Blog - Foot Doctor, Chambersburg and McConnellsburg, PA

When we are born, our feet are soft, supple, and beautiful. As we age, the softness decreases and the skin on our feet can become thick, hard, and our heels can crack. It is when the thick, dry skin on our feet and heels become cracked that problems can arise. A heel crack is also known as a heel fissure. The skin cannot bear the pressure of our body if it is too dry, thick, and flaky, which creates cracks. It is an unpleasant and unsightly condition and sometimes severe cracks can bleed and become infected. Initially, the skin on the heels will look yellow or dark brown. Then thread-like cracks will appear. Skin on the feet and heels can become cracked from internal and external causes. Internal causes include lack of moisture, dehydration, poor nutrition, aging, obesity, genetics, some skin diseases (such as psoriasis, corns, eczema), and other health disorders, like diabetes. External factors causing cracked heels include prolonged standing, weight put on the feet (from lifting something heavy), poorly fitting shoes or shoes with open backs or hard soles, poor foot hygiene, excess contact with water (even bathing too frequently), exposure to winter weather, using harsh, drying soaps, or scrubbing too much. If you have cracked feet or heels and they are creating discomfort that is not mitigated by tending to the factors that created them, consult with a podiatrist who can treat the condition and teach you ways to prevent this from happening again.

If the skin on your feet starts to crack, you may want to see a podiatrist to find treatment. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Steven Schwartz from Pennsylvania. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

It is important to moisturize your cracked heels in order to prevent pain, bleeding, and infection. The reason cracked heels form is because the skin on the foot is too dry to support the immense pressure placed on them. When the foot expands, the dry skin on the foot begins to split.

Ways to Help Heal Them

• Invest in a good foot cream
• Try Using Petroleum Jelly
• Ease up on Soaps
• Drink Plenty of Water

Ways to Prevent Cracked Heels

• Moisturize After Showering
• Skip a Shower
• Keep Shower Water Lukewarm
• Don’t Scrub Your Feet

If you are unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels, seek guidance from a podiatrist. Your doctor will help you with any questions or information you may need. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg, and Mcconnellsburg, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Pain in the fifth toe, commonly referred to as the pinky toe, can be quite problematic. Although the pinky is the smallest of all the toes on the feet, pinky toe pain can be uncomfortable nonetheless. Since this toe is located on the outside of the foot, the pinky toe can be especially prone to stubbing and injuries. If you are experiencing pain in the pinky toe, there could be any number of causes. First, you might have broken or fractured the pinky toe. Broken toes will sometimes release a popping sound when impacted. X-rays might be needed to analyze the toe and its fracture. Another potential cause of pinky toe pain is ill-fitting footwear that makes the pinky toe rub up against the shoe. Lastly, pinky toe pain can be caused by the development of a corn. Similar to a thick, hardened callus, corns on the pinky toe can be painful when they are rubbed against the inside of a pair of shoes. Pain in the pinky toe is no joke — it is suggested you see a podiatrist who can help you address the problem.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg, and Mcconnellsburg, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

One of the most painful, not to mention annoying, skin irritations is an ingrown toenail. It is simply the result of the nail, commonly on the big toe, growing into the skin that surrounds it. Ingrown toenails can be the result of cutting the nails too short, or, ironically, by letting them grow too long. Nails that are ripped or torn, or nails that are cut into a rounded shape, also can cause ingrown toenails. They cause pain and sometimes redness, especially if the toes are encased in shoes that are too tight in the toe box. Improperly fitting shoes, along with toe injuries, and repetitive activity are among other causes of ingrown toenails. Cutting toenails straight across and soaking the feet in a salt-water bath a few times a day can help to relieve the pain. However if the ingrown toenail pain increases, becomes warm to the touch, or if there is a buildup of pus and an unpleasant odor, it may be infected. This would be a good time to consult with a podiatrist for immediate treatment. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Steven Schwartz of Pennsylvania. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg, and Mcconnellsburg, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

As an individual ages, it becomes even more essential that they are able to maintain proper foot health. This is because if a senior citizen has significantly unhealthy feet, their freedom and independence will be substantially reduced. However, as an individual ages, they also become more susceptible to experiencing foot afflictions. Therefore, senior citizens who want to take extra care of their health should be proactive in maintaining good foot care. One way to do this is to have a set time daily or once each week to examine the feet. The senior can do this by themselves or by asking for the help of a friend. Simply examine the foot for any noticeable problems including redness, swelling, deformations, or complications in the toenails. Scheduling a kind of regular inspection can be helpful for seniors because it enables them to check for any potential problems before they become exacerbated with time. Additionally, to be proactive, seniors can be sure that the shoes that they are wearing are not restrictive or too tight. Wearing properly fitted footwear is essential when an individual ages because ill-fitting shoes can reduce blood circulation and facilitate other troublesome foot afflictions. If you are a senior, be especially diligent when shoe shopping and ask for assistance in finding the best fitting shoes for you. These are just some of many potential proactive foot care tips for seniors. For more, contact a podiatrist. 

Proper foot care is something many older adults forget to consider. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Steven Schwartz from Pennsylvania. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

The Elderly and Their Feet

As we age we start to notice many changes in our body, but the elder population may not notice them right away. Medical conditions may prevent the elderly to take notice of their foot health right away. Poor vision is a lead contributor to not taking action for the elderly.

Common Conditions 

• Neuropathy – can reduce feeling in the feet and can hide many life-threatening medical conditions.
• Reduced flexibility – prevents the ability of proper toenail trimming, and foot cleaning. If left untreated, it may lead to further medical issues.
• Foot sores – amongst the older population can be serious before they are discovered. Some of the problematic conditions they may face are:
• Gouging toenails affecting nearby toe
• Shoes that don’t fit properly
• Pressure sores
• Loss of circulation in legs & feet
• Edema & swelling of feet and ankles

Susceptible Infections

Diabetes and poor circulation can cause general loss of sensitivity over the years, turning a simple cut into a serious issue.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Chambersburg, and Mcconnellsburg, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.