Skip the Pedicure and see a Podiatrist!

 According to Wikipedia a pedicure is performed for “cosmetic, theraputic and medical purposes.” Now, it could simply be due to the fact that therapeutic is not even spelled correctly, or it could be due to the suspicion that arises when publicly accessed literature implies beauticians can perform “medical” procedures. Either way some red flags need to be raised when it’s been suggested a beautician is qualified to perform anything more than simple nail trimming and painting.  A few things to consider before your next pedicure:

•          Salons may try to re-use tools. This is a big issue for obvious reasons. Consider asking, or looking for clues of re-use next time a technician takes to those toes with a beauty tool. Every year there are many reported cases of Staph and sometimes-even MRSA infections due to nail salons re-using non-professionally sterilized tools. Believe it or not the liquid “antiseptic” solutions salons use generally only kill low-level pathogenicity microbes, rendering this practice fairly infective in actual disease prevention.

•          Although footbaths or whirlpools may seem like wonderful foot therapy if not properly cleaned with serious antiseptics after every single use they can harbor everything from HPV to MRSA.

•         Ingrown toenails (onychocryptosis) should never be attempted to be remedied by a nail technician! This is an actual medical condition that should only be treated with professionally sterilized tools by a health care professional such as a Podiatrist. Not only could the nail plate and bed be further damaged by an untrained individual, but serious infections are a huge risk as well.

•          Nail technicians want to augment your cuticles but this is a big “no-no”. Cuticles were put around your nails for a reason; they prevent infection as they make a seal between your nail plate and skin from the external environment.

These are just a few reasons to skip pedicures altogether and see the Podiatrist. If you still need further convincing check out one of the following links including articles written by US News, Huffington Post and the Washington Post…

US News article - Pedicure or Pedicurse?

Washington Post article

Huffington Post--5 Dangers awaiting you at the nail salon

**This blog, and the medical information it presents is made possible by Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida. He has been practicing board certified podiatry for over 20 years, and accepts new patients. Visit his website for additional information here. To schedule an appointment, or find directions to his office click here.

Pump Bumps

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Haglund’s deformity is characterized by pain and bony enlargement on the back of the outside heel bone. Often times with Haglund’s deformity retrocalcaneal bursitis is present adding to the symptomatology. Retrocalcaneal bursitis is simply the inflammation of a small fluid filled sac that lies between the achilles tendon and the calcaneus (heel bone). Patient’s suffering from Haglund’s deformity generally present with symptoms of pain, redness, swelling on the back of the outside heel, and the inability to wear shoes they’ve worn in the past.

Haglund’s deformity is often referred to as a “pump bump” due to the style of shoe that is believed to cause the condition. However, Haglund’s deformity doesn’t only manifest due to calcaneal irritation from pump styled shoes. Men’s dress shoes, ice skates, and any footwear with a rigid backing can also cause this deformity. Additionally some Podiatrists feel that individuals with high arches and other foot types are genetically predisposed to developing the condition.

If Haglund’s deformity symptomatology parallels something you’re currently experiencing please visit Dr. Michael Garvin’s website for more information, or if you’re in the Port Saint Lucie, Florida area, schedule an appointment at one of his offices.

Runner's Toe

Have you noticed recurring blisters in the same areas on your feet? Have you experienced a small hematoma on the end of your 2^nd toe? Do you have pain in your big toe joint? These are all symptoms of poorly fitted shoes. Consider this; the average person walks 8,000-10,000 steps everyday according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). In conjunction to this terrific amount of repetition, the APMA also estimates that every step places about 1.5 times your body weight of force on your feet! Considering these two factors, it’s not difficult to see why in just a matter of days a variety of foot pathologies can arise simply due to ill-fitting footwear. Why chance your health by not having your shoes fitted by a Podiatrist? After all, preventative medicine is always more conducive to your budget than the alternative.