Dan Michaels, DPM shares, “Smelly feet are something that nobody likes to deal with. They can be caused by bacteria and/or fungus that grow on our feet. Sometimes, smelly feet can occur due to over sweating or hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating can cause a perfect environment for fungus and bacteria to live and thrive.”   “In…

“Blisters are essentially sterile environments that can lead to infection if they burst,” says Daniel Michaels, DPM. For a blister that has not popped, she recommends cleaning it with antiseptic and covering the area with a topical antibiotic, like Neosporin, and an adhesive bandage or soft padding (such as moleskin or a donut pad). “Avoid wearing…

When your toenail turns black, you might wonder what’s happening and whether you should be worried. Not only is the discoloration an eyesore, but it can also be painful. Most commonly, a black toenail signals a subungual hematoma, or blood pooling under the nail due to an acute or repetitive trauma, Dan Michaels, DPM says….

Daniel Michaels, DPM states that blisters are small pockets full of body fluid and when it comes to those that occur as a result of physical activity, they’re most often caused by friction. “Wearing shoes that are too tight or the wrong socks can also cause them,” Dr. Michaels says. “A lot of runners get…

There are pros and cons of wearing sandals with ankle straps. Daniel Michaels, DPM, doctor of podiatric medicine, points out that ankle straps “provide stability and help ensure a better fit.”    While slip-in shoes are convenient, Dr. Michaels advises not wearing this style if you are doing a lot of walking. “Slides and mules…

“The skin is thickest on the bottom of your feet to help minimize shock,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “But over time, the stress and friction imposed on your feet from everyday mileage can cause them to become parched, cracked, and in some cases even bleed.”     In terms of exfoliation, Dr. Michaels recommends foot…

According to Daniel Michaels, DPM, “Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection in the skin. Like most fungal infections, fungus prefers a moist and dark environment. Thus it is important to keep the feet and the surfaces touching the feet clean and dry.”     Dr. Michaels continues, “The best over-the-counter topical medications are derived from…

Teachers are on their feet all day, and having the right shoes is essential to survive long days of grading homework assignments and quizzes, hands-on lessons, recess duty, and parent-teacher meetings. For those with plantar fasciitis, board-certified podiatrist Dan Michaels, DPM recommends choosing a shoe with “arch support, cushioning, and a thicker, shock-absorbing sole.”  …

Dan Michaels, DPM emphasized that people with neuropathy often experience pain or numbness in the feet while driving or walking, especially at night. Dr. Michaels also suggested looking for styles that are “soft and shock-absorbent with good ankle support.”    Supportive shoes aren’t the only way you can keep neuropathy at bay. Dr. Michaels also…

“Zero drop shoes are shoes that have the same sole thickness from the heel to the toe, and therefore have no elevation,” explains Dan Michaels, DPM. Indeed, if you held a protractor against the shoe, you’d see that there is no angle at all between either end of the shoe.    “The benefit of zero-drop…