The latest fad is Fish Pedicures—where fish eat dead skin off your feet! Would you do it? Is it safe? Does it work?

Salons across America are offering customers the chance to have the dead skin literally eaten away. Customers dangle their feet in a tank with tiny silver-colored carp, Garra rufa, which suck away the dry, dead skin, maybe even corns or callouses.

The Up Side to Fish Treatments

These may work, and in fact, could prove to be more effective (and safer?) than putting on gobs of Vaseline or other moisturizers day after day. Called “doctor fish” in China, these fish are used to treat skin problems throughout the entire body, including psoriasis.

For centuries, physicians have recognized the benefits of leeches and maggots in treating foot ulcers and wounds.

The Downside to FIsh Treaments

Customers are putting their feet in tub of water, albeit chlorinated, but still water. Even chlorine does not kill all germs and infectious organisms. Suppose the last person’s foot had an open wound and an infection of some kind (use your imagination! – but I have seen everything in foot wounds from HIV to MRSA to syphillis), and your foot has a cut or abrasion. In theory, you could contract that infectious organism. Further, from reports I have read, salons do not change the fish tank water between clients. In reality, the risk is probably low.

Final Thoughts on Nibbling Fish

I would not put my foot in a tank of water that has had hundreds of other feet in it. Though, I admit that I will go in a public pool. Is a fish tank any worse?

The jury is still out on fish pedicures. Fish pedicures won’t get rid of your bunions, hammertoes or heel spurs, but may help alleviate dry skin, corns or callouses. If you are adventurous and have tried everything else for dry skin and your feet are healthy (and you are not diabetic), you may want to try it. If you do, let me know how things work out for you.

To read more about dry skin CLICK HERE or peruse the articles listed on the right.

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Our feet take a beating.

We put in long hours, walking an average of seven to ten miles a day.

We tread on artificial surfaces such as asphalt, concrete and tile, often carrying a briefcase, purse, baby or laptop—and for some of us all four!

And with each step two to three times our body weight comes down on our feet, not to mention the strain of jogging, stair stepping or high impact aerobics.

So what can you do to keep your feet healthy, beautiful and strong enough to make it through the day?

I hear this question often as a podiatrist and more often from female patients, which doesn’t surprise me, since women experience four times more foot problems than men.

Fortunately, both men and women can do simple, inexpensive things to care for their feet, and when your feet feel great, your whole body will too. Consider the following five ”musts” for healthy, beautiful feet.

1. Use a good moisturizer

The skin of your feet is increasingly prone to drying out as you age. Dry skin is not only ugly but can crack open and possibly become infected, especially in diabetics or those with poor circulation. A good moisturizer can soothe dry skin.

The secret to finding a good moisturizer is not by price; more expensive doesn’t mean better.

Read the ingredients and avoid products with alcohol or alcohol derivatives.

Generally, lotions contain alcohol to make them absorb faster, but the alcohol hinders the product’s ability to moisturize your skin.

The best dry skin products tend to be creams without alcohol. These are gooier and absorb slowly, so I recommend applying them just before going to bed.

2. Keep your feet dry

This may seem to contradict using moisturizer, but dampness around your feet, specifically between your toes, can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

When washing your feet, be sure to dry them well, especially between the toes.

Towels can pick up bacteria or fungus, especially if they are damp or dirty, so wash them often with bleach or hot water and never use the towel that dried your feet on the rest of your body or face.

A good tip to keep feet, and especially toes, free from moisture is to use a foot powder enriched with zinc or menthol, or even both. A sprinkle a day will not only keep toes from perspiring, but also lessen odor.

3. Beware of nail polish and acrylic nails

Men can skip this tip, but women should heed it. Nail polish and acrylic nails trap moisture, increasing the chance of fungus infecting toenails, causing the nails to thicken and turn yellow or, in severe cases, black.

Toenail fungus can also infect the surrounding the skin and in some cases, particularly when the person is diabetic or has poor circulation, can lead to the loss of a toe or even the foot.

