Skin Conditions
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Skin Conditions
We have two foot clinics located in Thornhill and North York offering a range of services to treat whatever ails your feet. Please see all conditions below.
Athletes Foot
Typically contracted in damp communal places such as public pools, locker rooms or showers, athlete’s foot is a highly contagious, persistent ailment caused by fungal growth on the feet. It can be located any area of the foot but the most commonly affected area is between the toes.
Athlete’s foot often first appears as an itchy red rash, typically beginning between the fourth and fifth toe. If left untreated, the skin may become highly sensitive to the touch. If allowed to progress, the condition can result in white, peeling skin and a milky discharge.
It is important to treat Athlete’s foot at the first sign of infection as the body can become vulnerable to other bacterial infections large cracks occur in the skin. The infection can also be transmitted to other parts of the body through bedding and clothes. Patients with serious cases of athlete’s foot may develop a rash that covers the sole of the foot. Known as “moccasin foot,” this manifestation of Athlete’s foot creates extremely scaly, thick and rough skin on the bottom of the foot.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of Athlete’s foot, contact us today for effective treatment options. Our foot clinic in North York and Thornhill is specialised to help you with Athletes Foot. Early treatment will lessen the risk of exposure to others and alleviate the painful symptoms associated with this condition.
Calluses and Corns
The human body is incredibly adaptable, and corns and calluses are just one way your body defends you. While slightly different from each other, corns and calluses stem from the same root cause. They are both thick patches of skin that develop to protect you when the skin is subjected to excessive friction and pressure, but they can become problems themselves, particularly for diabetics or anyone with compromised circulation.
Signs Your Corn or Callus is a Problem
Identifying a troublesome corn or callus is relatively simple if they are bothering you or inhibiting your life in any way at all, see your podiatrist!
In some cases, the callus or corn may become sensitive or start to crack. Consistent foot care can help keep calluses supple and prevent them from growing large enough to be a problem. There are many products available to make foot care easier, including foot soaks and pumice stones.
For those with severe or recurring problems, the occasional pedicure may be in order. Of course prevention is always the most effective form of treatment. If you are experiencing calluses, take care to protect your feet, wear supportive footwear that fits correctly, and adjust your posture so your weight is distributed evenly across the entire foot. Contact us today to learn more about calluses and what you can do to manage them.
Infections
The human body is incredibly adaptable, and corns and calluses are just one way your body defends you. While slightly different from each other, corns and calluses stem from the same root cause. They are both thick patches of skin that develop to protect you when the skin is subjected to excessive friction and pressure, but they can become problems themselves, particularly for diabetics or anyone with compromised circulation.
Signs Your Corn or Callus is a Problem
Identifying a troublesome corn or callus is relatively simple if they are bothering you or inhibiting your life in any way at all, see your podiatrist!
In some cases, the callus or corn may become sensitive or start to crack. Consistent foot care can help keep calluses supple and prevent them from growing large enough to be a problem. There are many products available to make foot care easier, including foot soaks and pumice stones.
For those with severe or recurring problems, the occasional pedicure may be in order. Of course prevention is always the most effective form of treatment. If you are experiencing calluses, take care to protect your feet, wear supportive footwear that fits correctly, and adjust your posture so your weight is distributed evenly across the entire foot. Contact us today to learn more about calluses and what you can do to manage them.
Ingrown Toenails
Although they can start out as a small nuisance, ingrown toenails can become a real problem if left untreated. Caused by a segment of the toenail that embeds in the skin around the nail, an ingrown toenail is characterized by pain, swelling, redness and a feeling of warmth in the affected toe. If the nail digs into the flesh around the nail and causes the skin to break, bacteria can enter, resulting in an infection. The infection can increase the level of pain in the toe and create additional problems.
While some people are prone to ingrown toenails and others are caused by improper nail trimming techniques, ingrown toenails can also be caused by trauma from repeated impact or stubbing the toe. Treatment for minor ingrown toenails can often be done in the home if you are in good health and if no infection is present. Soaking the foot to soften the skin and massaging the affected area can loosen the troublesome part of the nail.
If physician care is necessary, antibiotics may be prescribed to manage the infection and an outpatient surgery may be necessary to remove the offending nail. If you are in need of care for your ingrown toenail or are unsure how to properly are for your toenails, contact us today.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that occur on the sole, heel, or ball of the foot. Most plantar warts are diagnosed based on their appearance. They are generally rough and spongy, and most are gray, brown, or yellow with dark pinpoints—these are typically tiny capillaries that supply blood to the wart.
Plantar warts can occur when the human papilloma virus (HPV) invades the body through the skin on the bottom of the feet typically through cuts or breaks. The virus often is present on contaminated surfaces, such as the tile floors of public locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools.
Some individuals are more prone to the virus that causes plantar warts than other people. Risk factors include:
- Repeated HPV exposure. For example, walking barefoot in public locker rooms and common public areas.
- Having a weakened immune system.
In some cases, the virus can be transmitted to the feet from other areas of the body. This is called remote location seeding.
When first diagnosed, individuals often feel a “lump” on the bottom of the foot when standing, similar to having a stone in the shoe. If left untreated, plantar warts can grow up to 1 inch in circumference and may spread into clusters (called mosaic warts). In severe cases, they cause a change in gait or posture that results in leg or back pain.
If you suffer from plantar warts, visit your Chiropodist to find effective treatment options for you.
Xerosis
If you’ve typically had normal skin on your feet and have been noticing them becoming increasingly dry. You’re likely dealing with a case of xerosis. The condition medically known as xerosis is also better known as severe dry skin on the feet. There is really no medication needed to Xerosis.
There are several factors that can cause xerosis such as:
- Bathing or showering habitually more than once a day
- Using non-moisturizing soaps
- Not applying lotion to re-moisturize the area
- Using excessively hot water when showering or bathing
By applying a moisture-rich lotion to the affected area of your feet, you should be able to see results fairly quickly.
If you notice the dryness escalating and the skin becomes itchy and scaly, it has progressed to prurtius. Again, this condition is easily treated by re-moisturizing the area with lotion. However, if the condition persists for more than two weeks, this could indicate the presence or a viral or bacterial infection. In this case, you would want to visit your foot doctor to obtain antibiotics to treat the infected area. Book an appointment at our foot clinic in Thornhill or at our North York clinic.
Xerosis is a fairly common ailment and shouldn’t create any unnecessary cause for alarm.
