Getting Rid of Athlete’s Foot

Are you someone plagued with foot problems? Annoying and unsightly problems such as Athlete’s foot can happen to any of us. The US National Library of Medicine claims “15%-25% of people are likely to have Athlete’s foot at any one time.”  As tempting as it may be to simply put your feet undercover in the hopes that it will disappear, most likely that is not going to cut it!

Foot specialist Dr. Tejas Pandya sees and treats this foot problem on a regular basis and knows with experience that the right treatment at the right time is essential to bring feet back to health and stop the infection from spreading. Who would want red, itchy, scaly skin to spread to other parts of the body or to other people? Get rid of Athlete’s foot the right way by keeping a few valuable tips in mind.

Most of the time, this foot infection can be treated at home. Start with washing your feet often with soap and water and dry feet completely each time, especially between your toes. Bacteria love warm, damp places so keep them from growing by wearing clean cotton socks and changing them often if your feet tend to sweat during the day. Antifungal powders and sprays are also great to keep the infection at bay.

At the end of the day, if these simple measures are just not giving you relief from your symptoms, it is time to call Capital District Podiatry. Dr. Pandya will be able to provide a treatment to target your foot problem and get rid of it once and for all. Don’t wait – call us today at (518) 273-0053 to make an appointment.

Foot Odor

Are you suffering from an embarrassing case of stinky feet? It is a common foot problem so no fear, you are not alone! Dr. Tejas Pandya, foot specialist in Troy, NY treats patients on a regular basis who are tired of dealing with their foot odor problem. The good news is that once you discover what may be causing it, there are many treatment options out there to get it under control.

If you have a foot odor problem, there are many reasons for why it may be there in the first place. Common reasons for foot odor include the type of footwear you are wearing on a daily basis and having feet that tend to sweat

Bacteria love to live and thrive in dark, moist areas and your shoes are prime real estate. When it meets with the perspiration of the feet, the result can be odor that is not only uncomfortable but can be embarrassing as well. Hyperhidrosis is an inherited condition that involves excessive sweating. Other factors that influence sweating include medications, fluid intake, stress and hormonal changes.

Now that you have been educated a bit, you are probably wondering what you can do to help your smelly feet, right? Dr. Pandya encourages patients to follow some simple tips:

    •    Wash your feet with antibacterial soap and water.
    •    Always wear socks in shoes and avoid shoes made of plastic.
    •    Take care of any fungal infections promptly and thoroughly.
    •    Rotate your shoes each day and wear thick socks that draw moisture away from your feet.

If these steps do not improve your condition, we are here to help! Make an appointment with Dr. Pandya by calling our podiatric office at (518) 273-0053 or visit www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

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Dealing with Dry Skin?

Did you know that your skin is actually your body’s largest organ? It is made up of three layers and serves to protect and regulate temperature. There are a lot of factors that can make skin change from soft and supple to dry and cracked. When dry skin occurs on the feet, it can not only be unsightly but become painful as well.

Dr. Tejas Pandya, foot specialist in Troy, NY treats many patients with dry feet. There are several factors that can cause dry feet, some of which you may not be aware of:

• Psoriasis
• Vitamin deficiency
• Age 
• Diabetes 
• Excess weight
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease

To help dry skin, there are a few tips that will make a difference. First off, drink plenty of water.  After bathing or showering when skin is soft, remove build up of dry skin with a pumice stone. Then apply a lotion rich in emollients but avoid between your toes as this increases the risk for fungal infections.

If following these tips doesn’t help to improve your dry skin after several days, it would be advised to make an appointment with Dr. Pandya. Something else may be the underlying cause and since dry, cracking skin can be a small sign of something more serious such as diabetes, it is important to get it treated. Make an appointment with Dr. Pandya and keep your foot health a priority. Call our podiatric office at (518) 273-0053 or visit us online at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

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Does Nail Polish Harm Your Nails?

Americans spend billions every year on nail care products but many may not be aware of the harm that nail polish can cause to fingernails and toenails over time.

