Right Athletic Shoe   Dan Michaels, DPM, specializes in podiatry and helping patients fix their feet. The most important purchase for any runner is the right athletic shoe, he said. “If you go play tennis, you don’t take a ping-pong paddle with you,” Dr. Michaels said. “You need the right equipment, and the main equipment…

Cholestasis, also known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or obstetric cholestasis, is a liver condition that affects about one or two of every 1,000 expectant parents. It’s also a potential cause of itching in pregnancy, particularly if you are experiencing itchiness of the feet and hands. Dan Michaels, DPM, explains that cholestasis occurs as…

According to Dan Michaels, DPM, “Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating of the feet. It’s slightly more common in men than in women, and more common in young adults than older adults. People whose feet sweat excessively often also have problems with excessive sweating of the palms. Hyperhidrosis can cause great emotional distress and occupational disability for…

There are special considerations women need to take into account when shopping for running shoes, which are often just sized-down versions of men’s shoes. “Women’s shoes are generally wider in the forefoot and toe and narrower towards the heel. Men’s shoes are larger, in general,” explains Daniel Michaels, DPM, a podiatric surgeon. Because of this,…

When you’re shoe shopping, Dan Michaels, DPM, a doctor of podiatry, recommends testing for stability and torsion. First, hold the shoe from heel to toe in your hands and push your hands together. “The shoe should only bend where your toes bend,” he says. “If it bends anywhere else, it is not stable enough to…

According to Daniel Michaels, DPM, “plantar warts are caused by a virus. However, there are other types of growths that can affect the bottoms of our feet as well. One of those is called a porokeratoma (plural: porokeratosis), which is a type of hard callus that is easy to mistake for a wart. It is…

When shopping for athletic socks, keep in mind that selecting appropriate fabric is crucial. Synthetics, including acrylic, nylon, and polyester (that all wick moisture), are the best. “Cotton retains moisture and causes blisters, smelly feet, and increases the chance of fungal infections in nails and skin,” says Dan Michaels, DPM a board-certified foot and ankle…

There are plenty of common foot ailments that lead to pain, like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and high arches. Bunions, however, can be particularly painful. It has sent many people, primarily women, to the podiatrist’s office, as Dan Michaels, DPM can attest. The good news is that, according to Dr. Michaels, with early intervention, it…

When shopping for sandals, Dan Michaels, DPM says the first thing to assess is whether they have adequate room for your toes. “If the sandals have a closed toe box, it is important that the toes are not cramped, especially if one has hammertoes.” He also recommends, whenever possible, to purchase sandals with an ankle…

Taking care of toenails also becomes more important as we age. If you can’t care for your toenails properly, “it can lead to problems down the line,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. Neglect, for instance, can lead to painful ingrown toenails and damage to too-long toenails that have been bumping up against the front of your…