Even with the freezing temperatures we’re experiencing here in Connecticut, are you still dealing with extra sweaty feet? Sweaty feet are typically associated with summer heat waves, but here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, we talk to patients year-round who are dealing with sweaty feet. There’s a condition called hyperhidrosis that can cause people to sweat excessively, despite the temperature outside!

How do I know if I have hyperhidrosis?

Here are a few clues to look for to determine if you have hyperhidrosis:

• Your feet sweat excessively all the time. Even in the winter months, your feet seem to be sweating.
• Your palms also frequently tend to get sweaty.
• You feel sweaty even when people around you don’t. (Often people with hyperhidrosis have a lower “set point,” that triggers their bodies to begin sweating at lower temperatures than normal.)
• Feet have a wet and whitish appearance.
• You often get fungal foot infections (fungi are attracted to moist, warm places).
• You have noticeable foot odor daily. Odor arises when sweat interacts with bacteria which produce bad smells.

Drier feet can be achieved!

If you think you have hyperhidrosis, get in touch with us today. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can examine your feet thoroughly and determine if you have this condition. If you do, there are a number of treatment options available. Hyperhidrosis treatment ranges from medication to noninvasive procedures called iontophoresis, which utilizes a mild electrical current to help reduce sweating in your feet. If you have a severe case, there is a surgical procedure that can be performed. The surgery interrupts the nerve signals that control sweating on their way to the brain.

While you’re waiting for your appointment, there are several steps you can take that will help with your sweaty feet. Try these:

• Wash your feet daily using antibacterial soap.
• Dry your feet completely after each wash and apply foot powder or cornstarch.
• Wear moisture-wicking socks and shoes that allow your feet to breath.
• Bring an extra pair of socks and change if you notice your feet getting damp.

If you’re dealing with extra sweaty feet or any other foot or ankle issue, it’s time to give us a call! Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC keeps up to date on all the latest podiatric health issues and utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment techniques. Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment at our conveniently-located office in the Cromwell, Connecticut area: (860) 632-5499.

Calluses happen when there is constant pressure being applied to a localized area of the foot. This action produces dense layers of dead skin that form this condition. They can occur when shoes are too tight because the shoe tends to rub against the skin of the foot in a forceful manner. It’s also important to understand that the hardening of the skin is in response to the friction to protect it. Although there is a good purpose behind their creation, they can, however, get painful. If the skin of the callus begins to break down, infections can occur through that opening and will have an optimal place with which to thrive due to the dark and moist conditions inside shoes. Other factors that can lead to the formation of calluses are deformities, wearing high-heeled shoes and using socks that do not fit correctly.

Treatment for calluses involves:

• Shaving down layers of dead skin by a medical professional so as to avoid any complications such as a bacterial or fungal infection.
• Utilizing salicylic acid to chemically burn off layers of dead skin without having to use a sharp instrument to cut them off.
• Orthotics are helpful for reducing pressure.
• Antibiotics to kill off infections.
• Surgical procedures may also be helpful if the above methods are not successful. This can be accomplished via correcting areas where bones are protruding or fixing other deformities.

Calluses can be hard to get rid of if they are allowed to develop into thick layers of dead skin. Once that dense area becomes infected, it can be difficult to treat. Therefore, please contact us when you start to notice their formation so that we can treat them before they become painful. Here at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC located in Cromwell, CT, podiatrist Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M. can assist you with eliminating your calluses. Please make an appointment today by calling our office at (860) 632-5499. Our Patient Education section is another resource you can look into to learn more about this and many other feet and ankle conditions!

Calluses are areas of rigid and thick growth that generally develop on the ball of the foot, as repeated pressure and friction are applied to them. They can become a disturbance to your general foot health and should be treated in due course. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., has many years of experience with treating this condition at the Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. Please call our offices at (860) 632-5499 or visit the Patient Education section of our website to find out more about this condition.

A callus can present itself in different colors, such as white, yellow or even brown. They happen to be more common in women due to the fact that they are caused more often by friction, which high heels and women’s shoes tend to cause. The skin thickens to form a callus as a protective mechanism. However, infected calluses can be painful and might bleed. Calluses that happen on the portion of the foot that bears the most weight can also be extremely painful. Yet calluses must be distinguished from other conditions which also cause hardening of the skin in the same areas of the foot, such as inherited disorders which may present themselves as calluses to the untrained eye, but could nonetheless be a symptom of something different or more serious.

