The foot condition known as athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin. This type of fungus lives in damp areas such as public swimming pools, shower room floors, and locker rooms. The fungus enters the body through tiny cracks in the skin on the feet and can cause the feet to turn red and itch. In severe cases, small blisters may develop between the toes and generally require prompt medical attention. There are various reasons why athlete’s foot may develop consisting of family history, a weakened immune system, or existing medical conditions like eczema. This ailment is contagious, and it can be beneficial to wear appropriate shoes while in damp areas. Additional preventive methods can include alternating the shoes worn, refraining from sharing socks, shoes, or towels, and avoiding walking barefoot. Athlete’s foot can be uncomfortable and mild cases can heal in several weeks. If you notice your feet are not healing, it is strongly advised that you are under the care of a podiatrist who can effectively diagnose and treat athlete’s foot.

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Castillo from Bronx Foot Care.  Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning, and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, Athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of Athlete’s foot, as well as help in determining which treatment options are best for you.

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

If you feel pain or numbness near the ball of your foot, under your toes, you may have a Morton’s neuroma. People sometimes describe this as feeling like there is a pebble or rock under their toes. Others describe it as a burning sensation, a sharp pain, or numbness in this area of their foot. A Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the tissue around the nerves leading to the toes. Pain is usually felt between the 3rd and 4th toe or the ball of the foot between the 2nd and 3rd toes. It is a benign condition. A Morton’s neuroma can happen from wearing tight or high-heeled shoes. In cycling, shoes are usually lower volume, and these could pinch the toes together for prolonged periods depending on the length of your ride. This puts cyclists at a higher risk for this problem. Other causes of Morton’s neuroma include foot abnormalities, such as bunions, hammertoes, or flat feet. It can also be caused by repeated trauma from the feet pounding on pavement like in running, and as related to cycling when the foot tilts as it connects with the pedal of the bike. Make sure your cycling shoes are well-fitted. The toe box should be wide enough to allow toes to move freely and with a proper tilt. A wedge can be used to reduce pressure under the first two toes and help to relieve discomfort. If you are a cyclist and are experiencing the kind of pain described above, consider seeing a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment that best suits you.

Ankle and foot injuries are common among athletes and in many sports. They can be caused by several problems and may be potentially serious. If you are feeling pain or think you were injured in a sporting event or when exercising, consult with Dr. Castillo from Bronx Foot Care. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Common Injuries

The most common injuries that occur in sporting activities include:

• Achilles Tendonitis
• Achilles Tendon Rupture
• Ankle Sprains
• Broken Foot
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Stress Fractures
• Turf Toe

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending upon the injury and in some cases, there may be no symptoms at all. However, in most cases, some form of symptom is experienced. Pain, aching, burning, bruising, tenderness, tightness or stiffness, sensation loss, difficulty moving, and swelling are the most common symptoms.

Treatment

Just as symptoms vary depending upon the injury, so do treatment options. A common treatment method is known as the RICE method. This method involves rest, applying ice, compression and elevating the afflicted foot or ankle. If the injury appears to be more serious, surgery might be required, such as arthroscopic or reconstructive surgery. Lastly, rehabilitation or therapy might be needed to gain full functionality in the afflicted area. Any discomfort experienced by an athlete must be evaluated by a licensed, reputable medical professional.  

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Bronx, NY Yonkers, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

There are several different kinds of warts that an individual may develop on their body. Plantar warts and common warts are among the most familiar. Usually, children and young adults are more susceptible to developing these kinds of warts. Both plantar and common warts occur when an individual is exposed to a certain strain of human papillomavirus, or HPV. This can happen when an individual touches someone else’s wart. What makes these two kinds of warts different is where they are typically located. Common warts can develop on any part of the body, although they are most typically found on the hands and knees. They are small, oval-like, rough patches of skin. On the other hand, plantar warts are found primarily on the bottoms of the feet, also known as the soles. Plantar warts will manipulate the natural lines that are located on the soles of the feet. If you have plantar warts, you might even see clogged blood vessels in the plantar wart that are of a black color. Plantar warts also differ from common warts because there are different potential treatments for each kind of wart. If you suspect that you have plantar warts, you should consider seeing a podiatrist who can help you treat warts.

