Erythrasma is a chronic superficial infection of the intertriginous areas of the skin. This is a bacterial infection and can be found between the toes. It commonly occurs between the 3rd and 4th toes.
History/Physical:
This infection usually occurs in areas of body folds that are moist. The infection can be asymptomatic or itching may be associated with the infection.
The infection consists of a well-defined area with brown-red patches commonly found. Scaling may be present, as well as fissuring and maceration. The affected area may resemble athlete's foot.
Causes:
Corynebacterium minutissimum - A bacterium found on the skin
Predisposing factors:
Excessive sweating
Obesity
Diabetes mellitus
Warm climate
Poor hygiene
Differential Diagnosis:
Candidiasis
Contact dermatitis
Psoriasis
Tinea pedis (athlete's foot)
Workup:
Wood light examination - Reveals coral red fluorescence
Gram stain - Reveals gram-positive filamentous rods
Treatment:
Antibiotics - Erythromycin is the drug of choice. Your doctor may prescribe 1-2 weeks of antibiotic therapy.
Your doctor may also prescribe a topical antibiotic to treat this infection.
Monday, January 3, 2011
New Year, New Foot Pain!
If you celebrated the new year with a night of dancing, you might now be having foot pain or simply wondering how you can take better care of your feet next time. Foot injuries caused by dancing are unfortunately common because we often pay little attention to our feet as long as they get us where we need to go. You need not worry, however, because Dr. Feeny and Dr. Kate are here to keep your feet healthy and pain free.
Injury prevention starts long before you hit the dance floor. Let your feet relax for a little while everyday by propping them up. This gives the small muscles in your feet a chance to recuperate from daily activities and will make sure they’re well-rested the next time you take them dancing. Another everyday thing you can do to protect your feet is proper skin care which can help to prevent blisters.
Shortly before dancing, take some time to stretch all the muscles in your feet. This will help to prevent you from pulling or straining your muscles. A good way to make sure that your feet are adequately stretched is to use them to spell out the alphabet in the air. It’s a simple, fun way to warm them up. You’ll also want to pick shoes that are comfortable and that have been broken in. Dancing in new shoes can cause blisters or other injuries so make sure that you walk in them a few times first to break them in. The best way to do this is to wear them for an hour or so the first time and gradually increase the amount of time you wear them.
When dancing, pay attention to your feet and take a break when they start hurting. Pain is your feet’s way of telling you when something is not right. A little bit of pain while dancing can be indicative of a more serious problem if not treated properly. This is especially true if you land on your ankle wrong or a partner with two left feet happens to step on yours.
If you have any blisters, foot, or ankle pain left over from your New Year's dancing, call us today to set up an appointment and we’ll have you back in your dancing shoes in no time.
Injury prevention starts long before you hit the dance floor. Let your feet relax for a little while everyday by propping them up. This gives the small muscles in your feet a chance to recuperate from daily activities and will make sure they’re well-rested the next time you take them dancing. Another everyday thing you can do to protect your feet is proper skin care which can help to prevent blisters.
Shortly before dancing, take some time to stretch all the muscles in your feet. This will help to prevent you from pulling or straining your muscles. A good way to make sure that your feet are adequately stretched is to use them to spell out the alphabet in the air. It’s a simple, fun way to warm them up. You’ll also want to pick shoes that are comfortable and that have been broken in. Dancing in new shoes can cause blisters or other injuries so make sure that you walk in them a few times first to break them in. The best way to do this is to wear them for an hour or so the first time and gradually increase the amount of time you wear them.
When dancing, pay attention to your feet and take a break when they start hurting. Pain is your feet’s way of telling you when something is not right. A little bit of pain while dancing can be indicative of a more serious problem if not treated properly. This is especially true if you land on your ankle wrong or a partner with two left feet happens to step on yours.
If you have any blisters, foot, or ankle pain left over from your New Year's dancing, call us today to set up an appointment and we’ll have you back in your dancing shoes in no time.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetics are more likely to have foot problems.
If these problems worsen they can lead to complications and even infections.
It is important to recognize and treat any foot problems so that complications do not occur.
Diabetic patients can have nerve damage in their feet. This is known as diabetic neuropathy.
The patient may experience numbness and tingling in their feet.
The diabetic patient with neuropathy may have a lack of sensation in their feet.
This type of patient may not experience pain the way that someone without neuropathy would experience pain.
The diabetic patient may not feel a cut, or blister.
Numbness may change the normal balance of walking and standing.
Poor weight distribution can even lead to fractures.
Pressure points can lead to ulcerations and blisters.
The diabetic patient may also have a deficiency in their circulation. The diabetic with both a wound and poor circulation could develop an infection or even gangrene.
This type of event could possibly lead to a partial amputation of the foot.
When the diabetic has nerve damage and circulation problems it is important to notice changes in the feet to prevent any complications.
Prevention:
Control of glucose levels
Regular visits to the primary care doctor
Inspecting the feet regularly:
Look between toes
Check for any cracks, blisters, scrapes, or ulcers
Look at the bottom of the feet (use a mirror if needed)
Wear protective shoe gear
Preventing any injury to the feet
Wash your feet with mild soap and water (Do not use hot water)
Dry carefully between the toes
If you note any lesions or any signs of infection notify your podiatrist immediately
See the podiatrist regularly for foot care
Never try to trim calluses yourself
Wear good fitting shoes
Avoid tight shoes and high heels
Wear clean socks and change them daily
Do not walk barefoot
Make sure there is nothing in your shoes before putting them on
Apply proper sun screen
When foot problems are found early proper treatment can take place. Notify your podiatrist immediately. Early treatment and care of a minor problem may prevent a major problem such as a serious infection.
