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High Heels for Babies?

Tuesday September 16, 2008
Have you heard about the latest fashion trend for babies? It is high heels. That's right, you read that correctly. Two moms from Bellevue, Washington have designed soft and squishy high heels that babies (0-6 months) can wear. They are called Heelarious. As long as the baby does not stand in the shoes, I think it is okay. I know that they are soft, but even a soft heel will affect balance when trying to stand. I would recommend the mothers, of the babies, read more about high-heeled shoes and the effects on the body. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Ouch! I Scraped My Big Toe

Monday September 8, 2008
Abrasions/scrapes are very common on the feet and toes. Initial treatment should be to stop the bleeding. Luckily, abrasions do not usually bleed a lot. Next, you want to clean the area with soap and water. Now, there are a couple options for what to do next. You can leave the area uncovered and allow a scab to form. Some people refer to a scab as nature's band-aid. The other option is to apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the abrasion/scrape. You should continue to monitor the area and watch for signs of infection such as redness, drainage, pus or swelling. If you see any of these, you should see a podiatrist. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Toenail Fungus

Friday August 29, 2008
Fungus is all around us. Perhaps not the most pleasant thought, but it is true. The thought of fungus becomes even more unpleasant when it gets in your toenails. Fungus usually invades the toenails after a trauma to the nails. The toenail lifts slightly from the nail bed and then the fungus seizes the moment and invades the toenail. There are various treatments available including topical and oral (pills) antifungals. Unfortunately, fungus in the toenails can reoccur after treatment, so you need to decrease the environment that the fungus likes. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Olympic Marathoner, Deena Kastor, Goes Down with Foot Injury

Monday August 18, 2008
Deena Kastor did not finish the Women's Olympic Marathon Race in Beijing due to a broken bone in her right foot. Apparently Deena had felt some soreness in her foot a week prior to the race, but thought it was due to the tendons. It is common to have aches and pains in your feet after months of training for a marathon, but when pain is accompanied by swelling, that is not normal and you need to see a podiatrist. According to Dr. Amol Saxena, podiatric sports medicine and surgery specialist at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, Deena may have benefited from an insert and a bone stimulator. Olympic swimmer Dara Torres has taught us that age is not a limiting factor if you believe, so hopefully Deena will give it another go at the 2012 Olympics in London. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Foot Warts

Monday August 11, 2008
Warts on the bottom of the feet are also known as plantar verruca. Depending on where the warts are located, some may cause pain when walking. There are many different treatments for warts including acid, freezing, duct tape (yes, the same duct tape you can use to fix almost anything), laser and surgery to name a few. Warts on the bottom of the foot can look a lot like callouses, so when in doubt, it is best to have it looked at by a podiatrist. See more photos of foot warts. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

What a Croc

Monday August 4, 2008
Croc footwear has become very popular. It would be a challenge to go to the beach, a ball game or the mall and not see someone wearing a pair of Crocs. They were originally intended for people working on boats or around water because they have a slip-resistant and non-marking sole. The appeal of Crocs has far surpassed the intended audience. Kids especially have been swept up with Croc fever. It may be due to the wide selection of colors and designs available and the ease of taking Crocs on and off. Crocs have excellent cushioning but are not a very supportive shoe. Because Crocs are not very supportive, I would not recommend wearing them for long walks or physical exercise. They would be better for short distances or standing. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

Fish and Feet

Monday July 28, 2008
What do fish have to do with your feet? Well, have you heard about the latest way to get rid of the rough, dead skin (callouses) on your feet? A salon in Virginia has started using tiny little fish called garra rufa or doctor fish to eat the dead skin off of your feet and toes. After the fish are done with your feet then a standard pedicure is performed. It sounds like the fish do not have any teeth, so they do not eat living skin. As with any new treatment, I would advise caution and suggest you follow the 10 tips for a safe salon pedicure. Photo © Tami Fite

Foot Pain? Could it be a Neuroma?

Monday July 21, 2008
Vacations can involve rest and relaxation or walking, seeing and doing. If you are not used to doing a lot of walking, all of the extra miles could cause a slight pain in your foot to become worse. A common problem in the foot is called a neuroma. Some symptoms might include pain, burning, tingling or numbness in the ball of your foot. These symptoms can be aggravated by wearing shoes that are too tight. Learn more about neuromas and what you can do about them. Photo © Terence Vanderheiden, D.P.M.

The Trouble with High Heels

Wednesday July 2, 2008
I know, they make you taller, sexier and they go with your outfit, but if you think wearing high heels only does good things for you, then you need to keep reading. There are significant negative things happening to your body when you wear high heels. If you wear high-heeled shoes on a regular basis, you may want to consider a footwear change after you read high-heeled shoes - bad for the body.

What's Wrong with My Foot?

Thursday June 26, 2008
Are you having pain on the side of your big toe? Did your big toe used to be straight and now it is leaning more toward your second toe? Are your "wide" shoes not feeling so "wide" anymore? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may have a bunion. Bunions are a common foot problem, especially in women. Learn more about causes and treatments of bunions.
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