Plantar warts can be very uncomfortable. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Castillo from Bronx Foot Care. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

About Plantar Warts

Plantar warts are the result of HPV, or human papillomavirus, getting into open wounds on the feet. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

While plantar warts are generally harmless, those experiencing excessive pain or those suffering from diabetes or a compromised immune system require immediate medical care. Plantar warts are easily diagnosed, usually through scraping off a bit of rough skin or by getting a biopsy.

Symptoms

• Lesions on the bottom of your feet, usually rough and grainy
• Hard or thick callused spots
• Wart seeds, which are small clotted blood vessels that look like little black spots
• Pain, discomfort, or tenderness of your feet when walking or standing

Treatment

• Freezing
• Electric tool removal
• Laser Treatment
• Topical Creams (prescription only)
• Over-the-counter medications

To help prevent developing plantar warts, avoid walking barefoot over abrasive surfaces that can cause cuts or wounds for HPV to get into. Avoiding direct contact with other warts, as well as not picking or rubbing existing warts, can help prevent the further spread of plantar warts. However, if you think you have developed plantar warts, speak to your podiatrist. He or she can diagnose the warts on your feet and recommend the appropriate treatment options.

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

Clubfoot is considered to be a congenital foot condition. The medical name for it is known as congenital talipes equinovarus, and the abbreviation is CTEV.  A noticeable sign of this condition is that the infant's feet are rotated at the ankle. There are two categories of CTEV - postural and structural. The former involves tightness or muscle imbalance, and the bones and joints are generally not affected by this type of clubfoot. The latter is a deformity that affects the bones and joints, and reaching a full range of motion may be difficult to accomplish. The symptoms that are associated with CTEV can consist of tight calf muscles, and the feet will turn inward. Research has indicated that genetics and environment may contribute to developing structural CTEV. When walking begins, the child may have difficulty in maintaining a normal walking pattern, and they may have foot pain and limited mobility. Specific stretches can possibly help postural CTEV, and surgery may be necessary in structural CTEV, which may help to properly align the feet. If your child has been born with clubfoot, it is strongly advised that a podiatrist be contacted who can diagnose and manage this condition.

Congenital foot problems require immediate attention to avoid future complications. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Castillo of Bronx Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Congenital foot problems are deformities affecting the feet, toes, and/or ankles that children are born with. Some of these conditions have a genetic cause while others just happen. Some specific foot ailments that children may be born with include clubfeet, polydactyly/macrodactyly, and cleft foot. There are several other foot anomalies that can occur congenitally. What all of these conditions have in common is that a child may experience difficulty walking or performing everyday activities, as well as trouble finding footwear that fits their foot deformity. Some of these conditions are more serious than others. Consulting with a podiatrist as early as possible will help in properly diagnosing a child’s foot condition while getting the necessary treatment underway.

What are Causes of Congenital Foot Problem?

A congenital foot problem is one that happens to a child at birth. These conditions can be caused by a genetic predisposition, developmental or positional abnormalities during gestation, or with no known cause.

What are Symptoms of Congenital Foot Problems?

Symptoms vary by the congenital condition. Symptoms may consist of the following:

• Clubfoot, where tendons are shortened, bones are shaped differently, and the Achilles tendon is tight, causing the foot to point in and down. It is also possible for the soles of the feet to face each other.
• Polydactyly, which usually consists of a nubbin or small lump of tissue without a bone, a toe that is partially formed but has no joints, or an extra toe.
• Vertical talus, where the talus bone forms in the wrong position causing other bones in the foot to line up improperly, the front of the foot to point up, and the bottom of the foot to stiffen, with no arch, and to curve out.
• Tarsal coalition, when there is an abnormal connection of two or more bones in the foot leading to severe, rigid flatfoot.
• Cleft foot, where there are missing toes, a V-shaped cleft, and other anatomical differences.
• Macrodactyly, when the toes are abnormally large due to overgrowth of the underlying bone or soft tissue.

Treatment and Prevention

While there is nothing one can do to prevent congenital foot problems, raising awareness and receiving neonatal screenings are important. Early detection by taking your child to a podiatrist leads to the best outcome possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Bronx, NY Yonkers, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.