Items filtered by date: July 2022

Cellulitis is a non-contagious infection that affects the tissue underneath the skin and can impact any part of the body. It usually starts in areas where the skin has been broken in some way, however, people who have immunodeficiencies can sometimes develop cellulitis in skin that has not been broken. Although various forms of bacteria can cause cellulitis, group A streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common. It is important to try to prevent cuts and scrapes in your child’s skin which may be difficult if they play a sport or are otherwise physically active. Protective gear such as elbow and knee pads, shin guards, and bike helmets, can help your child from breaking their skin. If they go on a hike, have them wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, and sandals on the beach. Call a podiatrist if you see areas on your child’s feet that are red, warm, swollen, and tender. Additional warning signs include fever, chills/sweats, or swollen lymph nodes near the affected area. Your child’s podiatrist may need to take a blood sample to make sure the infection has not spread into your child’s bloodstream.

The health of a child’s feet is vital to their overall well-being. If you have any questions regarding foot health, contact one of our podiatrists of Foot Center. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Tips for Keeping Children's Feet Healthy

• Make sure their shoes fit properly
• Look for any signs of in-toeing or out-toeing
• Check to see if they have Clubfoot (condition that affects your child’s foot and ankle, twisting the heel and toes inward) which is one of the most common nonmajor birth defects.
• Lightly cover your baby’s feet (Tight covers may keep your baby from moving their feet freely, and could prevent normal development)
• Allow your toddler to go shoeless (Shoes can be restricting for a young child’s foot)
• Cut toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails
• Keep your child’s foot clean and dry
• Cover cuts and scrapes. Wash any scratches with soap and water and cover them with a bandage until they’ve healed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Blisters are fluid-filled bubbles that can form on the feet to protect the skin underneath. Friction from a shoe, or socks that are too tight or loose, rubbing against a part of the foot along with movement can cause a blister. Excessive foot moisture or perspiration can also cause blisters to form. Sprinkling some cornstarch or talcum powder into socks can prevent excess moisture from collecting. One should not pop a blister as this provides an opening for bacteria to enter and an infection can result. With irritants removed and warm water soaks, blisters will usually heal on their own. However, if a blister gets worse, becomes unusually painful, or appears infected, see a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are hurting, contact one of our podiatrists of Foot Center. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What Are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How Do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A seed corn, also known as heloma miliare, is a tiny round callus that forms on a weight-bearing part of the foot. Seed corns can develop anywhere there is repeated friction and are common to the ball of the foot or the bottom of the heel. Foot deformities, such as bunions or hammertoes, may change how you walk, increasing the chances that a seed corn will form. Seed corns are not particularly dangerous, but they can become painful when pressure or weight is applied, causing further gait problems. They can be prevented by wearing shoes that fit properly, with plenty of toe room and low heels. Seed corns may be linked with dry skin, so moisturizing the feet is important. Wearing socks to form a cushion between the foot and inside of the shoe may also help. Special orthotics may be necessary in cases of recurring or persistent seed corn formation. In that case, it is a good idea to consult a podiatrist for help with removal of the corns and creating a custom shoe insert that works for you.

Corns can make walking very painful and should be treated immediately. If you have questions regarding your feet and ankles, contact one of our podiatrists of Foot Center. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? And How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns are thickened areas on the skin that can become painful. They are caused by excessive pressure and friction on the skin. Corns press into the deeper layers of the skin and are usually round in shape.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as:

• Wearing properly fitting shoes that have been measured by a professional
• Wearing shoes that are not sharply pointed or have high heels
• Wearing only shoes that offer support

Treating Corns

Although most corns slowly disappear when the friction or pressure stops, this isn’t always the case. Consult with your podiatrist to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD) is a progressive condition that can cause pain in the ankle and foot, along with a flattening of the foot. If left untreated, PTTD may even cause arthritis. PTTD begins with some sort of degenerative change to the posterior tibial tendon which is an important structure in the foot. The tendon attaches the posterior tibialis muscle at the back of the leg with bones in the foot. It helps support the arch and aid the foot while walking. PTTD is often caused by overuse of the posterior tibial tendon. Swelling and pain in the foot and ankle (on the inside of the foot) may occur after hiking, walking, running, or climbing stairs. As the condition progresses, the arch will begin to flatten and the ankle may roll inward as the feet and toes turn outward. As the tendon continues to deteriorate, the foot will flatten even more, and the location of pain will shift to the outside of the foot, underneath the ankle. Arthritis may even develop in the ankle and foot in advanced PTTD. PTTD needs to be diagnosed early on when more conservative treatment methods have a better chance of halting the condition’s progression without the need for surgery. If you are experiencing any symptoms discussed here, consult with a podiatrist as soon as possible.

Ankle pain can have many different causes and the pain may potentially be serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Foot Center. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in McAllen, and Weslaco, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.