With the harshness of the winter many people are choosing to take vacations in the sunny south. Please remember to sunscreen your feet as they are also susceptible to sunburn.
Battling Dry Heels
Each day in my podiatry practice, patients are complaining of dry and scaling heels. Most times these are merely annoying but for some patients this is more serious as fissures and cracks may develop. These cracks can be painful and potentially become infected.
Here are my recommendations.
- Soak the feet in plain water with a tablespoon of baby oil.
- Gently pat the feet dry.
- Apply moisturizing cream. I suggest vaseline intensive care, Keri lotion, Lubiderm and Lachydrin.
- Allow 10 minutes to absorb
- Wrap with saran wrap or apply vaseline petroleum jelly. Put your socks on and wear them overnight.
Over the years I have found this to be extremely successful.
Infracare Socks
Cold feet can occur for a number of reasons including diabetes and Raynaud’s disease. During this winter’s harsh conditions patients with either of these disorders should be especially careful to avoid prolonged exposure outdoors.
In addition, Infracare socks can be especially valuable in keeping our feet warm.
Infracare cold feet socks are coated with biomaterials that increase temperature by 5 – 7 Deg C or 10-12 Deg F.
In addition Infracare cold feet socks come with unique patient friendly features. They are Seam free, Constriction free and made of Breathable fabric.
Diabetes
Patients with diabetes and poor circulation should be under the care of a Podiatrist. Preventative maintenance can reduce the potential for infections and potential gangrene and amputation.
Help Your Feet Last A Lifetime
Senior citizens in particular are in a high risk group for foot problems. With proper foot care senior citizens can enjoy many years of pain free activity. Toenail problems are quite common. As we get older toenails may thicken, become ingrown or be affected by fungus. Corns and calluses are more frequent and can result in foot pain. If you have these maladies visit your Podiatrist promptly.
Summer Feet Suffer
Beware of excessive use of flip flops during the summer. This type of footwear offers no support which can result in foot pain. If you are looking for sandals, look for a firm heel cup, arch support, and straps that go over the feet. Some excellent brands are Naot, FinnComfort, and Birkenstock.
Orthotic Assessment
Orthotics generally provide proper foot support for between 2 and 4 years. See your podiatrist to have your orthotics assessed to ensure that you have the correct biomechanical suppport and to determine if your prescription hasn’t changed.
Spring is here
Spring has begun and many of us are beginning to run outside again. Whether you are running for recreation, or training for upcoming races, spring is an excellent time to check your shoes to see if they need replacing. The rule of thumb is that running shoes should be replaced every 500 miles or 800 kilometers.
Orthotics
In my office custom made prescription orthotics are made from neutral position plaster cast impressions of the feet. We can furnish our patients with all the documentation that insurance companies require. The information would include the biomcechanical exam, gait analysis and the materials from which the orthotics are made.
Our orthotics are made by Langer Biomechanics.