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Posts for tag: dry feet

October 01, 2012
Category: people and blogs

Winter is creeping slowly upon us. And if you are like us you will definitely miss the sun, sand, beach days, and sliding on your favorite pair of sandals. As we transition from enjoying our summer days with numerous outdoor activities to being indoors more frequently, it is very important to continue your foot care regimen.   

I know what you are thinking. I am going to be indoors and my feet will be protected from all of the elements. The fact is although shielded from the elements, your feet can suffer in the winter months if they are neglected and that can lead to very unhealthy feet. So, how do problems with the feet occur?
For one the cold moist environment outdoors paired with the warmth and dryness indoors can lead to a host of problems. One being, dry skin, especially on the heels. The warm dryness of the indoors can dehydrate the skin on the heels, which can lead to painful skin cracks as well as dry scaly skin on the rest of the foot. Also the warm moist environment of your shoes is a perfect environment for fungus that can invade your nails and or your feet.

Improper shoe gear can also cause problems with your feet. Improper shoe gear can cause some of the same conditions you may have experienced in the summer months including ingrown nails, plantar fasciitis, bunion pain, etc. This can make you more susceptible to slips and falls increasing your chances for traumatic injuries such as ankle sprains and fractures of the foot and ankle. If you are diabetic, proper shoe gear is of critical importance because the wrong shoes can lead to skin breakdown and the possibility of ulcerations.

So, how do I survive these months and take care of my feet?  It's simple all you have to do is keep up a foot care regimen.
  1. If your feet are dry and scaly moisturize your feet.  Check out some of the lotions and creams we sell. Don’t pull off dry flaky skin or remove painful calluses. This can traumatize the skin and lead to skin breaks that could lead to a potential skin infection.
  2. If your feet are cold, don’t warm them up with warming devices or warm water. This can cause a burn and will dry out your feet. Instead, try a comfy pair of slippers or socks.
  3. If you have foot or nail fungus make sure to wash your socks and clean your shower with bleach. You can also spray your shoes with an anti-fungal spray. Make sure to wear good socks that allow for your feet to breathe.  If your feet begin to itch and you notice discoloration of your nails don't hesitate to make an appointment with us. Foot and Ankle Specialists of Utah wants to help with all your foot needs. 
  4.  For all you diabetics- check your feet daily. Any skin breakdown or abnormal changes need to be seen by us immediately, don’t wait.
  5. Proper fitting shoe gear is a must. This prevents blister formation and decreases the chance of traumatic injury. Finally for all of you athletes who enjoy winter sports. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society developed these tips to reduce injury risk: Warm up before any sports activity, participate in a conditioning program to build muscle strength, do stretching exercises daily, listen to your body: never run if you experience pain in the foot or ankle. Nourish your muscles by eating a well-balanced diet, wear protective equipment appropriate for that sport. Replace athletic shoes as soon as the tread or heel wears out, and stay a step ahead of sport-related injuries by wearing the right athletic shoes for the activity and making sure they fit properly.

Maintaining healthy feet is a never ending task and is essential in preventing injury as well as infection. As long as you follow these tips your feet should get through these winter months with no problems. However, if you do experience problems with your feet just call us and make an appointment. Foot and Ankle Specialists of Utah would be happy to help with any problems you have!  
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May 15, 2012
Category: people and blogs

Dry skin on rough feet is a common condition in all seasons. In the winter, our skin naturally dries in cold weather. Summertime brings open shoes, which allows the dirt and dust to dry out our feet. While many people use creams and lotions to moisturize the skin, some only do so when they start to struggle with discomfort and cracking from the dry skin. Others buy what’s on sale without concern as to if it is the right solution for them. As podiatrists, we are exposed to many different creams and lotions.

A lotion is a good selection for mild dryness on the top of the foot, around the ankles and on the legs. It is not suitable for the thicker skin on the bottom of the foot and especially the heels. Lotions are a thinner vehicle for moisture and do not penetrate the skin as deeply. Using a lotion does certainly have an appropriate place in foot health. While there are many lotions available in the grocery stores there are only a few lotions we would recommend. We carry a variety of great creams in our offices. One great option is Amerigel lotion. This lotion has properties that no others have. It contains Oakin, a natural ingredient that exfoliates dry skin, fights bacterial and fungal infection, and reduces skin inflammation. It is one of the few lotions that can eliminate the pigmentation that many find on their legs.

Unlike lotions, there are several creams that I recommend. Each serves a particular purpose. For maintenance, when there is not a particular issue with dryness and the skin of the feet is generally healthy, both Eucerin cream and Cetaphil cream can be used with excellent results. Both are widely available in pharmacies and grocery stores.

There are many times where feet become dry and rough when an “off the shelf” solution doesn’t work well enough. The first line of defense is a stronger moisturizing cream. For those I recommend Revitaderm.  It contains 40% Urea, which adds elasticity to the skin to make it supple by drawing upon the body’s own moisture. It also helps to prevent and treat painful cracking and splitting skin.

Most of the time, any old moisturizer won’t do. It is important to identify your skin type, what you expect from the cream, and what the best one is for your particular situation.  We have many excellent Office Products We Love!  Feel free to Contact Us with any questions!ilable iiiiifdhave hhhhhh great   caccjkldfdfWeWe WEjdfkjdfkjkj  we  

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Podiatry, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Seagle & Dr. Christiansen
1551 S. Renaissance Towne Dr. Ste. 370 Bountiful, UT 84010 Phone: (801) 292-4425
425 Medical Dr. Ste 215 Bountiful, UT 84010 (801)292-9222
11762 S. State Street Ste. 340 Draper, UT 84020 Phone: (801) 566-7297