Some women who notice their toenails beginning to darken or yellow from fungus cover the nails with polish to hide them; ironically, this only makes the problem worse.

Am I saying you shouldn’t wear nail polish or acrylic nails? Not at all. Nail polish or acrylic nails can cheer up the ugliest of feet, don’t cost a lot and are generally among the safer pleasures for your feet.

When using nail polish or acrylic nails think of them like a dieter having a scoop of ice cream: occasionally it is okay, but not every day.

If you have a special event, feel free to wear nail polish or acrylic nails; just remove the polish or fake nails when you get home. The more your nails can “air out” the better.

4. Wear sensible shoes

This seems obvious, but many people choose style over comfort (one study showed that 88 percent of women have at some point knowingly squeezed their feet into shoes that were too small).

Like eating that fattening scoop of ice cream, wearing Jimmy Choos or other stylish shoes occasionally, for brief periods usually won’t cause problems.

However, wearing ill-fitting shoes too often can cause the toes to crunch up, possibly causing permanent deformities, pinched nerves, corns, calluses or other problems.

People with diabetes or poor circulation need to be especially careful, as these problems can result in serious infections.

The secret to making sure shoes fit properly is to shop for them late in the day when your feet are likely most swollen.

When you walk in the shoes you try on, try to avoid the soft, plush carpet found in most shoe stores. If you’re in a mall, leave the shoe store and walk on the mall’s tile floor.

Most importantly, if shoes hurt in the store they will hurt when you get them home–a shoe should never need to be “broken in.”

5. Check your feet daily

The last tip to taking care of your feet is more common sense than secret. Check your feet every day.

It’s amazing how many people don’t look at their feet; or if they do see a problem or have pain, they shove their foot into a shoe and try to forget about it.

When examining your feet, watch for any blisters, redness, swelling or open sores, and be sure check between the toes as this is a common area for infections to start. A good way to see the bottom of your feet is to use a mirror.

If you find a foot or ankle problem, see a podiatrist promptly.

Most foot and ankle problems are easy to take care of when caught early. The biggest complaint I hear from my patients is, “I wish I had come to see you sooner.”

Your lifetime of healthy, beautiful feet

Your feet work hard all day long, and they need a little care to remain strong.

When you use these tips to take care of your feet, they can be healthy, beautiful and ready to carry you anywhere.

To learn more about podiatry, podiatrists, and podiatric medicine, visit the website of the American Podiatric Medical Association

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Painful Hammertoes & Fungal Toenails

Eighty percent of people, at some point in their lives, have a foot problem that requires medical care.

However, many people let their problems persist and worsen untreated.

Here is a list of the most common foot problems I see in my practice that you can watch for to ensure the health of your feet.

Heel Pain

Heels get a bad rap. The dictionary defines a heel as a dishonorable person, and the term “Achilles’ heel” refers to a fatal weakness.

The reality is your heels are quite strong, though no other part of your foot malfunctions more. Heel pain is the number one reason people come see me.

Heel pain can be very complicated and may have a variety of causes, including a stress fracture, pinched nerve, bone cyst, or tumor.

Most patients with heel pain believe they have a heel spur.

This may be part of the problem, but the most common cause of heel pain—whether or not a heel spur is also present—is inflammation of the largest ligament in our foot, the plantar fascia. In doctor-speak, this problem is called plantar fasciitis.

 Treatments for plantar fasciitis range from custom-made arch supports (called orthotics), to simple stretching exercises, to the revolutionary, high-tech shockwave treatment. 

Nerve Problems

 Burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting pain in your feet or ankles often means something is wrong with a nerve.

Nerve problems are common in feet, so if you have one, don’t get nervous. Most of the time, the treatment is relatively simple.

The main nerve problems I see are:

• Morton’s Neuroma

Not to be confused with Morton’s Steakhouse—which may cause a full stomach—Morton’s neuroma causes cramping, tingling (a feeling of pins and needles), burning, or shooting pain in the toes or ball of your foot.

