Items filtered by date: March 2022

Plantar hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes the feet to sweat excessively. Not only is this an annoying problem that can ruin your shoes or leave behind damp footprints, it can also lead to more serious medical complications. Because the feet of someone with plantar hyperhidrosis are constantly wet, the skin can begin to break down. This can lead to foot wounds and infections. Fungal infections, like athlete’s foot, are particularly common as the damp feet provide the perfect environment for the fungi to grow and thrive in, but bacterial and viral infections are also possible. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for plantar hyperhidrosis. To learn more, please consult with a chiropodist. 

Plantar hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating of the feet. This problem is not only embarrassing but can also cause a variety of foot health problems if left untreated. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments available for plantar hyperhidrosis. If you have very sweaty feet, please consult with Paul A. Scotti, D.Ch from West Toronto Foot & Ankle Clinic Inc. . Our chiropodist can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Signs & Symptoms

• Excessive foot sweat

• Sweating from both feet

• Slipping out of shoes due to sweat

• Damp footprints

• Ruined shoes

• Frequent foot infections

• Friction blisters

• Whitish foot color

• Wrinkly, pruney feet

• Cold feet

• Strong odor

Treatment Options

• Topical antiperspirants - Powders, creams, or gels that are applied directly to the feet to prevent sweating; can be over the counter or prescription strength

• Oral medications - Pills taken by mouth to reduce sweating temporarily

• Iontophoresis - A procedure that uses a mild electrical current conducted through water to reduce activity in hyperactive sweat glands

• Botox - Injected into the feet to prevent activation of sweat glands

In addition to these treatment options, footwear modifications, such as wearing shoes and socks made of breathable or moisture-wicking materials, are also suggested. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Your feet support your entire body and carry you through your daily life, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that signs of problems elsewhere in the body can be seen in the feet. For example, a loss of hair on the feet and legs may indicate peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition characterized by poor circulation in the lower limbs. Another potential sign of PAD, as well as diabetes, are poorly-healing wounds on the feet. Various types of arthritis also tend to make themselves known via foot problems. Stiff and sore foot and ankle joints could be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while an enlarged big toe may indicate gout, and pitted toenails are often associated with psoriatic arthritis. It’s important to monitor the health of your feet, and your chiropodist can help. If you have any questions or concerns about your foot health, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with a chiropodist near you. 

Systemic diseases are medical problems that affect the entire body. Many systemic diseases can bring about foot and ankle problems. If you have a systemic disease that affects your lower limbs, please consult with Paul A. Scotti, D.Ch from West Toronto Foot & Ankle Clinic Inc. . Our chiropodist can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Which systemic diseases can affect the feet?

• Peripheral artery disease - Causes inadequate blood flow to the lower limbs

• Peripheral neuropathy - Nerve damage in the nerves that supply the feet and ankles

• Diabetes - Can cause nerve damage, poor circulation, and a weakened immune system that can lead to the formation of poorly healing wounds on the feet

• Arthritis - A disease of the joints that damages joint lining, it often affects the small joints of the feet and the ankle joints

• Gout - A build up of uric acid in the bloodstream that forms crystals that can lodge in the joints

How can a chiropodist help? 

Chiropodists help people who have systemic disease manage and maintain their foot health in a variety of ways. They can diagnose a multitude of foot and ankle problems, screen for certain systemic conditions, teach patients about proper foot care, and provide information about preventive strategies that patients could employ to avoid complications from their systemic diseases. Chiropodists can also treat foot and ankle problems through medications, foot and ankle exercises, orthotics, and lifestyle recommendations, among many other potential treatments

If you are living with a systemic illness that impacts your foot health, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet. This fungus lives and thrives in warm, moist environments. Walking barefoot in public places such as swimming pools and locker room areas, sharing personal items like shoes and socks, having excessively sweaty or wet feet, or having a minor skin or nail injury on your foot can all make you more susceptible to athlete’s foot. If you have developed athlete’s foot, you may find that the skin on your feet is itchy, dry, cracking, peeling, or raw, especially in between your toes and on the soles of your feet. Potential treatments for athlete’s foot include oral and topical medications. If you are afflicted with athlete’s foot, a chiropodist can help find the right treatment for you.

Athlete’s foot can be uncomfortable and unsightly. To learn more about preventing and treating this condition, please consult with Paul A. Scotti, D.Ch from West Toronto Foot & Ankle Clinic Inc. . Our chiropodist will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment. 

What Is Athlete’s Foot? 

Athlete’s foot refers to an infection of the skin on the feet that is caused by a fungus. This fungus is contagious and thrives in warm and moist environments. It is often spread in common areas such as public pools, locker rooms, and showers. It can also spread when sharing personal items, like shoes or towels, with an infected person. 

