Excessively Sweaty Feet

Everyone’s feet sweat. After all, there are  250,000 glands in the feet. Most people sweat in temperatures like we had in Chicago this summer, it’s just unavoidable when it’s 100 plus degrees. When the body gets warm, it sweats. This is simply biology. The interesting thing is that everyone has their own temperature breaking point when they start to sweat. A wife could start to sweat when it’s 75 degrees outside while the husband thinks this is the ideal temperature and doesn’t start to sweat. Every person’s body has their own temperature “set point”.

But for some, their feet sweat excessively all of the time. By excessive I mean when one’s foot slips and slides around in one’s shoe. The technical term is called hyperhidrosis. The foot may appear whitish in color and look wet. Excessive wetness of the feet can cause foot infections. Skin is durable, but still sensitive. The wetness can cause the skin to break down, causing small tears where infection can take place. Bacteria grow in dark damp conditions and can be a real concern.

Sweaty feet are commonly found:

Men > Women
Young Adults > Older Adults

What does one do for sweaty feet?

1. Wear shoes that breathe.
2. Wear wicking socks.
3. Wear synthetic sock blends vs. cotton socks.
4. Change socks multiple times a day.
5. Wash feet with antibacterial soap.
6. Make appointment for a proper diagnosis & further medical treatment options.

American Podiatric Medical Associaton. (2012). Sweaty feet. Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/learn/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=1951

Image by Brave Heart. (2008). Wet foot prints. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/brraveheart/2607936114/

Dry Skin - When to Make an Appointment

Dry skin, we’ve all had it at one point or another in our lives. It seems like we’re constantly battling outside forces to keep our skin fresh and smooth. Soap, swimming, hot weather, cold weather, bodily hormones, the socks and shoes we wear, medications, and certain medical conditions can minimize the naturally protective oils on the skin. These oils keep the skin on our feet moist and soft. When the oils are reduced, the skin becomes dry and cracked. Most people turn to lotions as their first line of defense against dry skin, which works the majority of the time.

But how do you know when you need to make an appointment to have your dry skin evaluated by a Podiatrist?

Try this test: Use lotions and moisturizers for two weeks and wash with mild soup during the test phase. If dry skin persists, make an appointment.

Aside from the test, diabetics should be checked at first sign of dry skin. If skin becomes cracked, swollen, red, bleeding, or oozing, make an appointment immediately. Severe and persistent itchiness of the feet or toes can be a number of skin related conditions such as Athlete’s foot, psoriasis, or eczema.

Each skin condition has different treatment options so a diagnosis is imperative to stop the dry and itchy skin. Treatment options can be as simple as using milder soaps, using topical antihistamines or creams. Some conditions require antibiotics and treatments to control the underlying medical condition causing the dry skin.


Image by Lotus Carroll. (2008). Dry patch. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelotuscarroll/2204691159/
Gardner, Stephanie. (2011). WebMd. Ultra dry skin? when to call a doctor. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/dry-skin-10/medical-treatment

Treacherous Toes

In the grand scheme of limbs, toes are awfully small compared to other limbs on the body. Even though they are small, they provide vital support, balance, and strength for the rest of the foot. If the structure of the toe is compromised, pain and discomfort occurs. It’s interesting to note that toe deformities can result from a problem stemming in another part of the foot or even farther up the leg.

A quick symptom guide of various structure deformities can help pinpoint problems of treacherous toes. For a diagnosis and treatment plan, make an appointment with my office.

Symptoms of Bunions & Bunionettes:

• Bump appears at the base of the big (for bunion) or fifth toe (for bunionette)
• Pain, especially when wearing shoes that press or rub against the bump
• Big toe points toward the second toe

Symptoms of Hammertoe:

• Bending and curling of the second toe, but it can be found on any of the three middle toes
• It’s given its name for a reason… the shape resembles a hammer. The end part of the toe bends down into a claw-like deformity.
• Over time, pain persists on the top of the toe and one will not be able to move the toe.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis (joint disorder):

• Morning pain that diminishes as the day goes on
• Resting the joints minimizes pain
• Stiffness in the affected joint
• Increased pain after exercising

Symptoms of Gout (joint disorder):

• Jolts of pain in the affected joint
• Possible inflammation in the joint
• Increase in symptoms after eating certain foods
• Pain often starts during the night & is described as throbbing
• Joint becomes red, warm, and tender

Symptoms of Sesamoid:

• Pain in the ball of the foot, beneath the big toe
• Swelling in the ball of the foot
• Loss of range of motion in the big toe & difficulty walking

Image by Janine. (2009). toe family. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkcotton/3301572765/

Olympic Gymnasts Strive to Keep Feet Healthy

The Olympics have American’s captivated and rooting for their favorite athlete’s. Most of these athlete’s have spent their entire lives working towards winning an Olympic gold metal. That type of dedication has tremendous impact on an athlete’s body; good and bad. The plus side is that each athlete has diligently worked towards optimizing their body to be in the best physical shape of their lives. The down side is that continuous practice, especially in gymnasts, is that they are prone to feet, ankle, and heel pain.

