Foot calluses are thick, hardened areas of skin that can be unsightly. If your callus refuses to go away or if you’re at risk of complications because of diabetes, it’s best to consult a podiatrist about your treatment options. This is because attempting to trim the callus by yourself can raise your risk of an infection. A podiatrist can use a scalpel to carefully pare down the excess skin. In some cases, podiatrists also apply a special patch to the area. The patch, which will contain about 40 percent salicylic acid, will help resolve the thickened skin.

Your podiatrist can also recommend self-care measures to take at home, such as applying an antibiotic ointment to the callus to reduce your risk of infection. The foot doctor can evaluate your need for foot orthotics and may measure you for a custom-made orthotic insert. This can help reduce your risk of recurrent calluses.

Family Foot Center offers speedy relief for all types of foot health problems—from corns and calluses to bone spurs and broken toes. You can reach us at (718) 767-5555 to let us know how we can help you improve your foot health in Whitestone.

As a patient with diabetes, your podiatric medicine specialist is an important member of your care team. Since diabetes can compromise blood flow and nerve health, it is especially important for patients to seek podiatric care promptly when any changes to the feet occur. A podiatrist can also help you learn how to reduce your risk of life-changing complications by taking excellent care of your feet.

Improving Circulation

Patients with diabetes tend to have poor circulation because the blood vessels are prone to narrowing and hardening. To support healthy blood flow, talk to your doctor about managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Get aerobic exercise on most days of the week, which stimulates blood circulation. While working out, be sure to wear supportive, properly fitting shoes. If you smoke, it’s critical that you kick the habit. Smoking further inhibits blood flow, suppresses the immune system, and contributes to slow-healing wounds that may later lead to amputation.

Facilitating Rapid Wound Healing

If you do develop a wound on your feet, you should see a podiatrist promptly to prevent additional complications like infections or delayed wound healing. Along with quitting smoking to support faster wound healing, your doctor may ask you to keep pressure off the affected foot until it heals. To accomplish this, you may be given a cast or brace, or you may be shown how to use assistive devices to move around without placing weight on your foot.

Wearing Proper Footwear

Wearing the right shoes can help diabetics reduce the risk of bunions, ingrown toenails, and blisters. Your podiatrist can help you find the right shoes for your needs. Choosing appropriate socks is also important. In general, podiatrists recommend socks that wick moisture away from the feet to reduce the risk of fungal infections.

At Family Foot Center, we firmly believe in the value of preventive care, particularly for patients with diabetes who are at risk of serious complications. Our podiatrists provide specialized care for patients who have diabetes and live in Whitestone. Give us a call today at (718) 767-5555 to discuss your foot care needs.

A hammertoe is a painful, disfiguring condition. Hammertoes occur because of heightened pressure on the tendons and joints of the toe, which causes it to bend abnormally. If you’ve developed hammertoes, you should know that it’s crucial to see a podiatric medicine specialist as quickly as possible. This is because when hammertoes first develop, they are known as flexible hammertoes. The podiatrist can still manipulate the toes at the joint. If you wait too long to see a doctor, the condition can progress to rigid hammertoe.

When rigid hammertoe develops, the joint is disfigured and immobile. Typically, patients with rigid hammertoes must undergo podiatric surgery to fix this painful condition. Waiting too long to seek treatment can also increase the risk of other complications, such as the development of sores that may become infected. Patients may find that it becomes difficult to walk with rigid hammertoes.

Patients who have been experiencing toe pain in the Whitestone area can turn to Family Foot Center for effective podiatric medicine solutions. Call us at (718) 767-5555 right away and we’ll set up a consultation for your hammertoes treatment.