Treatment for Nail Fungus

Nail fungus, which mostly occurs in your feet, is a common problem troubling many. Your feet support your entire body weight and bear the constant wear and tear. However, neglecting the feet is a common trend among most people, which in turn paves way for a lot of pain and discomfort. One of the major foot problems is nail fungus, which usually occurs when fungus enters the nail through a break or cut in it.

The common symptoms of nail fungus are thick and discolored nails that are either distorted in shape or are brittle/ragged. However, pain at the fingertips or toes is quite uncommon. Nail fungus can lead to severe health issues, if not treated on time. Hence, it is important to treat nail fungus with the help of an expert podiatrist. 

Here are some of the tried and tested methods to cure nail fungus.

Medications

Keeping your nails properly trimmed and filed can help reduce the amount of fungus in the nails. Taking oral antifungal drugs, and applying medicated nail polish as well as nail creams are some of the most common methods that you can follow in order to cure nail fungus.

• Medicated nail polish – Podiatrists often prescribe antifungal nail polish to combat this disease. You should paint the affected nail and its surrounding skin with this nail polish. It is advisable to apply the nail polish once a day, consecutively for seven days. After that, you can wipe off the piled-on layers and begin fresh application. 
• Oral antifungal drugs – Doctors often prescribe oral antifungal drugs to treat nail fungus, as they encourage the growth of new nail that can replace the infected nail. Usually, it is advisable to take these drugs for six to twelve weeks. However, it may take as long as four months to eliminate the infected nail completely. People aged over sixty five years are reported to have lesser benefits from such drugs. If suffering from nail fungus, you may get better results by combining topical and oral antifungal therapies.
• Medicated nail cream – Just like medicated nail polish, nail creams too are often prescribed by podiatrists. You need to rub this cream into the infected nail once you have soaked it in water. It is advisable to make the nail thinner before applying such creams. This will ensure that the cream gets through the hard nail surface to reach the underlying fungus. You may request your foot doctor to thin the surface of the nail using a nail care tool.

In case the medications don’t help, your podiatrist may consider either of these two procedures to treat nail fungus.

• Surgery to remove the affected nail: Your foot doctor may recommend removing your affected nail in case the infection is very painful or at a severe stage. You shouldn’t worry though, as a new nail will grow in its place, though it may take up to a year. At times, doctors may decide to treat the nail bed by combining a surgery with Ciclopirox.
• Other therapies: Carbon-dioxide laser treatment and light-based therapy, coupled with medications such as antifungal nail cream, can offer speedy relief and help improve your nails.

If you or anyone you know is troubled by nail fungus, and over-the-counter medicines and products haven't helped much, you should consult your podiatrist right away to get the condition treated.

Treating Achilles Tendon Disorders

Achilles tendinitis, an injury of the Achilles due to overuse, is a common disorder which often occurs in people who usually participate in sports like gymnastics, running, football, baseball, softball, tennis, basketball and volleyball. If you are involved in any of these sports, you are at risk of suffering from this disorder. At times, even inactive people or recreational exercisers may suffer from this condition which triggers pain along the rear part of the leg, close to the heel.

Achilles tendinitis is caused when the tendon is subject to repetitive stress. Most people fall prey to this disorder by pushing their bodies to do too much in very little time. However, other factors such as increasing the intensity/amount of exercise all of a sudden, using an aggressive exercise schedule when you have tight calf muscles (that strain the Achilles tendon), or bone spur can also increase the chance of developing tendinitis.

Most cases of this Achilles tendon disorder can be treated with nonsurgical treatment. Though these treatment options offer pain relief, the symptoms may take a few months to subside completely. Popular nonsurgical treatment for Achilles tendinitis includes:

• Ample rest: The best way to heal yourself is to take adequate rest. Stay away from any activity that causes strain to your tendon. These include running or climbing the stairs as well as other high-impact exercises. Since you can't get involved in these activities, you can opt for easy, low-impact exercises that will put less stress on the Achilles tendon.
• Apply ice packs: You can reduce the pain by applying ice packs on the affected area at any time, during the day. You may use these packs for up to 20 minutes but if your skin becomes numb, it’s advisable to stop it. 
• Take NSAIDs: You can take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that help reduce swelling and pain. However, you should remember that such medications won’t decrease the thickening of the degenerated tendon. You should also consult your podiatrist before continuing such medications beyond a month.
• Exercise to stretch the calf muscles: One of the best ways to treat Achilles tendinitis is to do some stretching exercises that decrease stress on the Achilles tendon and strengthen your calf muscles. You may also do eccentric strengthening exercises under the supervision of an experienced physical therapist. 
• Avoid having pain killers: Popping pain killers won’t be of much help in treating this Achilles tendon disorder. Since it is not an inflammation but a degenerative injury, the pain killing drugs will mask the problem temporarily, which will make the degeneration even worse.
• Using orthotics and supportive shoes: Your podiatrist may suggest supportive shoes like those with heel lifts or the ones with a softer section at the back that offer pain relief. A silicone Achilles sleeve or a walking boot (albeit for a shorter time period) may also be advised by your foot doctor.

