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Posts for tag: Athlete's Foot

By Brad Toll, DPM
October 04, 2019
Category: Athlete's Foot
Tags: podiatrist   Athlete's Foot   sports   rash   infection  

Sports are often a big part of our lives whether we watch or participate. This is especially true in the Fall as many children go back to school and play football, basketball, Lacrosse and field hockey among others. With sports also comes the possibility for injury or ailment. One of the major conditions an athlete can suffer from is called Athlete’s foot otherwise known as tinea pedis. What is Athlete’s foot? Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection (trichophyton) that usually occurs between the toes and thrives in moist conditions.

Causes of Athlete’s foot include:

  • Sweaty feet
  • Sharing towels, shoes and socks
  • Walking barefoot in public places

Symptoms of Athlete’s foot include:

  • Scaly red rash in and around the toes
  • Peeling skin usually between toes but can spread to other areas of the foot
  • Blisters or ulcers near toes
  • Itchiness with dry and flaky skin

If not treated, Athlete’s foot can spread to the groin or hands. While most cases of Athlete’s foot can be treated with over the counter medicines, some have to be diagnosed and treated by your podiatrist. If needed, your podiatrist will treat Athlete’s foot by prescribing:

  • Oral anti-fungal attacks fungus
  • Oral antibiotics to treat infections
  • Topical steroids to treat painful inflammation
  • Topical anti-fungal meds include miconazole, terbinafine

The best treatment for Athlete’s foot is prevention. Suggestions include:

  • Wearing dry footwear and socks
  • Wear sandals or flip-flops in public places like showers, pools or locker rooms
  • Make sure you dry your feet completely after a shower or bath
  • Treat your feet with anti-fungal powder or skin cream
  • Alternate shoes
  • Air your feet
  • Don’t share socks, footwear or towels

If you believe you have Athlete’s foot, or have any other concerns about your feet, make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.

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June 11, 2019
Category: socks

Do your feet ever seem sweaty or dry? Or do you ever have the urge to go sockless when it comes to wearing your shoes? It may seem that doing so would air out our feet, but this is not the best thing to do.

There are several reasons to wear socks whether it’s for business, casual use or athletic competition and they include:

  • Cushioning – Socks add another layer to our feet when we walk
  • Moisture absorption – keeps our feet dry
  • Prevents the accumulation of bacteria- helps prevents the creation of fungus and athlete’s foot
  • Warmth – helps circulation during cold months
  • Prevents blisters, corns and calluses – prevents undue rubbing and therefore irritation against your skin
  • Can aid in sleeping – may help regulate body temperature and signal the brain it’s time to sleep
  • Prevents Raynaud’s disease – Helps regulate blood flow in your foot

Not all socks are the same though. Many are designed to fit the foot with careful attention to structure and support.  Socks often cushion the ball of the foot and the heel where much of a person’s weight is applied. Here too, extra stitching may be found to add strength to the sock.

What material is used is also important as not all provide the same benefits. Common fabrics used in socks include:

  • Merino wool – a natural product good for providing warmth and allowing for breathability
  • Cotton – most likely the least expensive, but your feet will sweat in them
  • Polyester – breathable, light and strong and good for all around use
  • Olefin – a strong and durable synthetic fabric which is excellent for repelling water
  • DryMax – another excellent synthetic fabric that has an anti-microbial treatment that helps prevent the accumulation of odor 
  • Coolmax – a strong synthetic fabric that keeps warmth and is excellent for athletics

Of course, size is also important whether you have a small or extra-large foot. Make sure your sock fits your feet. Too small and too large a sock, are both very uncomfortable and a waste of money and time. Regarding sock height, choose one that feels the most comfortable and fits your style.

If you have any questions about choosing the proper footwear or have any other questions about your feet call our office and make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and make the appropriate suggestions or find the appropriate treatments. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas. 

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By Crofton Podiatry
February 06, 2019
Category: skin conditions

Every person’s skin is different. The way they react to the moisture, or lack thereof, can be very different. Some people develop rashes, while others become very itchy and scaly. That’s why there are so many different kinds of moisturizing solutions out there!

The skin on your feet will most likely react the way it does everywhere else on your body. If the air is dry, the parts of your body that are most exposed to the elements are likely to respond by drying out.

Here are some causes for dry feet and what you can do about them:

  • Dry air – Especially in the winter, the air can become dry. With humidity levels dropping, your skin needs more moisture. Apply a moisturizer such as lotions or creams more often than you do during the summer. Additionally, try your best not to expose your skin to dry windy air for too long, as that will make the dryness worse.
  • Overexertion and/or dehydration – Much physical activity can cause your body to overheat resulting in lots of sweating to help you cool down. If you are not hydrated enough, excessive sweating can lead to dry skin, due to dehydration. Make sure that you drink adequate amounts of water each day – about 8 – 8oz glasses per day.
  • Skin conditions – If you have skin issues like eczema or psoriasis, you are more likely to have rashes and/or dry, flaky skin. It can even lead to painfully cracked heel fissures. Be sure to stay on top of moisturizing, and if necessary, topical medications. Drink plenty of water each day.
  • Skin infection – If dry skin is because of an infection like Athlete’s foot, be sure to treat the source of the problem right away. Use over-the-counter antifungal creams at the first sign of symptoms. If they are not effective, come in so that we can prescribe you a stronger treatment.
  • Health conditions – Some health conditions can have a side effect of dry skin. Diabetes is one of the conditions that can lead to dry skin. The lack of circulation can cause problems for bringing necessary fluids and nutrients to nourish your skin. Ask your doctor how you can help your dry skin when you’ve got diabetes.

