High Heels: Dangers to Make You Think Twice!

Photo Credit - WalcottImaging

 The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week happening in New York on September 5-12 brings a sneak peek into the top-of-the-line fashion we will see in the spring of 2014. With the celebrities and the clothes themselves, shoes often take the stage, and this year will be no different. High heels are often the shoes of choice to complete the runway looks, but for models and the average high heel fanatic there are some real risks involved.

A recent article from Marie-Claire magazine shared that new 3-D scans are proving just how dangerous this towering shoe is to feet. Wearing these shoes on a regular basis can not only cause achy feet at the end of the day but also lead to permanent damage to feet, knees, hips and the lower back. This type of shoe typically has a pointed toe box that crowds toes together and a high heel that places all of the body weight onto the balls of the feet. This not only impacts balance and stability but forces knees and hips to push forward, which alters your posture. Studies are seeing that these changes in foot structure and posture linger long after the shoes are taken off. Pretty scary!

Have we got your attention yet? If you just can’t seem to imagine your life without high-heels, can we mention the risk of bunions, corns, hammertoes, stress fractures, knee pain, Achilles tendonitis, Morton’s neuroma and ankle sprains as a way to convince you that they aren’t worth the risk?

Your foot health is important and great decisions made early in life make feet happier later on. If this kind of shoe has left you hobbling with pain or given you unsightly feet, make a good decision today and call Dr. Tejas Pandya for help. Our podiatric office has locations in Troy and Clifton Park, NY. Make an appointment today and call us at (518) 273-0053.

Corn Prevention

How can I prevent unsightly bumps on my toes?

Our feet often tell a sad story. After the stress they endure and the shoes they are forced to be in, the outcome can be injury and all sorts of lumps and bumps. A common “bump” treated at the podiatric office of Dr. Tejas Pandya is often a corn.

A corn is a thick hardened patch of skin that develops over time. Often found on the top and sides of your toes, corns appear as a form of defense from your skin rubbing against the inside of your shoes. Corns can be painful and make it difficult to wear shoes, so preventing them is key! Dr. Pandya offers some helpful tips to remember in order to avoid painful corns:

Choose shoes wisely - Since poor fitting footwear is often the culprit, avoid squeezing your toes into tight toe boxes. The pressure and friction will cause your skin to become irritated and corns to develop. High heels are one style that put a lot of pressure on toes and should be avoided if possible. The rule of thumb is that your shoes are too tight if you can’t wiggle your toes. There are some shoes that will respond to stretching to ease the pressure on your feet. A shoe shop can help stretch the toe box so it won’t pinch your toes. 

Take action - If you are feeling any pressure points, use a bandage or non-medicated corn pad to protect the area and prevent a corn from developing. There are toe separators that can help prevent soft corns from developing between your toes.

Complications can arise from having corns and an infection is a serious foot problem, especially if you have diabetes. Beat corns before they even start! For help removing corns, contact Capital District Podiatry and make an appointment with Dr. Pandya. Call (518) 273-0053 today! 

Down on Dry Feet?

Have you ever wondered what is causing your dry feet?

Having dry feet is more often an annoyance than anything, but they can get to the point of being unsightly and painful. Dry skin is just one of the many foot conditions that foot specialist, Dr. Tejas Pandya treats at his Troy, NY podiatric office. Some patients need minor care while others have cracked heels and are prone to serious complications.

The skin on your feet has no oil glands making it naturally dry. It’s the sweat from your feet that helps keep the skin soft and moisturized. Dry skin can occur from a variety of causes and be mild to severe. Some of the common factors that can lead to dry skin include:

·         Aging

·         Low humidity level in your house or at work

·         Cold weather

·         Harsh soaps that dry out skin

·         Smoking and excessive alcohol use

·         Frequent bathing in very hot water

·         Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema

·         Medical conditions such as diabetes and hypothyroidism

There are many ways to help your dry feet at home with some extra attention to your foot care and lifestyle changes. If your skin ever gets to the point of cracking and becomes painful, please come and see Dr. Pandya for help. He can help diagnose the underlying reason for your excessive dry feet and provide treatment before an infection sets in. This is especially important if you have diabetes or a condition that affects your circulation as an infection in a small crack in the skin could lead to serious complications.

Contact our office today to schedule an appointment and get your feet looking healthy and beautiful again. Call (518) 273-0053 or request an appointment online at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

Learn more about keeping your feet healthy by ordering Dr. Pandya’s book, Tiptoe Your Way to Happy Feet.

Corns on Your Feet?

Let’s get real. Feet are not a favorite subject to talk about and most of the time they are not paid much attention until they hurt. Do you agree? At our podiatric offices, we see many foot conditions on a daily basis and corns are a very common problem treated by foot specialist, Dr. Tejas Pandya. They can be irritating and painful but the good news is that you don’t have to live with them!

What exactly is a corn?

Corns are actually calluses that form, usually on the tops of your toes. When your toes rub against the inside of your shoes, the surface of your skin thickens into a small callus to protect itself from the friction.

Wearing shoes that do not fit properly or that squish your toes such as with high heels most commonly cause corns. Conditions such as hammertoe or claw toe also cause corns since toes are deformed and bent which puts pressure on them when wearing shoes.

Do you need to treat a corn?

The answer is yes and no. If you are healthy and your corn is not painful or bothering you, then it will usually go away if you remove what was causing friction in the first place. Dr. Pandya often recommends the use of foam pads to protect the corn or soaking it regularly and using a pumice stone to reduce the size of it.

If your corns are being persistent and painful or if you have a secondary condition such as diabetes, please contact our office for help. Your foot health needs to be a priority and a small callus could lead to more serious complications. Call our office in Troy, NY or Clifton Park, NY for an appointment at (518) 273-0053 or visit www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

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