A neuroma is a painful growth on a nerve that forms when the nerve becomes irritated.

Treatment for neuromas consists of using a special arch support, called an orthotic, and sometimes injections are needed. Surgery is rarely necessary.   

• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Almost everyone has heard of carpal tunnel syndrome in the hands, but few people realize the same problem occurs in our feet.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome may cause burning, tingling, shooting pain, or a cramping sensation in your foot.

The good news is that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is often easily treated with orthotics, injections or a short, outpatient procedure.   

• Neuropathy

Neuropathy literally means a “disease of the nerves,” and it affects millions of people each year. Persons with neuropathy often experience loss of sensation, burning, tingling, or shooting pain.

The number one body part affected by neuropathy is the feet. Persons with diabetes are those most afflicted with neuropathy, but it also occurs in people with thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, and some types of arthritis.

Neuropathy has many treatment options and some people might opt for a new, somewhat controversial, procedure that involves surgically freeing up the nerves to restore normal sensation to their feet.

Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, or just plain old “Arthur” is a deterioration of the joints between our bones.

When Arthur visits people’s feet or ankles, many believe they just have to live with it. This is far from the truth. The reality is podiatrists have many techniques to alleviate arthritis, including a high-tech, tiny arthroscopic camera that can remove arthritis from sore ankles.    

Nail Problems

I am not talking about rusty nails on your garage floor, but ingrown toenails and fungal toenails. Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail grows deep into the flesh of the toe.

These are painful and can become infected. Fortunately, a brief, in-office technique can alleviate ingrown toenails, often permanently.

Fungal toenails are another story, and usually require a long course of medication.

Bunions

These are protrusions of bone or bumps that form on the inside of the foot at the joint at the base of the big toe.

If you wear ill-fitting shoes, don’t blame them for bunions—blame your parents. Bunions are inherited. However, poor footwear can contribute to the formation of a bunion.

Numerous conservative treatments, such as trying wider shoes or foot soaks, can alleviate painful bunions, though getting rid of them requires a short, outpatient surgical procedure.

Other Big Toe Problems

• Hallux Rigidus

With hallux rigidus, the big toe may look normal; however the inside of the joint at the base of the big toe is deteriorated and painful.

Sometimes the big toe won’t bend. Like bunions, simple treatments can lessen the pain, but in on some cases surgery is necessary.

• Gout

Known as the “rich man’s disease,” gout doesn’t just affect the rich. Gout is a type of arthritis that most often occurs in the joint at the base of the great toe, causing redness, swelling, and pain.

Some patients have said the pain was so severe that they couldn’t stand the bed sheet resting on their toe. Other patients describe less intense symptoms.

Gout occurs when too much uric acid is present in your body. Uric acid is a natural chemical that your body manufactures, and you ingest in certain foods, like pork, beer, or liver.

Treatment consists of altering your diet to limit the amount of uric acid you ingest, and if that isn’t enough, medication is prescribed.

Corns and Callouses

Corns have nothing to do with plants that grow ears. Painful corns (and callouses) are a build-up of hard, dead skin that often occurs due to an abnormal bony prominence or a bone out of position.

Corns occur on toes and callouses are found on the bottom of the foot.

Contracted toes (hammertoes) cause corns to form, and callouses form when a bone or bones are out of position. Treatment of a corn or callous depends on what is wrong with the bone underneath them.

Final Thoughts on Common Foot Problems

These are the top foot and ankle offenders, but the list of problems I see in my practice is endless. If you have foot or ankle pain or another problem, the best thing you can do is have it checked by a podiatrist.

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If you have interesting feet, email a picture of them to AmericasPodiatrist@sbcglobal.net

This guy said the ant tatoos go all the way up his leg (apparently to his crotch — I didn’t check!).

And you thought you had dry skin? 

A rare skin disease and possibly something more serious. This cleared up with steriods.

If you want to dance, you have to pay the piper!

Plantar Warts – these were destroyed with a laser.

You think you have bad callouses? 

A bunion and hammertoe – probably should’ve been fixed long ago.

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