Items filtered by date: June 2021

Pumice stones are light but abrasive stones that are formed from a mixture of lava and water. They are frequently used to remove dead, dry skin from the feet, especially on the heels. To exfoliate dry heels with a pumice stone, soak your heels in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Next, remove your heels from the water and dry them. Wet the pumice stone and then rub the abrasive side of the stone on the dry skin, in a circular motion with light pressure, for approximately two minutes or until the dry skin has been removed. When finished, rinse the pumice stone and apply moisturizer to your feet. Avoid rubbing the pumice stone with too much pressure, as this can injure your feet and lead to cuts, bleeding, and infection. If you have diabetes or other foot problems, you should not use a pumice stone to exfoliate without an okay from your doctor. To learn more about foot care, please consult with a podiatrist. 

Cracked heels are unsightly and can cause further damage to your shoes and feet. If you have any concerns, contact Robert Stein, DPM from South Shore Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

Cracked heels appear unappealing and can make it harder for you walk around in sandals. Aside from looking unpleasant, cracked heels can also tear stockings, socks, and wear out your shoes. There are several methods to help restore a cracked heel and prevent further damage.

How Do You Get Them?

Dry skin is the number one culprit in creating cracked heels. Many athletes, walkers, joggers, and even swimmers suffer from cracked heels. Age and skin oil production play a role to getting cracked heels as well.

Promote Healing

Over the counter medicines can help, especially for those that need instant relief or who suffer from chronic dry feet.

Wear Socks – Wearing socks with medicated creams helps lock in moisture.

Moisturizers – Applying both day and night will help alleviate dryness which causes cracking.

Pumice Stones – These exfoliate and remove dead skin, which allows for smoother moisturizer application and better absorption into the skin. 

Change in Diet

Eating healthy with a well-balanced diet will give the skin a fresh and radiant look. Your body responds to the kinds of food you ingest. Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc supplements can also revitalize skin tissue.

Most importantly, seek professional help if unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed. 

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

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. A common sign of plantar fasciitis is pain in the heel as well as the arch of the foot. The pain is usually worse when taking your first few steps right after sleeping or resting, and it may ease during exercise and worsen afterwards. Common risk factors for plantar fasciitis include exercising with a tight calf, recently starting to exercise on hard surfaces, wearing shoes with poor support, and being overweight. Patients who have heel pain that is stopping them from doing daily activities, that keeps getting worse, has not improved, or who also have diabetes should consult with a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment for the pain.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and inconvenient. If you are experiencing heel pain or symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact Robert Stein, DPM  from South Shore Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, known as the plantar fascia, and causes mild to severe heel pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

• Excessive running
• Non-supportive shoes
• Overpronation
• Repeated stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia

How Can It Be Treated?

• Conservative measures – anti-inflammatories, ice packs, stretching exercises, physical therapy, orthotic devices
• Shockwave therapy – sound waves are sent to the affected area to facilitate healing and are usually used for chronic cases of plantar fasciitis
• Surgery – usually only used as a last resort when all else fails. The plantar fascia can be surgically detached from the heel

While very treatable, plantar fasciitis is definitely not something that should be ignored. Especially in severe cases, speaking to your doctor right away is highly recommended to avoid complications and severe heel pain. Your podiatrist can work with you to provide the appropriate treatment options tailored to your condition.

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

Dancing can be an intense workout and place a great deal of pressure on the feet. Certain types of dance are particularly hard on the feet, such as tap and ballet. Some of the foot problems that dancers face an increased risk of developing include fifth metatarsal fractures, ankle sprains, bunions, stress fractures, ankle impingement syndrome, trigger toe, sesamoiditis, hallux rigidus, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis. Having any of these issues can make dancing difficulty, painful, or even impossible. If you are a dancer and have any foot or ankle pain, it is suggested that you see a podiatrist as soon as the pain occurs. Early detection and treatment of most foot conditions greatly improves the chances of making a full recovery, helps prevent more serious injuries, and allows you to keep on dancing.

Sports related foot and ankle injuries require proper treatment before players can go back to their regular routines. For more information, contact Robert Stein, DPM of South Shore Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Sports Related Foot and Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries are a common occurrence when it comes to athletes of any sport. While many athletes dismiss the initial aches and pains, the truth is that ignoring potential foot and ankle injuries can lead to serious problems. As athletes continue to place pressure and strain the area further, a mild injury can turn into something as serious as a rupture and may lead to a permanent disability. There are many factors that contribute to sports related foot and ankle injuries, which include failure to warm up properly, not providing support or wearing bad footwear. Common injuries and conditions athletes face, including:

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Plantar Fasciosis
• Achilles Tendinitis
• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Ankle Sprains

Sports related injuries are commonly treated using the RICE method. This includes rest, applying ice to the injured area, compression and elevating the ankle. More serious sprains and injuries may require surgery, which could include arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery. Rehabilitation and therapy may also be required in order to get any recovering athlete to become fully functional again. Any unusual aches and pains an athlete sustains must be evaluated by a licensed, reputable medical professional.

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

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of a nail grows into the surrounding skin. This usually happens on the big toe, but can happen to any toenail. Ingrown toenails dig into the skin, causing them to become red, swollen, tender, and painful. The edge of the toenail itself may be curved or ragged. Ingrown toenails can lead to infection, which may cause a buildup of pus, oozing, bleeding, warmth, and throbbing pain. To avoid ingrown toenails, it is suggested that you trim your toenails regularly with a nail clipper. The nails should be trimmed straight across and not too short. If you have particularly painful, recurrent, or infected ingrown toenails, please consult with a podiatrist who can offer you various treatment options and recommendations on how to avoid ingrown toenails in the future. 

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Robert Stein, DPM of South Shore Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

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

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that causes reduced blood flow in the lower limbs. PAD is fairly common, particularly in older people, and is caused by a buildup of plaque along the walls of the arteries. The plaque makes the arteries narrow and harden, which makes it harder for blood to circulate to the lower limbs and provide the muscles with oxygen and nutrients. This leads to symptoms that include pain, achiness, fatigue, burning, muscle cramps, and overall discomfort in the feet and ankles. At first, these symptoms may just appear when you do more strenuous physical activities like walking uphill, walking for longer distances, or running. Eventually, however, the symptoms may worsen and appear after only a little bit of activity. You may also begin to experience numbness in your lower limbs when you are at rest. If you have symptoms of PAD, please seek the care of a podiatrist.

Peripheral artery disease can pose a serious risk to your health. It can increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, consult with Robert Stein, DPM from South Shore Foot Care. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is when arteries are constricted due to plaque (fatty deposits) build-up. This results in less blood flow to the legs and other extremities. The main cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up in the arteries.

Symptoms

Symptoms of PAD include:

• Claudication (leg pain from walking)
• Numbness in legs
• Decrease in growth of leg hair and toenails
• Paleness of the skin
• Erectile dysfunction
• Sores and wounds on legs and feet that won’t heal
• Coldness in one leg

It is important to note that a majority of individuals never show any symptoms of PAD.

Diagnosis

While PAD occurs in the legs and arteries, Podiatrists can diagnose PAD. Podiatrists utilize a test called an ankle-brachial index (ABI). An ABI test compares blood pressure in your arm to you ankle to see if any abnormality occurs. Ultrasound and imaging devices may also be used.

Treatment

Fortunately, lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and quitting smoking, can all treat PAD. Medications that prevent clots from occurring can be prescribed. Finally, in some cases, surgery may be recommended.

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