Athlete’s foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that is not limited to athletes. Anyone can contract the infection if exposed to the highly contagious fungi, known as dermatophytes, that cause it. The most common symptom of athlete’s foot is an itching and burning sensation between the toes or on the bottom of the foot, along with a scaly rash. You may also experience painful cracking of the skin, blistering, and thickening on the soles of the foot. While athlete’s foot is not considered to be dangerous, it can result in a secondary infection if bacteria enter the broken skin. The main complication of having athlete’s foot is infecting other parts of the body that have touched your feet. In addition, anyone sharing personal items or showering spaces with you is at increased risk of infection. Athlete’s foot is treatable with anti-fungal creams, lotions, powders, and sprays. If symptoms persist after a few weeks, please consult a podiatrist who can examine the infected area and prescribe medications or creams that are more potent.

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center.  Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Little Elm, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

A foot stress fracture is considered to be a hairline fracture. When it is first noticed, the pain is often subtle. It can occur as a result of repetitive use, and is a common injury among runners. There are two treatment methods, and the correct one is chosen depending on the severity of the fracture. For mild stress fractures, effective treatment often begins with resting and elevating the foot, in addition to keeping weight off of it. Performing low-impact activities, such as swimming, is recommended for cardiovascular purposes. Keeping a compression bandage around the foot can help to stabilize it as the healing process occurs. For more severe fractures, surgery may be necessary for complete healing. An effective outpatient procedure is called internal fixation surgery, and pins, screws, and wires may be used to secure the affected bone in place. If you have endured a stress fracture, please confer with a podiatrist who can determine what the best form of treatment is for you.

Activities where too much pressure is put on the feet can cause stress fractures. To learn more, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Dealing with Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle

Stress fractures occur in the foot and ankle when muscles in these areas weaken from too much or too little use.  The feet and ankles then lose support when walking or running from the impact of the ground. Since there is no protection, the bones receive the full impact of each step. Stress on the feet can cause cracks to form in the bones, thus creating stress fractures.

What Are Stress Fractures?

Stress fractures occur frequently in individuals whose daily activities cause great impact on the feet and ankles. Stress factors are most common among:

• Runners                                  
• People affected with Osteoporosis
• Tennis or basketball players
• Gymnasts
• High impact workouts

Symptoms

Pain from the fractures occur in the area of the fractures and can be constant or intermittent. It will often cause sharp or dull pain with swelling and tenderness. Engaging in any kind of activity which involves high impact will aggravate pain.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Little Elm, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

The feet take us wherever we want to go, all day, every day. But the feet are often neglected when it comes to caring for them. For many people, getting a pedicure is the extent of their foot care routine. However, if your feet are not also strong and healthy, the rest of your body can pay the price. A foot problem or disorder may affect the way you walk and that may cause pain in your knees, hip, back, and neck. Furthermore, other conditions may develop in the feet, such as bunions, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Painful feet may cause you to avoid movement and exercise, which reduces the strength of the feet, and increases the risk of falling. One of the best ways to take care of your feet is by wearing shoes that provide the correct balance of flexibility and support. Shoes that are too stiff may put the ankles at risk. Another way to practice foot fitness is by doing simple strength and mobility exercises on a regular basis. Among these are toe lifts, rolling your foot over a ball, and scrunching a towel or blanket with the toes. For more information on how to best take care of your feet, please consult a podiatrist.

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Little Elm, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

The possibility of breaking a toe can increase if a heavy object drops on it. People can also get a broken toe if it is stubbed into a piece of furniture, and this generally causes severe pain and discomfort. Some people feel a dull pain and throbbing in their toe, which may indicate a stress fracture has occurred. Common symptoms of a broken toe include immediate swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the toe. Severe fractures may cause the bone to snap and protrude through the skin, and surgery may be necessary to ensure a proper healing. Mildly broken toes can heal by using the buddy taping method. This is done by taping the affected toe to the toe next to it, which is generally successful in providing the necessary stability as it heals. An X-ray is typically done that can provide an accurate diagnosis, and this can determine what type of treatment is needed. If you have broken your toe, please confer with a podiatrist as quickly as possible who can help you with correct relief options.

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Alex Kim, DPM from AVID Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Little Elm, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.