In case the nonsurgical treatment options fail to offer pain relief after 6 months, your podiatrist may consider surgery. Depending on the extent of tendon damage and location of the tendinitis, the specific type of surgery is determined.

Gastrocnemius recession to elongate the calf (gastrocnemius) muscles can help patients having difficulty in flexing their feet. Débridement (amputation of the damaged tissue) and repair operation is performed in cases where damage to the tendon is less than 50%. Débridement with an Achilles tendon transfer is done where the tendon damage is over 50%. Physical therapy is a significant part of post-surgery recovery and most patients usually need a year of rehabilitation before they can become pain-free.

Maintaining Foot Health during Pregnancy

The extra weight and hormonal changes that women have to bear during pregnancy can be tough. Apart from a swollen belly, what will make it more difficult are swollen feet and legs that some women experience during this phase. With an increased stress on the feet due to the extra weight, pregnancy can often make it an uphill task to walk around. Unless steps are taken to maintain foot health, a phase that should be spent in a joyous mood can become a disappointing chore.

Don’ts

Most pregnant woman pay more attention to the aesthetic look of their shoes rather than considering how comfortable they are to wear and move around in. In their quest to keep up with recent fashion and celebrity trends, many even make choices that are risky for their foot health. Choosing unsupportive shoes such as ballet pumps, high heels, Ugg boots and flip flops is a total no-no for pregnant women, say experienced podiatrists.

During pregnancy, ligaments and muscles stretch and soften. This makes your feet increasingly prone to ligament and ankle strains. When you wear high heels, your posture is altered and your calf muscles are shortened, which will put increased pressure on your knees and back. Due to extra weight gain, your joints are already under strain and you shouldn’t make the situation worse by wearing high heels. Apart from causing several leg, foot and back problems, high heels can even increase chances of a fall.

When choosing your shoes for daily wear, you should avoid Ugg boots, flip flops and ballet pumps too as they don’t give your feet the necessary support.

Do’s

Wearing supportive, comfortable footwear is the primary step in pregnancy to ensure foot heath. Foot doctors suggest choosing shoes with laces, a strap or Velcro to ensure that they fit comfortably and stay firmly on your foot. However, you should not buy shoes with tricky straps that are difficult to fasten. This is especially applicable when you are in the final trimester of your pregnancy.

Footwear with small heel height (ideally of 3 cm) can shift your weight a bit to the front of your feet, which in turn can lessen discomfort. Supportive shoes that have a firm heel, supportive arch and extra shock absorption are good choices in pregnancy.

Rather than selecting tight, pointed shoes, you should invest in square shaped or rounded ones that have a spacious toe box to offer you a comfortable fit.

During the day, your feet tend to swell. They are at their largest in the late afternoon. This is the ideal time to buy shoes. You should make sure that a 1 cm gap exists between your shoe’s edge and your longest toe.

Whether you are sitting or lying, maintain the correct posture. For instance, refrain from crossing your ankles or legs when sitting.

Perform some simple exercises to reduce swelling and discomfort. To improve circulation and avoid cramps, you can rotate your ankles for 10 counts, first in the clockwise and then in an anticlockwise direction. While lying on your back, pedaling to imitate riding a bicycle can help strengthen leg muscles and reduce swelling in the feet. Daily calf and leg stretches can also help. It’s best to consult your podiatrist to find which exercises or poses are safe and beneficial to do before your start your pregnancy fitness routine.

Foot health in pregnancy is often neglected. Starting from simple foot and back pain to more serious diseases like over-pronation and plantar fasciitis may occur due to this negligence and lack of awareness. Foot doctors suggest consulting a podiatrist and adhere to the advice given, for maintaining foot health and enjoying pregnancy.

What You Should Know About Fungal Toenails

Unhygienic conditions often result in several foot conditions, fungal toenails being one of the most common problems.  If the fungus is left untreated for long, this results in a serious toe infection. Mostly due to lack of maintenance and ignorance, the fungal infection spreads thus doing major harm to your feet.

What exactly causes fungal toenail infections? Reasons are many and so are its treatments. Most of the causes are preventable but certain factors enhance the possibility of developing such infections.