If you’ve got persistent dry skin and only using moisturizers doesn’t seem to be working, try some of these home remedies to help your dry skin.

  • Set up a nice warm footbath. Soak for at least 10 minutes and then gently scrub areas of dry skin with a pumice stone. Make sure you moisturize your feet after drying them off.
  • Add Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, or honey to the foot soak. These can help to increase moisture absorption, as well as help keep infections at bay.  
  • Use paraffin wax to seal in moisture while you sleep.

Got persistent dry feet that won’t heal up no matter what you try? Make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll to help you find treatment for your dry feet. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.

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By Crofton Podiatry
January 23, 2019
Category: Fungal toenails

Fungal problems are more common than you think. They can affect many parts of the body, from the tops of your heads to the bottoms of your feet. For the feet, in particular, the most common issues affect the skin and the toenails. In fact, one infection (toenail fungus) can start from another (Athlete’s foot).

Where would you get this fungal infection on your feet?

Some places where you might have picked up the infection include the gym locker room, sharing a towel with someone who has a fungal infection or from the tools at the last pedicure you received. 

Fungus thrives in moist and warm environments. So moisture + a break in the skin of a warm foot = fungal infection. It passes from person to person, foot to foot, and toenail to toenail pretty easily. Once your toenails are infected, they are likely to become discolored, thick, brittle, and develop a smell.

So what can you do to prevent a stubborn fungal toenail infection?

  • Practice good hygiene. Wash every day with soap and warm water to reduce the risk of developing an infection.
  • Do not walk around barefoot in a gym locker room. Wear flip-flops or sandals, especially if you’re using a communal shower.
  • If you are prone to sweating a lot due to hyperhidrosis, bring a pair of socks to change into when your socks have soaked through.
  • You can also use antifungal or foot powder in your socks or shoes to reduce moisture in the shoes. 
  • Do not share nail grooming tools with someone who is infected (or at least be very diligent about disinfecting).
  • Cut your toenails properly. Ingrown toenails can cause breaks in the skin that make you more prone to a fungal infection.
  • Go to a reputable salon for a pedicure. Make sure that you can see how they sterilize their tools. Otherwise, schedule your pedicure for their first appointment of the day to ensure that they are starting the day with freshly cleaned tools on you.
  • If you have Athlete’s foot or other fungal infection on your hands, be sure to clean your hands often before touching your toes. Treat your Athlete’s foot condition promptly to prevent spreading.
  • You may have to stop using nail polish altogether as your toenails will have a harder time recovering from a fungal infection when it cannot breathe (due to polished nails).

These prevention measures should lower the risk of having to deal with fungal toenails. However, if you do somehow get infected, our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll, can help you treat the condition with topical or oral medication or painless laser therapy! Request an appointment by calling Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.

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By Crofton Podiatry
December 18, 2018
Category: Foot Care Tips

During the holidays, you have a lot to think about – cold weather, travel arrangements for the family, gifts, and, of course, gearing up to see all of your overbearing extended family members!

But we wanted to take a moment and remind you about how you can think about your feet during this time. For most, you’ll have some amount of travel during the holidays, so here are some tips to keep your feet happy as you go home for the holidays.

Pack your shoes – Unless your travel is just up the block to your parents’ house, you might want to bring more than just your one pair of shoes. If you’ll have some walking to do in the snow, wear your best, most waterproof boots. Then, make sure you bring some flip-flops in case your hosts are not the cleanest (or wears shoes in the house while you don’t). Finally, bring comfortable walking shoes if you’ll be going out for holiday events in town.

Schedule in rest and relaxation – No matter what your holiday travel plans, your feet will be doing a lot to take you from place to place. Doing some last minute shopping? Your feet will be the ones helping you run around. Climbing up 50 steps to your relative’s 4th floor walkup? It’s only possible thanks to your feet. Gripping the snow-covered ground to the mountain cabin your family rented? That’s hard work provided by your strong and healthy feet.

So why not give them some well-deserved rest with your feet up? Take turns with family members to give and receive foot massages. Yay for new holiday traditions!

Take cautions – There are a few issues that can put your feet at risk for foot problems:

  • Germs: Yep, when you’re on holiday, your feet are more at risk for encountering germs from new places and other people. It’s easy to catch a foot fungus infection (i.e. Athlete’s foot) when sharing slippers or towels with relatives who already have it.
  • Fireplace: While it is nice and cozy to share the fire with family, be careful not to get burned, especially if you have lost sensation due to diabetic neuropathy.
  • Black ice: As you travel during the cold winter months, be careful of slipping on nearly invisible black ice. Walk in well-lit places and use treaded shoes when walking outside at night after rain or snow, or you could end up with an ankle sprain!
  • Frostbite: During cold weather days and nights, be sure to wear socks with shoes to prevent unnecessary frost to your feet. Change out of wet socks and shoes as soon as possible!

Have concerns about your feet as you travel? Consult with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll at Crofton Podiatry. Make an appointment by calling (410) 721-4505. Our podiatry team is ready to assist you with your foot and ankle issues at our office in Crofton, MD, which also serves the surrounding areas of Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie.

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Podiatrist - Crofton, Crofton Podiatry, 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 25, Crofton MD, 21114 (410) 721-4505