Foot problems can be prevented through good glucose control, daily foot care, and regular inspection.
If these problems worsen they can lead to complications and even infections.
It is important to recognize and treat any foot problems so that complications do not occur.
Diabetic patients can have nerve damage in their feet. This is known as diabetic neuropathy.
The patient may experience numbness and tingling in their feet.
The diabetic patient with neuropathy may have a lack of sensation in their feet.
This type of patient may not experience pain the way that someone without neuropathy would experience pain.
The diabetic patient may not feel a cut, or blister.
Numbness may change the normal balance of walking and standing.
Poor weight distribution can even lead to fractures.
Pressure points can lead to ulcerations and blisters.
The diabetic patient may also have a deficiency in their circulation. The diabetic with both a wound and poor circulation could develop an infection or even gangrene.
This type of event could possibly lead to a partial amputation of the foot.
When the diabetic has nerve damage and circulation problems it is important to notice changes in the feet to prevent any complications.
Prevention:
Control of glucose levels
Regular visits to the primary care doctor
Inspecting the feet regularly:
Look between toes
Check for any cracks, blisters, scrapes, or ulcers
Look at the bottom of the feet (use a mirror if needed)
Wear protective shoe gear
Preventing any injury to the feet
Wash your feet with mild soap and water (Do not use hot water)
Dry carefully between the toes
If you note any lesions or any signs of infection notify your podiatrist immediately
See the podiatrist regularly for foot care
Never try to trim calluses yourself
Wear good fitting shoes
Avoid tight shoes and high heels
Wear clean socks and change them daily
Do not walk barefoot
Make sure there is nothing in your shoes before putting them on
Apply proper sun screen
When foot problems are found early proper treatment can take place. Notify your podiatrist immediately. Early treatment and care of a minor problem may prevent a major problem such as a serious infection.
Foot problems can be prevented through good glucose control, daily foot care, and regular inspection.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Fish Pedicures - Could They Be Deadly?
If you've ever heard of fish pedicures - the ones where little fish eat the dead skin off of your feet as an alternative exfoliation method - you've likely thought it was weird and maybe a little gross. But now the Ministry of Health in the United Arab Emirates has issued a warning that these fish pedicures may be hazardous to your health and even deadly. Check out this article about how diseases can be spread through open wounds on the feet and ankles if two clients use the same fish.
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| Photo from Emirates 24/7 |
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
UGG boots could mean ugly things for your feet
UGG boots, thus named because even their designer thought they were ugly (but super warm and comfy!), can cause some hideous problems for your feet.
Despite the fact that these shoes are soft and cuddly in texture on the inside, there is little to no arch support inside of them. The lack of support throws off your gait, so long-term wear can result in not only terrible arch and heel pain but also problems with your knees, hips, and back.
Not to mention the fact that many UGG devotees tend to wear them without socks, due to the warm, plushy feel of the lining (okay, and maybe being a bit lazy too). Don't be fooled, though - that plushy lining is no replacement for socks! Due to the lack of moisture absorption, going sockless in your UGGs can create a perfect breeding ground for fungus.
One of the best things to do is to switch up your shoes occasionally - while these boots are comfortable and trendy, it's healthy (and fun!) to wear more than one pair of shoes throughout the week. This lets your shoes dry out and also keeps your $140 shoe investment from wearing out as quickly.
If you can't stand to take off your UGG boots, take a couple of precautions for your feet:
- Wear socks! It only takes a couple of extra seconds and it will keep you from yucky fungal infections (plus, it's winter - who doesn't want an extra layer?). Spraying an anti-fungal spray in the boots once a month can ward off fungi that could be developing.
- Use arch supports. Due to the boots being extra-roomy, there's plenty of space for you to put one under the liner (so it doesn't cover up any of that plushy softness) and it'll keep your gait from being thrown out of whack.
Just follow these tips and your feet will look and feel great, even in those so-called "ugly" boots!
To read more about how UGG boots affect your feet, read this interesting article from msnbc.com:
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/13/5644547-ugg-boots-shearling-agony-for-feet
Despite the fact that these shoes are soft and cuddly in texture on the inside, there is little to no arch support inside of them. The lack of support throws off your gait, so long-term wear can result in not only terrible arch and heel pain but also problems with your knees, hips, and back.
Not to mention the fact that many UGG devotees tend to wear them without socks, due to the warm, plushy feel of the lining (okay, and maybe being a bit lazy too). Don't be fooled, though - that plushy lining is no replacement for socks! Due to the lack of moisture absorption, going sockless in your UGGs can create a perfect breeding ground for fungus.
One of the best things to do is to switch up your shoes occasionally - while these boots are comfortable and trendy, it's healthy (and fun!) to wear more than one pair of shoes throughout the week. This lets your shoes dry out and also keeps your $140 shoe investment from wearing out as quickly.
If you can't stand to take off your UGG boots, take a couple of precautions for your feet:
- Wear socks! It only takes a couple of extra seconds and it will keep you from yucky fungal infections (plus, it's winter - who doesn't want an extra layer?). Spraying an anti-fungal spray in the boots once a month can ward off fungi that could be developing.
- Use arch supports. Due to the boots being extra-roomy, there's plenty of space for you to put one under the liner (so it doesn't cover up any of that plushy softness) and it'll keep your gait from being thrown out of whack.
Just follow these tips and your feet will look and feel great, even in those so-called "ugly" boots!
To read more about how UGG boots affect your feet, read this interesting article from msnbc.com:
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/13/5644547-ugg-boots-shearling-agony-for-feet
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