Symptoms:

Onychomycosis, also called as Tineaunguium, is a common fungal infection that usually affects nails. This kind of infection may harm a part of the nail or an entire portion of it. The list of symptoms for early detection are given as follows:

• Scale formation under the nail
• A yellow strip formation on the nail
• Curving of the corners or tip of the nail
• White flake like areas appearing on the surface of the nail
• Yellow spots under the nail
• The final stage is loss of the nail

Factors that cause fungal toenail infections:

A person is most likely to develop this infection if he is prone to the following factors:

Diabetes: This is the most common symptom. People with diabetes often suffer from sweaty feet as compared to others. Since the feet area remains covered most of the time and not well maintained, the infection attacks this portion more often. Care should be taken to keep the feet clean. A very easy home remedy is to immerse the foot in warm water with rock salt added in it.

Swimming in public pools: This is another common factor that can cause toenail infections. Mostly water at public pools remains unclean thus spreading infection. The fine gap between nails becomes primary target for bacteria to settle. Preventive measures like applying water based lotions and having a hot water bath after the swim can help prevent this condition.

Moist toes: Moist toe areas are the breeding places for fungi. People wearing closed shoes or boots most of the time remain susceptible to fungal infections. This is because bacteria in the feet receive additional boost, when toes remain moist. Changing socks regularly and cleaning shoes can be very good hygienic habits which help prevent foot infections.

Weak immunity: A weak immune system decreases the body's ability to fight diseases thus making it vulnerable to infections. Since the immune system fails to produce necessary antibodies to fight germs and bacteria, this lets the infection escalate.

How to treat fungal toenails:

Home remedies and professional treatments can be sought to cure such infections. An antifungal cream can be applied on the affected area. Another alternate is to apply Vaseline on dry toenails. Antifungal powder rubbed on the feet before wearing shoes or slippers, proves to be effective too. One can soak feet with vinegar and warm water solution.

The wisest approach is to get in touch with an expert podiatrist if your toenail starts showing signs of a fungal infection.

How aging affects foot health

Taking care of your health is a serious process and should be done in a manner to ensure that you age hale and hearty. Many fail to include foot care within their routine health checkups. This is absolutely wrong! The fact is your feet mirror the aging process. Hence it can have profound consequences as you age. Severe foot disorders can come in the way of an elder’s mobility and independence.

The human body undergoes natural changes with aging, which in turn causes foot inflammation, pain and various other disorders. Careful assessment of an older person’s feet usually reveals gross changes in appearance, alterations in sensitivity and joint motion, which can eventually lead to limited mobility or even dysfunction. Continue reading to know how aging affects foot health and what you can do to take care of your feet from an early age.

Effects and Preventive Measures

• Skin problems that might affect feet
Your skin gradually changes with aging. This results in reduced skin cell growth and collagen production. Many might experience thinness of their foot skin. Dry foot skin can be avoided by applying moisturizers on a daily basis. This is the best remedy for cracked feet or skin rashes.
Bathing is very important to ensure sound foot health. Particular care should be given to cleaning between toes. Feet should be dried gently and thoroughly especially after returning from the workplace. Frequency of footbaths can be increased, which is definitely more convenient and safer.


• Disfiguration of toenails
Toenails tend to lose its normal shape with age, thereby getting thicker. Some might experience brittleness of toenails too. This is due to hormonal effects that slow down the toenail’s growth over time. Then the toenail might get thick because of hypothyroidism. Poor blood circulation might also cause brittle toenails.

Pedicure is troublesome for elders who have poor vision or whose dexterity is faulty. One can seek professional help to properly cut toenails across so that in-growths and skin punctures can be prevented.


• Foot conditions from Orthopedic disorders
It’s normally seen that shoe sizes or foot shapes changes with time. As a person starts aging, his body’s ligaments undergo several modifications which put extra stress on the foot. This is the reason why most elders develop joint, ankle and toe pain. The condition becomes severe for those suffering from Arthritis. Specially designed orthopedic shoes with custom insoles can bring relief to joint or foot pain.


• Reduction in blood circulation
Often elders complain of a very common foot problem, that of swelling. Inflammation results from poor blood circulation in the leg’s veins. The problem usually starts with one limb but may spread to the other one, if not cured in time. Elders suffering from cardiovascular conditions or those undergoing specific medications might experience blood circulation problems. Custom molded shoes can be used for the perfect fit. Superficial circulation maybe enhanced with a gentle massage using a good quality skin lotion.

Feet are particularly vulnerable to age-related changes. Walking is the best exercise for your feet. Inspect your feet every day, or let a foot specialist do this for you. The best way to prevent the effects of aging on your foot is by getting it examined by skilled foot care professionals at least once a year. Physical therapists can play a key role too, in guiding you towards having healthy feet.

Significance of Purchasing Safety Footwear for Workplace

You wear gloves while handling hazardous jobs. Often you put on aprons to protect clothes from staining. Head gears are used to shield the brain box from severe damage. This implies you are quite particular about protective wears. However, do you give the same attention to your feet? Actually no!

