feet or the toes. They are gray or brown with a center of black pinpoints.
It is recommended that you consult your podiatrists if you think you have a wart to not only get relief for pian, but to ensure a correct diagnosis. Warts are frequently confused with other foot disorders such as corns. If untreated, warts can spread and last a long time.
Self-treatment with over-the-counter medicatons is not recommended. They may destroy normal skin cells. There are numerous ways to remove a wart and your podiatrist will prescribe the most effective treatment for your specific condition.
Prevention Tips:
1) Don't walk barefoot
2) Change shoes daily
3) Keep your feet clean and dry
4) Do not ignore skin growths or changes
5) Visit your podiatrists anually.
For more information, please contact Affiliated Podaitrists, Inc. at 440-946-5858 or visit our website http://www.drrobertrosenstein.com/
"When your feet hurt, you hurt all over!"
Dr. Rosenstein,
My feet are cold all the time and it's very uncomfortable. What causes this and what can I do?
Cold feet can be a result of poor blood circulation. As we age, the blood vessels sometimes develop plaques that resitrict the blood flow to the feet.
Or sometimes the feet get sweaty and this moisture causes the foot to feel cold. You can wear a sock that wicks moisture away if that is the case.
Nerve problems in the foot can also give a cold sensation and may be painful at times. This condition is called periphal neuropathy and is frequently seen in people with diabetes, periphal vascular disease or other prolonged illnesses.
Peripheral nerves are the nerves that go out from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, skin, internal organs, and glands. The most common symptoms of neuropathy include numbness and loss of feeling, usually in the feet and hands. Peripheral neuropathy impairs proper functioning of these sensory and motor nerves.
"When Your Feet Hurt, You Hurt All Over!"
If you are having difficulty with this condition, consult with your family podiatrists.
For more information on "cold feet" or to schedule an appointment please contact Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc. at 440-946-5858 or visit our website http://www.drrobertrosenstein.com/