The men’s and women’s gymnastic teams were suffering from foot injuries just prior to the start of the Olympics. McKayla Maroney suffered from a sore right foot and on the first day of the Olympic trials Sam Mikulak sprained his left ankle during a vault run. Podiatrists are part of the Olympic’s medical team, specifically for these reasons. They play an integral part of keeping our athlete’s in peak performance to help them bring the gold back to America.

Because gymnasts don’t wear shoes or braces on their feet that would hinder traction from the map, they perform barefooted. This can lead to a variety of foot conditions; heel pain, arch pain, cracked heel, athlete’s foot, ligament strains, stress fractures, heel bruises, and swollen growth plates. Keep in mind that most gymnasts are still very young and their bodies are growing while they put a tremendous amount of strain on their lower extremities. Their feet support not only their weight, but also have to absorb the amount of force associated with many of the jumps. So how do gymnasts keep their feet healthy?

• Tape feet properly
• Wear specific shoes for specific activates
• Apparatus shoes are used for dismounts.
• Vault shoes have padding on the soles to absorb shock from the hard landing. 
• Ice the bottoms of the feet
• Rest feet after practice & between events
• Stretch feet and lower extremities before & after events

Image by dearbarbie. (2012). DSC_9571. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dearbarbie/7675694980/

Gymnastics Rescue. (2012). Shoes and Foot Injuries for Gymnasts. Retrieved from http://www.gymnasticsrescue.com/Shoes_and_Feet.htm

Heel That Pain. (2012). Gymnastics and Heel Pain. Retrieved from http://www.heel-that-pain.com/heel_pain/gymnastics.php

Must Do for Wart Prevention

Warts can be unsightly, potentially painful, resistant to treatment, and reoccur even after various treatments.

The key is to not get warts in the first place. Prevent warts by following these tips.

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service. Wear shoes everywhere, especially in public places like pools and gym showers. Warts are contracted through a virus that enters the body through small cuts in the feet.

Practice Good Hygiene. Change socks and shoes on a daily basis. If you are prone to sweaty feet, keep extra pairs of socks handy. Viruses thrive in warm moist environments. Keep feet clean and dry.

Self-Check. Evaluate your feet daily or at least weekly for any changes that may occur. At the first sign of a wart, growth, or skin change, make an appointment right away. If you have children, check their feet after yours. Make it a family routine.

Keep hands and feet to yourself. If someone you know has a wart, don’t touch it. Wart viruses can spread by contact.

Be selfish. Don’t share your towel, socks, shoes, or razor with anyone. Even though it may not look like someone has wart, they can still be carrying the virus, which can be passed onto you unknowingly.

Minimize feet irritation. Blisters, dry skin, and small cracks on the soles of the feet allow for wart viruses to be easily transferred into your body. Broken and injured skin is caused when the feet are irritated by rubbing from shoes.

Prevent spreading of warts. Keep warts covered with band-aids and don’t bite nails or cuticles.


Image by M.V. Jantzen. (2008). No Shirt No Shoes No Service. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvjantzen/2349235973/

Patient Testimonial Re: Foot Fungus

I have the best patients. Thank you very much Debbie Nolte for writing this amazing testimonial!

 

"First of all, I’d like to say how pleased I am with the results of the laser treatment for the toe fungus on both my feet. I had never heard of it before and I had spent 3+ years trying everything to get rid of it. I had become so embarrassed with how badly my feet looked. But not anymore – they look just as good & healthy as before the fungus. There was nothing to having the laser treatment done – just a small amount of time. And I though the treatment was very affordable. I had the treatments done this winter. I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Vittori and his staff. The doctor was wonderful and all his staff is very friendly & helpful. The office is spotlessly clean and all my appointments were right on time. I have referred a couple people to Dr. Vittori & will happily continue to do so. I thank them all very much."

 

Many Causes of Heel Pain

Recently I was asked about persistent heel pain. This person wondered if shoe inserts purchased from the store would be the best course of action to treat the pain, or should an appointment be made to see a Podiatrist. I suggested making an appointment to be properly diagnosed. Purchasing shoe inserts might help with the pain, but it only masks the problem. Foot pain, of any kind, is not normal.

The reason why a check-up from a Podiatrist is so vital is that the pain could be caused by a number of different muscle or tendon problems. X-rays distinguish what and where the problem is in the foot. Heel pain can be caused from the heel bone, which is largest of the 26 bones in the foot. Just like all bones in the body, it can be fractured, chipped, or inflamed.

Heel pain can occur if the heel bone is enlarged, called Haglund’s Deformity. Treatment does include arch supports, shoe inserts, heel lifts, or custom orthotics. Anti-inflammatory medication can provide relief. Heel boots or a soft cast can be used if the heel is severely inflamed.

The most common cause of foot or ankle pain is caused by the inflammation for the Achilles tendon, called Tendinitis. Shoe inserts or a soft case to immobilize the foot is a common treatment to stop further injury.

Excessive pronation, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis are also causes of heel pain. As you might be able to guess, each of these problems are treated differently.

I hope that by understanding some of the problems that cause heel pain, one understands the importance of diagnosing the root of the problem. Masking the problem does only one thing: hide the problem. If at any point feet hurt, make an appointment. Early treatment means less pain and continuation of one’s mobile life.


Image by Brave Heart. (2006). Foot and Heel. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/brraveheart/777433872/