Chilblains (cold feet)

Chilblains are caused by the skin's abnormal reaction to cold. Circulation is a determining factor for chilblains; people with poor circulation in the feet are more susceptible.

Chilblains are characterized by small itchy, red swellings on the skin, which become increasingly painful, swell, and dry out, leaving cracks in the skin and exposing the foot to the risk of infection. 

They occur on the edge of the toes, fingers, face (especially the nose), and the ear lobes. They can also occur on areas of the feet exposed to pressure, such as on a bunion or where the second toe is squeezed by tight shoes. Symptoms include burning and itching, swelling or redness, breaks in the skin, and ulcers.

Treatment includes keeping the body, legs, and feet warm, especially for individuals who have poor circulation and/or limited mobility.

Calamine lotion will take away most of the skin discomfort. If chilblains become ulcerated, application of an antiseptic dressing is the recommended form of treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns about your feet, please don't hesitate to contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704-786-4482 or visit our website at http://www.familyfootcare.info/.

Capsulitis

Capsulitis is an inflammation of the ligament on the bottom of the foot. It is usually caused by trauma or abnormal structural functioning, which overstretches the ligament that attaches one of the toe bones to a metatarsal bone. Wearing high heels or other poorly fitting footwear and performing repetitive activities that bend the toes, such as ladder climbing, are also known causes.

Pain in the forefront of the foot is the most common symptom of capsulitis. Capsulitis is often misdiagnosed as Morton's neuroma because of similar symptoms.

Noninvasive treatments are used to resolve capsulitis, including:

• Wearing low-heeled shoes with firm soles that fit properly.
• Decreasing or temporarily discontinuing the activity responsible for the onset of the inflammation.
• A short course of oral anti-inflammatory medication. Note: Please consult your physician before taking any medications.
• Cortisone injections.

If you have any questions regarding to your feet, please don't hesitate to contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704-786-4482 or visit our website at http://www.familyfootcare.info/.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle Sprains from Officite on Vimeo.

If you experience pain in your ankle or foot, please do not hesitate to contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704-786-4482.

 

What is the best kind of ankle brace to wear?

There are a number of different ankle braces that are available. The most simple, an ACE bandage or pull-on ankle brace provides minimal support. It can work, however, to provide some additional support after there is full recovery from an ankle sprain. There are pull-on ankle braces that also have additional support to provide more stability to the ankle and help prevent it from being twisted. There are also lace-up braces that provide the most stability of all braces that can be found in pharmacies or running stores.
There are ankle braces that are more durable and effective. We carry many of them in our InStride Family Food Care Office. For those who have a history of chronic ankle sprains, Dr. McDonald will make a custom ankle brace for maximum protection and prevention.

For additional questions, please contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704-786-4482 or visit at https://www.familyfootcare.info/.

 

Athlete's Foot (tinea pedis)

Athlete's Foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus that usually occurs between the toes. The fungus attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment that encourages fungus growth. Warm, damp areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms are also breeding grounds for fungi.

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot include drying skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters on and between the toes. Athlete's Foot can spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails as well as other parts of the body, which is why timely treatment is so important.

You can prevent Athlete's Foot by:

•     Not walking barefoot, particularly in public pools and locker rooms.
•     Reducing foot perspiration by using talcum powder.
•     Wearing light and airy shoes.
•     Wearing socks that keep your feet dry, and changing them frequently if you perspire heavily.

While fungicidal and fungistatic chemicals are usually used to treat Athlete's Foot problems, they often fail to contact the fungi in the lower layers of the skin. For persistent Athlete's Foot, a prescription topical or oral antifungal drug may be needed. 
Note: Please consult your physician before taking any medications.

If you have any questions or concerns about your feet, please don't hesitate to contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704-786-4482 or visit our website at http://www.familyfootcare.info/.

 

Gout | Learn more about it

Gout from Officite on Vimeo.

If you have any questions regarding to your feet, please do not hesitate to contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704-786-4482.

 

Does nail polish cause toenail fungus?

Nail polish in and of itself does not cause toenail fungus. That's not to say that it doesn't contribute to the situation. Fungus is an opportunist that infects the toenails when they are damaged. Nail polish can cause damage to the toenails.

Most nail polishes contain damaging chemicals, such as formaldehyde and toluene. Nail polish remover contains acetone. All of these damage the toenails and cause the white streaking that many women experience when removing their polish. This damage weakens the toenails and make them more susceptible to developing a fungus infection.

There are alternatives to harmful nail polish. We carry Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish which does not contain the harmful chemicals that regular nail polish tends to have; instead it is formulated with vitamins and an all natural antifungal agent to nourish the nails.

For additional questions, contact our InStride Family Foot Care at 704 -786-4482 or visit at http://www.familyfootcare.info/.