“Plantar fasciitis is a common foot ailment that involves microtrauma to the plantar fascia structure on the bottom of the foot,” says Daniel Michaels, DPM. The most common treatment options are to avoid going barefoot and to wear appropriate and supportive shoes or sneakers. This includes stretching the Achilles tendon, as the majority of…

Plantar warts are hard growths caused by the HPV virus that appear on the bottoms of the feet – while they can be a nuisance and sometimes painful, they aren’t generally serious and may even clear up with over-the-counter remedies. Duct tape, topical acids, and cryotherapy are several common methods that can all be used…

“Once nails start to display changes, it is important to attempt treatment as soon as possible to give the best attempt to improve the appearance of the nail,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. If the cause is a fungus, topical anti-fungal medications may show some signs of improvement, but seldom eradicate the condition.   “Oral anti-fungal…

  According to Dan Michaels, DPM, “The simple ingrown nail can lead to serious problems, even amputation. Because diabetes results in impaired immune function, any infection can have dire consequences. Adding to this is the gradual neuropathy that occurs with this ubiquitous disease. The diabetic with some neuropathy often won’t perceive pain from an infection…

Corns are thick layers of skin that can be hard or soft, and are usually seen on the tops and side of the toes. Dan Michaels, DPM says they develop because of bone pressure against the skin, like a hammertoe. Other causes are arthritis and wearing poorly fitting shoes, or putting excess pressure on certain…

Dan Michaels, DPM says that runners are more likely to develop calluses on the sole of the foot due to the higher mileage and time on their feet. “For some runners, the development of this thickened callus tissue can become painful, and they require debridement or reduction of this tissue.”   If corns or calluses…

Podiatrist Dan Michaels, DPM recently talked about toe spacers and separators and what they can – and can’t – do for you. Dr. Michaels says choosing a toe spacer or toe separator comes down to comfort and the problem you’re looking to fix. “In general, I like the pads that are made of silicone because they’re…

Many of us have experienced cramps in our legs and feet. But when those cramps work their way down to our toes, they can be incredibly painful-or at the very least, tedious. “A toe cramp can [make you] feel like your feet and/or toes are in a vice,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “Most muscle cramps…

Athlete’s foot-also known as tinea pedis-is a fungal infection that’s at times painful, persistent, and highly contagious. “Fungal organisms like hot, wet, moist places, which makes shoes and socks the perfect breeding ground for athlete’s foot,” explains Dan Michaels, DPM.      Luckily, most cases of athlete’s foot are treatable with an over-the-counter cream, spray,…

When a foot is cut, it heals with a scab and eventually new skin forms. This happens because there are stem cells in our bodies that work to repair the damage. One of the most powerful cells are called “Mesenchymal Stem Cells, or MSCs”. There is a complex series of events that take place in…