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Podiatrist - Cromwell
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416

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Posts for tag: Athlete's foot

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
August 07, 2019
Category: skin conditions

Psoriasis is a disease that appears as a skin condition on your legs and feet (as well as on other parts of your body). August is Psoriasis Action Month and we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists want our patients to know more about this disorder and how to spot it.

Do: recognize the seriousness of psoriasis. Although it appears as a skin problem, psoriasis is actually caused by a dysfunctional immune system. Patients with this chronic disease produce new skin cells which surface far too rapidly, and that results in thick patches of inflamed skin. Some patients will also develop psoriatic arthritis which causes pain and inflammation in the joints. For your feet, ankles and toes, this can be particularly debilitating.

Do: know the symptoms of psoriasis. There are several types of psoriasis, each of which may look different. The most common symptoms include thickened patches of skin with red, white or a silverish- gray appearance. It can show up on one or two small spots or it can be widespread. These skin patches can be itchy and become painful over time.

Don’t: delay making an appointment at our Cromwell office calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can evaluate any skin symptoms you are experiencing. Oftentimes patients mistake psoriasis for a case of athlete’s foot or another fungal infection.

Do: check your fingernails for signs of psoriasis as well. Practice proper nail care: keep nails trimmed short and straight across and file away rough edges to prevent injury. Injury can be a trigger for a psoriasis flare-up.

Don’t: be concerned about “catching” psoriasis from another person. It is not contagious. Scientists believe that psoriasis sufferers have a genetic predisposition for the condition that is then activated by exposure to certain triggers. Known triggers include certain medications, stress, skin injury and infection. Not all triggers affect patients similarly.

If you have additional questions about psoriasis and your feet, contact us.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 24, 2019
Category: foot health

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we hope that you are planning to get away at some point this summer. Wherever your summer vacation destination is, there are some items you should take with you to ensure the health and safety of your feet. Below are our suggestions for what to pack:

  1. Comfortable walking shoes—even if your plan is to lie out on the beach all day, you’ll need to get to and from your vacation destination. Travel days tend to be tough on the feet as you rush to catch flights or haul luggage in and out of the car. Walking shoes that have good arch support and that you’ve worn many times already will also be helpful for sightseeing and shopping days.
  2. Moleskin—sweating creates friction and can increase the risk of developing blisters. A small piece of self-adhesive moleskin applied to a sore spot can stop a blister before it starts, and allow you to continue enjoying your vacation in comfort.
  3. Flip-flops—although not recommended for all-day use on your vacation, a pair of flip-flops or shower shoes are the best way to protect your feet from athlete’s foot and other fungal infections at the pool or in ocean or lakeside changing areas and restrooms.
  4. Orthotics—if our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas has prescribed a custom orthotic to correct a foot problem, don’t take a holiday from wearing it while you’re away. Leaving your orthotic at home may result in a painful vacation for your feet.
  5. Water bottle—excessive amounts of walking and warm, humid weather can lead to edema or swelling of the feet and ankles. Swelling can be very uncomfortable and also makes your shoes tighter, which means a greater likelihood of blisters. Drinking lots of water is one of the easiest ways to eliminate excess fluids from your body and it’s good for you too!

If despite all your best efforts you return from vacation with foot or ankle pain, a rash or other suspicious symptom, contact our Cromwell office for an appointment by calling (860) 632-5499.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 01, 2019
Category: foot fungus
Tags: Athlete's foot   barefoot   hygiene   fungus  

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we find that each season brings its own unique podiatric challenges. During the summer months, we see more cases of athlete’s foot. Why? It’s a fungal infection that is spread by direct contact. At this time of the year more people are going barefoot and that’s the perfect way to pick up a case of athlete’s foot.

Below are some do’s and don’ts for preventing athlete’s foot:

Do: practice good basic foot hygiene. Wash your feet daily with soap and warm water. Afterwards, dry your feet thoroughly. Be especially sure to dry the spaces between your toes as this is often where athlete’s foot begins.

Don’t: go barefoot in public places. Wear flip flops or shower shoes when you are at the nail salon, town pool, gym or using the rest rooms or changing facilities at a lake or beach.

