Calluses treatment

How to Deal with Calluses as a Diabetic

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With diabetes, you are more susceptible to problems with your feet, so taking care of them properly is an important part of your overall healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, calluses can show up on your feet as a diabetic and cause discomfort and unsightliness. Take a look at some of the tips to deal with calluses as a diabetic and do so in a safe manner.

Talk to your doctor about calluses that are causing problems.

Speaking with a podiatrist about calluses that are causing you concern should be your first plan of action if you have diabetes. Calluses on a diabetic’s foot can show up faster and grow large faster than on a healthy person’s foot. These out-of-place mounds of skin tissue can put undue pressure on other parts of your feet when you walk or stand. If you have a callus that is causing pain, has developed rapidly, or is otherwise worrisome, get advice from a professional.

Never try to cut a callus off of your foot on your own.

It is perfectly OK to use a gentle pumice stone or another tool to slough away dead or dry skin on your callus, but do not do anything too harsh to your foot. Many patients with diabetes develop unsightly calluses and try to cut them off, which is dangerous. Cutting away a callus can lead to an open wound on your foot that can be prone to infection and slow to heal. While doctors often cut layers of a callus off in a clinical setting, this treatment is done with great care and caution to avoid creating an open wound.

Use foot soaks to help loosen and soften callused skin on your feet.

There is nothing more gentle on your feet than a nice long soak in warm water. If you have calluses that are peeling and look bad, it is fine to do long foot soaks in warm water to soften them a bit before using a pumice stone to slough away the skin. Just make sure you stay away from harsh chemical foot peels and extremely hot water that can cause your feet more harm than good.

Calluses can be a normal thing, but when you have diabetes, these skin changes on your feet can be concerning. Talk to us at the office of Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA for more information about treatments we offer to help with calluses.

Toe pain Austin TX

Debunking Common Myths Associated with Ingrown Toenails

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Just as painful as a toothache, ingrown toenails are one of the most common reasons for a visit to a podiatrist. This foot problem is so common, that 20 out of 100 people who visit the doctor with podiatric complaints have an ingrown toenail. As common as the issue is, there are a lot of myths out there associated with the problem.

Myth: Only people with oddly shaped toes get ingrown toenails. 

People with toes or feet of any shape can actually experience an ingrown toenail; the shape of your feet or toes doesn’t really affect your chances of having the issue. However, if you have certain toenail shapes, you may be more prone to ingrown toenail problems. For example, people who have “pincer” toenails that grow in a highly curved way can be more at risk.

Myth: You can prevent ingrown toenails by cutting the corners of your toenails. 

Cutting notches or curves at the corners of your toenails is probably not going to thwart ingrown toenail issues. In fact, it is always best if you cut your toenail straight across and don’t cut the nail too short in any area.

Myth: Ingrown toenails always have to be professionally removed.

Ingrown toenails can oftentimes be treated at home, but you do have to be careful about doing so. If the nail has just started to embed into the edge of the toe, you can usually use nail clippers, tweezers, or other small manicure tools to break the nail loose from the skin. Just make sure you are using sterile tools and don’t cause an injury to your toe in the process. Once the ingrown gets to a point where it cannot easily be pulled up and out of the surrounding skin without extreme discomfort, it is best to see a podiatrist for help.

Ingrown toenails can be super painful, and they can also lead to infections around your toes if you’re not careful. Therefore, it is best to seek professional attention if your problem seems severe. The treatment for ingrown toenails is simple and can help prevent issues with ingrown toenails for a long time. Reach out to us at the office of Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA for help.