Treatment for this condition is most effective when it reduces friction. Eliminating badly fitting shoes and placing strategic padding on the area will allow calluses to heal. Combining these methods with medications will be the best form of initial treatment. If an infection occurs in an area of the callus, there may need to be a removal performed by a medical professional to prevent any additional complications. Antibiotics will likely be prescribed thereafter to kill off the infection and to prevent it from spreading.

Calluses can be taken care of at the very beginning through self-treatment; however, they can become painful and lead to unnecessary infections if neglected. Please contact our office today to give your feet the best chance they have of making sure your calluses are removed efficiently and remain gone!

Neuromas are disrupting to the general health of your foot and ankles. When they occur, the outer nerves in your feet feel numb. Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can successfully treat this condition if you are experiencing it. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.     

The pain caused by neuromas is very noticeable and can feel like you're standing on a pebble, a feeling of hot discomfort in the ball of your foot that can extend to your toes or a numbness in your toes. Neuromas can be very serious and are benign growths of nerve tissue generally located between the third and fourth toes, caused by the frequent rubbing of the toes against each other. Dropping heavy objects on the toes or severe trauma may also cause damage to the nerve, causing inflammation of the damaged nerve. It’s important to avoid trauma to the toes as it can be a precursor to a neuroma when recovery is not handled correctly. Surgery may be required as treatment to remove the nerve in question. Other types of treatment are orthotics or ultrasound. Massaging the ball of the foot is comforting, as is soaking in hot water followed by ice treatment. 

The usual complaint with neuromas is pain occurring between the toes when walking. The best form of relief for those experiencing this pain is to stop walking, remove your shoes and massage the area in pain. The ball of the foot should always be massaged since this action could help reduce pain. Hot water, followed by rubbing the foot and subsequently treating it with ice can be used to treat neuroma symptoms. Surgery may be required in severe cases to eliminate the neuroma by removing the enlarged nerve. Patients with diabetes must be especially careful because symptoms intensify due to nerve complications.

Neuromas can become a serious problem when not treated right away. Numbness and burning sensations are common. Please contact us online or call us at (860) 632-5499 to make an appointment as soon as possible. Take this opportunity to get the best treatment offered by Dr. Mucinskas now.    

Ingrown toenails are not to be taken lightly. They can be painful and unsightly. They may require treatment by our podiatrists if not managed correctly. Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., can treat this condition if you happen to be experiencing it. You can visit Dr. Mucinskas at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT.     

Ingrown toenails can happen when toenails grow into the surrounding skin, causing the skin to swell. This happens because the toenail grows in a curved shaped and digs downward into the skin surrounding the nail. Infections happen when the skin breaks because of the nail digging into it, which can be painful. 

Ingrown nails can be caused by any of the following:

• Inheritance (genetics).
• The result of dropping heavy items on the toes.
• Toe nails being cut very short.
• Tight fitting shoes.
• Infections caused by Fungus.

Natural treatments include having your feet soaked in warm salt water while simultaneously rubbing the side of the infected and ingrown nail. It’s best not to cut the nail if it’s infected. If the nail is not infected, refrain from cutting them too short, wear shoes that are not tight or loose and wear supportive and comfortable socks.

If natural treatments do not work, our podiatrist can prescribe an antibiotic if there is an infection and thereafter perform surgery to ease the pain and remove the infected nail. Some of the surgeries offered as treatment can be the following:

• A procedure where an angled nail is cut to the corner of the nail.
• A procedure where a partial portion of the nail is trimmed down to the root when there is an active infection, allowing drainage and removal of the nail.
• Total removal of the nail for situations where it is required to completely dispose of the infection and prevent a reoccurrence of the ingrown toenail.

These procedures can require a varying amount of recovery times, from weeks to months.

Adequate dressing of the surgical site and medication will help to speed up recovery. Comfortable shoes that prevent pressure should be worn to prevent recurrence. 

The earlier ingrown toenails are treated, the less likely surgery is required. However, if you have ingrown toenails that are significantly reducing foot motion and causing pain, don’t hesitate to contact us online to make an appointment as soon as possible. Take the opportunity to get the very best treatment offered by Dr. Mucinskas today and your pain will fall flat!