Do: have an extra pair of socks handy if your feet tend to sweat profusely. Change your socks as soon as your feet feel moist. Consider buying socks made of material that wicks moisture away from your skin if this is an ongoing issue.

Do: wear shoes that are made of natural materials and allow your feet to breathe. Good air circulation around your feet will be helpful.

Don’t: wear the same pair of shoes every day. Alternate footwear to give shoes a chance to air out.

Do: dust feet with an anti-fungal or talcum powder each morning to aid in keeping them dry.

Don’t: share shoes, towels, emery boards or other items that other people use on their feet.

Seek Treatment Early

In addition to itching, signs of athlete’s foot include: red skin that’s dry and scaling, blisters and oozing. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should contact our Cromwell office and have our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, take a look at your feet. Without treatment, athlete’s foot can spread to other parts of your body and to other people.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
June 19, 2019
Category: foot safety

As the school year draws to a close, many of our patients at Feet First Foot Care Specialists will be thinking about spending some time at one of our many beautiful shoreline beaches. Without the proper precautions, however, your beach day can be the cause of seriously uncomfortable foot or ankle problems. Beware of these potential dangers and take the necessary steps to keep your feet safe.

Jellyfish—a jellyfish that has washed up on the beach can still sting you if you step on it. If this happens, remove tentacles from the foot. Apply vinegar or baking soda to reduce pain and swelling. Any jellyfish sting that does not heal within a few days will require a visit to our Cromwell office so that our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can examine the wound.

Fungal Infections—warm, moist places where lots of people walk barefoot are the perfect place for bacterial and fungal infections to thrive. Keep your feet covered by wearing flip flops or shower shoes to the public restrooms and changing areas or you may come home with the unwanted souvenir of athlete’s foot or fungal toenails.

Ankle Sprain or Foot Injury—a game of beach volleyball is starting up. You left your sneakers home but what harm can come from playing a friendly pick-up game either barefoot or wearing your flip flops? Actually, plenty. The shifting sands require shoes with strong ankle support and good tread to prevent ankle sprains.

Puncture Wounds and Cuts—another good reason to keep your feet coved for a day at the beach is to avoid stepping on a nail, piece of broken glass or another sharp object that may be beneath the surface of the sand.

Sun Burn—the skin on your feet needs protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Apply a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

If, despite your best attempts, you do receive an injury at the beach, make an appointment with us as soon as possible at our Cromwell, CT office located in Middlesex County. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can provide you with a fast and accurate diagnosis and the treatment to get you back on your feet.

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By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
June 11, 2019

At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, we often hear from our patients that they didn’t know if their foot condition was really anything serious, and so they weren’t sure if they should “bother us” for an appointment. Unfortunately, by the time we hear this, the problem has usually progressed to a severe stage which now requires longer and possibly more invasive treatment. Our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, would much rather you come into our Cromwell office and find out there’s nothing wrong instead of waiting until you are in excruciating pain or having other difficulty walking.

Questions to Help You Decide

If you’re still undecided about whether or not to call us, below are some questions to ask yourself:

  1. Does it hurt? Pain is your body’s way of sending you a message that something is wrong. Often patients make the mistake of thinking that unless it’s severe and constant pain, it can’t be anything serious. Stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis and heel pain are three of many common conditions that may start out with just intermittent pain or discomfort when exercising or doing particular activities. If these conditions are diagnosed early, the foot doctor can prescribe treatment and/or preventive measures to keep the problem from becoming seriously disabling.
  2. Did it look like that before? We recommend that patients get in the habit of regularly inspecting their feet to look for changes that can signal a problem. Rashes, bumps, bruises, growths and changes in the skin or toenails can all be the beginning of a podiatric disorder. If you have diabetes, it’s particularly important that you contact us as soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary, since even minor foot problems like athlete’s foot and blisters can rapidly turn into serious health problems.
  3. Do you feel something different? Does your foot feel numb? Or, maybe you are noticing a tingling or burning sensation in your feet. These can be a sign of neuropathy or another nerve issue.
  4. Is it infected? A wound that begins to feel warm, has red streaks around it or is showing any discharge or pus may be infected. If you notice any of these symptoms, particularly if you also have a fever, contact us immediately by calling: (860) 632-5499.
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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416