Bunions can hit anyone, at any age, though they’re slightly more common as you get older. Most people begin to notice bunion development in their 20s and 30s. Usually the result of a genetic trait that tends to run in families, your bunion may not cause any problems other than...
For every mile you walk, your feet absorb stress equivalent to about 60 tons of force. With that in mind, it’s perhaps surprising that heel pain doesn’t happen more often, but usually, your anatomy is up to the task of absorbing these stresses in stride. Sometimes, though, heel pain does...
The elevated blood sugar levels that accompany uncontrolled diabetes can damage tissue throughout your body. Particularly at risk are your feet, since they’re the furthest point from your heart. Even non-diabetics have foot and leg issues because of this distance, so you’re doubly at risk if you have type 1...
Your skin doesn’t like friction. When you’re regularly subjected to rubbing across a single location, skin starts to get thicker and harder as a protective measure. This can be helpful, such as when a musician develops calluses that help them avoid discomfort when playing, but often these patches of tough...
Warts result from infection by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). As infections go, warts aren’t serious. Usually, they’re just a cosmetic issue, a rough and fleshy growth that may cause callused skin in the surrounding area. On your feet, they’re called plantar warts, most often forming on the heel,...
The visible effects of nail fungus can be dramatic. Nail fungus can cause discoloration, and misshapen your toenails, causing them to thicken and crumble. While there’s no mistaking that there’s something wrong with your toes, the fungal infection can proceed into advanced stages before you start to feel pain. Errol...
Whether you have genetic influences, birth defects, arthritis, or foot injuries, bunions throw off the look of your big toe with a bulge at the base. That could be the least of your issues though since the joint could be swollen, red, and sore too. The deformation of the joints...
With more than 100 different types, arthritis is a threat to every joint in your body. All of these conditions are related since they cause inflammation in joints, creating stiffness, limited mobility, and pain. Your feet and ankles each have 33 joints, meaning 66 potential locations for arthritis activity. Fortunately,...
When a gout attack hits, it’s usually swift, severe, and obvious something’s wrong. Often starting at night, the joint of your big toe is typically the source of sharp and intense pain. Fortunately, gout often responds well to medication, but this is only useful when you have some on hand....
Your feet and ankles have difficult jobs, carrying your entire body weight while moving you from place to place. While they do an amazing job with a minimum of fuss, it doesn’t take all that much to cause an injury, particularly to your ankle. Though there’s already a reasonable range...
Sweat doesn’t have any odor. So, why do your feet sweat so much and smell so bad? It comes down to the fact that your feet are trapped inside your shoes all day, and the moisture they give off creates a hot and damp haven for bacteria. Smelly feet are...
If you feel you’ve been on your feet too much and you have the heel pain to show for it, you’re not alone. One in ten Americans reports the same condition and the diagnosis is usually plantar fasciitis brought on by overuse. Because you depend on your feet, heel pain...
Your feet take a beating all day long. Despite the extraordinary demands placed on them, your feet can be easy to take for granted. When you do have an issue, foot problems can stop you dead in your tracks. Fortunately, corns aren’t usually enough to ruin your day, but they...
It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, chronically high blood glucose levels take a toll on virtually every system in your body and can cause nerve and blood vessel damage. This damage happens throughout your body but can greatly impact your feet and legs. Podiatrist...
Chances are you haven’t given your toes much thought today. That is unless you’re dealing with an ingrown toenail. When the edge of a toenail starts growing into the surrounding flesh, you may develop a painful problem that’s hard to ignore. While some ingrown toenail issues respond to home care, serious...
Bunions are a deformity of joints of the outer toes that can sometimes be quite painful. Anywhere from one-quarter to one-third of American adults suffer from bunions. This deformity usually takes the form of a hard bump where the big toe attaches to the foot, and that toe may push toward the...
It’s true that age brings along aches and pains that become a new normal compared to when we were younger. Most of the time, those kinds of pains are passing and temporary. Pain that lingers, though, especially in your heels, may warrant attention. Dr. Errol Gindi has decades of experience...
The days of flip-flops and summer tans may be long gone, but that ugly toenail fungus is still with you. You may have thought the frosty temperatures of winter would help resolve it, but unfortunately, toenail fungus won’t go away on its own. Toenail fungus can even worsen in winter...
Sometimes the simplest thing can cause the most discomfort. Ingrown toenails are a huge pain, both literally and figuratively. This simple issue can make walking comfortably impossible. Even worse, if left long enough without reprieve, it can become a major issue. Ingrown toenails that you can’t take care of on...
Of the many conditions that can affect your feet or ankles, flat feet are among the more common. According to the Institute for Preventive Foot Health, flat fee affect 8% of adults over the age of 21, or 18 million people. Another 8 million adults, representing 4% of the population,...
Bunions are a common foot condition in which the joint of the big toe or small toe pushes against the other toes, causing misalignment and a bump. The misalignment progresses slowly. In the early phases, it doesn’t cause any symptoms besides the bump. However, as the condition continues to develop,...
You missed a step while bringing up the laundry or miscalculated the curb’s height as you hurried across the street. It’s easy to do. Now you’re icing your ankle and hoping it’s “just a sprain.” Sprains can have their own complications, however, if not properly treated. Errol Gindi, DPM, provides...
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, and when you haven’t addressed the root cause, the pain can come back. Repetitive use and tears in the plantar fascia — the tissue that runs along the bottom of each foot — can lead to inflammation and persistent pain,...
When you’re among the 30 million men, women, and children in the United States who have diabetes, you want to give yourself the best chance of controlling your disease by following your doctor’s orders, emphasizing fresh, low-glycemic foods in your diet, and increasing your activity level. But even with your...