Nails can turn yellow from absorbing pigment of color from the polish. Some polishes have iron oxides in them, the same chemicals we know as “rust.” Your nails can “rust” in their own way when using polishes with these chemicals in them. Many nail polishes also have formaldehyde in their list of ingredients. When the keratin protein in your nails reacts with this chemical, nails can become yellow and brittle.

Gel nails are very popular in salons. Through its application and removal, this type of manicure has been found to make nails weak, brittle and thin over time. Acrylic nails are also common but can be dangerous if they lift off the natural nail even slightly as this small gap leaves the natural nail at risk for infection.

If you have thick and discolored nails, which are most likely from a fungal infection, it is never a good idea to apply nail polish to cover them up. Nail polish does not allow nails to breathe and prevents necessary moisture from getting in. It is also important to remember that nail polish remover contains acetone which dries out nails and over time can make nails brittle as well.

If you have any concern about the health of your nails, contact foot specialist Dr. Tejas Pandya. His podiatric office in Troy, NY can treat any toenail problem you may have. Call our office at (518) 273-0053 or visit us at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.

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Tips to Avoid Fungal Infections

Your feet can be easily exposed to so many forms of fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. Fungal infections can spread into small breakages of the skin on your feet or into your toenails. Fungal infections can cause embarrassing thickening or discoloration of your toenails and can become painful. We want to help you keep your feet healthy and looking their best, so we’ve have some helpful tips to help you avoid fungal infections.

• Look out for public places. If you are a frequent visitor to public gym or pool, you may be putting yourself at risk for fungal infections. Hot moist areas, like gyms, locker rooms, pools, and showers are the best environments for fungi to thrive. When visiting a public place, make sure to always wear some form of protective footwear to avoid fungal infections.

• Beware of nail polish. Nail polish can be a great way to make your toes look their best! Yet we feel that healthy toenails are the best looking. If you are experiencing toenails with discoloration, thickening, cracks, or decays, do not attempt to hide the imperfections with toenail polish. These unfortunate toenail irregularities could be a sign of fungal toenails. Toenail polish can lead to a more serious infection, and will make the problem worse. Treating the nail rather than covering it is healthier and much better in the long run.

• Keep your shoes to yourself! Sharing shoes or any product that comes into direct contact with your feet like socks, towels, or orthotics is an easy way to spread fungal infections. You shouldn’t share any of these items with anyone, even close friends and family.

If you do develop a fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot, call our office at (518)273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

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Precautionary Steps to Prevent Fungal Toenails

Fungal toenails can be painful, embarrassing and just plain gross. Fungal infections within your toenails can easily spread from the toenails to the skin. They can also infect your entire foot and the rest of your body.

In order to prevent this painful and disgusting condition, please follow our helpful tips:

• Wash and dry your feet. You must wash your feet with soap and water at least twice every day. Dry your feet thoroughly after and don’t forgot to dry between your toes.

• Use anti-fungal and antiperspirant products. Apply an anti-fungal cream to your feet and ankles on a daily basis. You can powder feet, ankles and toes with an antiperspirant to reduce sweating. This will also help keep your feet dry throughout all of your physical activities.

• Do not swap maintenance tools. It is so important to keep up the care of your feet and toes. However, your maintenance tools can easily spread fungal infections if you share. You always want to disinfect tools such as nail clippers, files and pumice stones before and after every use. Never share your tools with others or borrow someone else’s foot care products.

• Keep your socks and shoes to yourself. Just like with maintenance tools, you do not want to borrow socks and shoes. You also do not want to lend out your own. Socks and shoes directly touch your feet and harbor bacteria, especially from perspiration. Make sure to wash your socks after every use.

• Cut your toenails. It may sound simple enough, but this little task can easily be forgotten. Cut your toenails straight across and never curve at the ends. You also want to cut toenails at least once a week or whenever the nail grows past the end of your toe.

Fungal toenails can be extremely difficult to treat and may require permanent removal of the infected nail. For this reason, if you experience a fungal infection in your feet or toenails you want to contact our office immediately. You can call our office at (518)273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya. Don’t forget that while fungal nails are treatable, they can always come back! You need to take the proper precautionary steps to prevent reoccurring fungal infections.

References:

http://www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com/library/1821/FungalNails.html
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/fungal-infections-skin

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