Are You Embarrassed by Your Feet?

Feeling embarrassed or ashamed of your feet is very common. According to a study of 500 women in 2008 by the American Podiatric Medical Association, more than 50% of women say their feet embarrass them "always, frequently, or sometimes." Let's be honest about feet. Many things can go wrong with the skin, the bone structure and the nails. Feet sweat...a lot and they often smell. Many people refuse to wear open shoes due to embarrassment. The good news is that many of these issues are fixable. Rough, dry, cracked skin can easily be treated with urea based creams. Red, splotchy rashes can be treated with hydrocortisone creams or antifungals, depending on the situation. Thick, discolored nails can be treated with a variety of antifungals, from topical liquids to oral pills to laser therapy. Crooked or otherwise deformed toes can be addressed surgically if there is pain associated, which is often the case. The recovery time for these procedures varies, but in many instances you can walk in a protective cast/boot the first day after surgery. Sweaty/smelly feet can be treated with topical antiperspirants. Of course, I make all of this sound easy. I am a foot doctor, after all. To me, it is literally "just a day at the office." If you are suffering from any of these issues, or if your feet embarrass you for a reason I missed, there is help available. You don't have to just live with it. Also, for any women who are concerned about the size of your feet, I promise you that men don't even notice. I am a foot doctor. I look at women's feet. It is a reflex. I have never judged a women for having big feet. Never. I hope this helps you feel pretty with Valentine's Day right around the corner. Committed to your health, Dr. Craig Conti Sarasota Foot Care Center http://www.sarasotafootcarecenter.com

Do Your Feet Have to Hurt?

The answer is, no. However, feet are complex structures made up of 28 bones, 33 joints, a host of tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves and blood vessels all wrapped in skin. Any of these can cause pain. Oh yeah, and you probably have two of them, so that doubles the risk! When you think about what you ask of your feet it is amazing that they don't hurt much more than they do. Most of us are carrying around extra pounds. Many of us cram our feet into shoes that we don't belong in. Combine that with floor surfaces like tile and concrete that we have no business walking or standing on for hours and you get a glimpse at the stresses that you take for granted every single day. The average American takes 6 thousand steps per day. Our diets require that we take many more steps than that if we don't want to gain weight. So how do we do it? How do we increase our activity so we can stay at a healthy weight, while protecting our feet in the process? The human body is basically a biological machine. How do you get the most mileage out of that other familiar machine, your car? Preventative maintenance, proper tires (shoes) and a good alignment are the keys to getting the most out of both of these machines. Buy a properly fit pair of shoes for your foot type. Invest in your health and buy a pair of orthotics if you need them for proper alignment. Go to see a podiatrist to help you with this. Just because some yahoo in a shoe store is wearing a white coat doesn't mean he knows anything about your feet. Remember, these people are in sales. They have not taken any kind of oath to protect your health. They are in business to make money, not heal people. Your feet don't have to hurt. You can exercise, lose weight and live the active, pain free lifestyle you want, but you can't do it for free. It is going to take an investment of time and money. Remember, if you need something, you pay for it whether you buy it or not. You pay for it in pain, time away from work or play, or just by worrying. Break the cycle. Get moving and stay fit starting today. Committed to your health, Dr. Craig Conti