Symptoms

The symptoms of athlete’s foot may include: 

• Itching, stinging, or burning of the skin on the feet

• Cracking or peeling skin, especially between the toes and on the soles of the feet

• Scaly, red rash on the foot

• Blisters 

• Foul odor

Treatment

Treatment for athlete’s foot typically involves using over-the-counter topical antifungal medications on the feet. When over-the-counter options are ineffective, you may need to take prescription oral medications or topical antifungal drugs, or a combination of both. 

Prevention

Preventing athlete’s foot places an emphasis on good foot hygiene practices. 

You can prevent athlete’s foot by:

• Washing and drying your feet thoroughly every day

• Wearing shoes when walking in public areas

• Not sharing personal items, like shoes or socks, with others

• Wearing shoes and socks made out of breathable materials

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

Bunions are a common foot disorder characterized by the appearance of a bony bump on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. Bunions grow slowly due to pressure on the joint of the big toe. This pressure causes the big toe to move out of place and lean toward the other toes. Bunions are often the result of genetics and are exacerbated by lifestyle factors, such as wearing shoes that are too tight, high heels, or shoes that have a narrow toe box may create bunions as well. Some people are naturally predisposed to developing bunions, and their risk may increase if they wear ill-fitting shoes. Certain foot conditions, such as arthritis and flat feet, can also make bunions more likely. Without treatment, bunions tend to worsen and grow larger causing severe pain and discomfort, making it difficult to wear shoes. If you have developed a bunion it is recommended that you see a chiropodist for treatment. 

Bunions progressively worsen over time and may cause walking in your shoes to become difficult. To learn more about bunions, please consult with Paul A. Scotti, D.Ch from West Toronto Foot & Ankle Clinic Inc. . Our chiropodist will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment. 

What Are Bunions? 

A bunion is a bony bump that protrudes from the base of the big toe. Bunions are caused due to a misalignment of the first metatarsal. The characteristic bump of a bunion forms when the metatarsal shifts outwards from its proper position. Bunions develop slowly over time and progressively worsen without treatment. The skin over the bunion may develop calluses due to the friction from shoes. Eventually, a bunion can make walking uncomfortable or even painful. Bunions are one of the most common foot deformities and are especially common in women and older adults.

Symptoms

A bunion appears as a bulging bump on the outside of the base of the big toe.

The bunion may also: 

• Be swollen, red, or sore 

• Develop corns or calluses over it

• Cause pain

• Limit the big toe’s range of motion

Treatment

There are several different treatments available for bunions. Conservative treatment options include wearing shoes with a wider toe box, cushioning the bunion with a specialized pad, wearing shoe inserts, icing the bunion if it becomes inflamed, and taking medications to relieve pain. In more severe cases, more invasive procedures may be done. This may involve removing the swollen tissue around the bunion, straightening the big toe, realigning the bones at the front of the foot, or a combination of these procedures. 

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

Flat feet refer to feet that have little to no visible arch in the middle of the foot and lie flat against the floor when standing. This can occur from an early age due to genetics or be acquired due to the arch collapsing over time. Generally, there are two types of flat feet: flexible and rigid. Flexible flat feet have a visible arch when the feet are not bearing weight, but disappear when standing. Rigid flat feet have no visible arch and are often caused by certain bone or joint disorders. Flat feet can be asymptomatic, or they can cause pain and discomfort, especially while walking or standing. If you have flat feet that are causing pain it is recommended that you see a chiropodist for proper treatment. 

Flat feet are a common foot condition. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort due to flat feet, please consult with Paul A. Scotti, D.Ch from West Toronto Foot & Ankle Clinic Inc. . Our chiropodist will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment. 

What Are Flat Feet? 

Flat feet are feet that do not have a well-defined arch in the middle of the sole of the foot. Flat feet may be flexible or rigid. Flexible flat feet have an arch when there is no pressure put on the foot, such as when one is sitting, but the arch disappears upon standing. Rigid flat feet lack an arch regardless of whether one is standing or not. 

Causes

Flat feet can be present from birth or acquired over time due to a weakening of the ligaments in the arch. Sometimes flat feet are caused by illnesses, injuries, or pregnancy. 

Symptoms

Flat feet often cause no noticeable symptoms. However, some people may experience pain and discomfort due to their flat feet. 

Symptoms associated with flat feet include:

• Pain in the arch, heel, ankle, or along the outside of the foot

• Overpronation of the foot

• Shin splints

• Aching or fatigue in the feet or legs

• Pain in the knees, hips, or lower back

Treatment 

In cases where flat feet cause symptoms, there are various treatments available. Wearing orthotic inserts in your shoes to provide more arch support, performing stretches, and taking medications may improve your symptoms. If you are overweight, losing weight can help relieve pressure on the feet. In severe cases, surgery may be considered. 

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