Often people, especially women, chose to pick up regular pair of fancy shoes to guarantee foot safety. This can be extremely risky more so if your job profile demands working in a perilous situation. Your feet carry the entire body weight and hence it deserves to be better protected.

Probably you have never looked at it this way but your feet are susceptible to serious injuries as you perform routine chores at home or workplace. There are few professions which demand handling sharp objects or heavy materials. This puts your feet at severe risk every day. Sometimes dangers remain of stepping on open wires accidentally. Even if you don’t deal with direct handling of heavy products, your foot still remains vulnerable to sudden injuries.

Take a normal office for instance. You may not need to handle electrical goods or heavy metal objects. Still accidents can happen anytime as you turn around the table, toppling that large wobbly jar right on your foot! Then if your job demands lots of field work or walking at a stretch, you might injure the foot from accidental tripping or spraining.

Those who are in creative sector may feel their feet are at lesser risk. Don’t be complacent because if you are into fashion designing and often deal with bales of clothes then keep in mind, your atelier may prove to be just as risky as any needle factory!

Therefore, irrespective of what profession you are in, it is never possible to predict when and how danger will strike, leaving you crippled! Thus the best way to keep your feet protected is by investing in some hardy shoes that guarantee maximum safety at the workplace. Heels look pretty and those glossy black oxfords can be trendy too. However, when it comes to purchasing safety footwear for workplace, think smart and give your foot health utmost preference.

Several aspects are needed to be taken into consideration when picking up the safety footwear. Figure out why you need it. Do you want to protect your ankles or toes from injuries? Does your foot need protection from abrasive machinery or should you think more of accidental sprain? Once you have sorted that out it becomes easier to pick footwear that fits your purpose effectively.

Safety shoes usually have symbols that help you identify their special features. Green and yellow triangles signify extra sole protection whereas white Omega rectangles are electric shock resistant. Grey and blue R rectangles are suited for puncture protection. Some footwear manufacturers point out grades of protection with number markings. The wisest approach is to visit a reliable footwear dealer and pick up renowned brands only to ensure best value for your money.

Before exploring the market, a good idea is to talk to a podiatrist to know what kind of footwear would best protect your feet at workplace.

One More Reason to Stop Smoking Today – It Affects Your Feet

Since time immemorial, you have been cautioned about the ill effects of smoking and tobacco. Numerous researches are conducted to scientifically prove how and why smoking affects your lungs. Thus, you know that smoking is a sure fire way to get lung cancer. Yet there are certain facts about smoking which you might not be aware of. This article reminds you why you need to give up smoking and give it up right now! Read on to learn how smoking can harm the feet!

How does smoking harm your feet?

You must be wondering if it is indeed true that smoking affects your feet as there is actually no clear connection between the respiratory system and foot. The answer is, the human body works in an interesting manner as every system in the body is pretty much interlinked. Therefore, smoking can definitely affect other parts of your body apart from the lungs or heart.

While enjoying that puff, you put excessive pressure on the respiratory system and in turn cardiovascular system. All these unwanted pressures negatively impact your body thus restraining it from functioning at its optimum levels. The feet being miles away from the heart gets much less blood supply when you are smoking. As a result a medical condition develops known as Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD.

What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?

As the name indicates, Peripheral Arterial Disease is a condition which mainly impacts the cardiovascular system thus limiting blood flow to peripheral points of the body such as the feet. A kind of substance medically known as plaque accumulates in the walls of the arteries that run down to your feet. With plaque accumulation these arteries become narrow thereby hampering normal blood flow. The feet as a result suffer from poor blood circulation.

Signs and Symptoms

Podiatrists are of the opinion that the foot of a smoker can be differentiated from that of a non smoker by just looking at it. The latter’s skin will be thinner, shinier and darkish. A person affected by PAD symptoms may feel foot pain at times. In case he/she suffers from foot injuries, it won’t heal easily.

Sometimes, non-smokers can develop PAD too. However, those with smoking habits remain four times more vulnerable to PAD, than those who don’t smoke. In severe situations if the foot is subjected to improper circulation over a stretch of time, this might result in amputation too!

How to protect your feet from the ill effects of smoking?

Stop smoking for good if you seriously want to protect yourself from adverse effects of tobacco. Those who are indeed sincere about quitting smoking should try to avoid people who are into smoking. Talk to a foot specialist if you feel your smoking habit is in any way aggravating foot conditions. Those suffering from PAD must immediately talk to the podiatrist for necessary medication or if needed, a minor operation.

Consulting a podiatrist certainly helps bring your feet situation under control. Further they could offer valuable suggestions following which you can definitely keep your foot in better shape.