Do you still have Athlete's foot despite using over-the-counter products? Your San Francisco, CA, podiatrists, Dr. Richard Rolfes and Dr. Jasper Lee of Stonestown Podiatry Group, offer effective treatments for the condition.

Relieving your Athlete's foot symptoms

Over-the-counter products can help control Athlete's foot symptoms, but the products aren't always as effective as the commercials and ads promise. Although drugstore anti-fungal products can relieve minor Athlete's foot infections, they may not be strong enough to tackle a severe infection.

Topical medications prescribed by your San Francisco foot doctor offer a better solution. Once applied to your feet, the prescription-strength medication penetrates deep into your skin, killing the fungus that causes Athlete's foot. In most cases, you'll need to use the medication for several weeks.

If the topical medication doesn't relieve your symptoms, your podiatrist may prescribe an oral anti-fungal medication. You may need to take the pills for several weeks or months.

When to see the podiatrist about Athlete's foot

It's a good idea to schedule a visit with your foot doctor if your symptoms aren't improving after two weeks of using over-the-counter medications or you have severe itching or pain. Call right away if you have broken blisters that have become infected. Signs of a bacterial infection can include oozing blisters, pus discolored skin, red streaks on your toes or feet, warmth, or fever.

Don't try to treat Athlete's foot at home if you have diabetes, as the disease may increase the likelihood that you'll develop a bacterial infection. Fortunately, prompt treatment from your podiatrist can help you avoid a painful infection.

How to avoid Athlete's foot in the future

Although prescription topical or oral medication can cure your current fungal infection, they can't prevent future infections. You can reduce your risk of another bout of Athlete's foot by:

• Wearing sandals in public locker and shower rooms and around swimming pools
• Using foot powder in your socks to decrease moisture
• Changing your socks and shoes mid-day if your feet tend to sweat
• Alternating shoes to give sweaty shoes plenty of time to dry out
• Washing socks, bedding, towels, and washcloths in 140F water to kill the fungi

Ease your uncomfortable Athlete's foot symptoms with a visit to your podiatrists in San Francisco, Dr. Rolfes, and Dr. Lee. Call Stonestown Podiatry Group at (415) 731-6700 to schedule your appointment.

Foot health is worth preserving. At Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, we treat hammertoes and other foot deformities as early as possible. Our foot doctors, Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee, relieve the pain and mobility limitations characteristic of hammertoes so you can walk well and feel good.

What are hammertoes?

Hammertoes are common deformities of the second through fifth toes. Because of muscular contraction and bending of the bone at the middle joints, hammertoes look like little mallets or hammers. Over time, they worsen, causing:

• Pain when ambulating
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Redness
• Sores and calluses on upper surfaces of the toes as they contact the inside of shoes
• Poor shoe fit

What causes hammertoes?

Many factors play a role in the formation and progression of hammertoes. Weak muscles and connective tissue in the toes contribute as does heredity, gender, and shoes which are cramped and tight in the toes. As such, more women than men develop hammertoes.

Additionally, people with untreated bunions often get hammertoes, too. As the big toe turns inward because of a bunion, the resulting pressure cramps the smaller toes. Over time, you develop hammertoes.

Can they be treated?

The good news is yes, hammertoes can be treated. At Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, Drs. Alberts, Rolfes, and Lee inspect suspected hammertoes and take digital X-rays if deemed necessary.

Some patients require surgical straightening of their toe joints, along with corn and callus removal. These procedures improve range of motion, says the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

However, most people need no surgical intervention at all, responding well to measures such as:

• Shoe padding and inserts called orthotics which correct muscular imbalances
• Shoes with comfortable room in the toes
• NSAIDs to relieve pain
• Splints to straighten the toes

Let Stonestown Podiatry Group help

Hammertoes are serious, but they can be treated. If your foot structure looks different, and you have pain and soreness, please contact your podiatrist at Stonestown Podiatry Group. Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee will deliver the best outcomes for you and your feet. Please contact our office in San Francisco, CA, for a consultation at (415) 731-6700.

If you had an automotive problem, would you see a plumber? So, if you have a problem with your feet and ankles--or wish to prevent one--see a podiatrist. Experts in the structure, function, and health of your lower extremities, the team at Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, help people stay mobile and feeling good. Learn more about why you should see Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, or Dr. Jasper Lee.

Why see a podiatrist?

Frankly, they're an expert in foot and ankle care. Over time, your lower extremities can develop problems you may never have anticipated. Or, an existing condition may become more difficult to manage.

Accordingly, you should visit your podiatrist in his San Francisco, CA, office. He will examine your feet, take X-rays, do a gait analysis as needed, and recommend treatments to ensure your feet look, feel, and function well.

Ten signs it's time to see your podiatrist

Need more detailed information? Read these guidelines about visiting your podiatrist at his San Francisco CA office:

1. You are diabetic. Minimally, see your podiatrist once a year--more if you have active disease processes or deformities. Diabetics are at risk for amputation as their condition impairs nerve sensation, healing, immunity, and circulation. Your foot doctor can prevent problems from spiraling out of control.

2. Your feet hurt even after you rest them. If you're in pain for more than a day, come see us.

3. You have begun a new sport or exercise routine. Runners, take note. Getting in shape is great but puts you at risk for sprains, fractures, and inflammatory conditions such as painful plantar fasciitis.

4. You have thick corns or calluses. These skin overgrowths impact your mobility, but never attempt surgery at home. Your podiatrist will remove them safely, avoiding infection.

5. Your feet have changed color. They have an overall dusky look or have areas that are red, purple, or white. This may indicate impaired circulation. Slowly healing sores need prompt attention, too.

6. You have an ingrown toenail. This hurts and rarely improves by itself. See your podiatrist for partial nail removal and for ways to trim your nails properly.

7. Your feet look deformed. Arthritis, benign neuromas, and bunions change the appearance of your feet but are corrected or limited with prompt podiatric management.

8. You walk funny. Maybe you roll one foot inward or have other gait issues. You may need shoe orthotics (customized inserts) to correct the problem.

9. You cannot conquer your athlete's foot. Stronger medication and some information on prevention will help.

10. You work on your feet a lot. Your podiatrist can recommend ways to take the stress off your feet and ankles.

Contact us

At Stonestown Podiatry Group, we can recommend the best management and treatment strategies so your feet stay healthy. For an in-office consultation, contact your podiatrists, Dr. Richard Rolfes, Dr. Daniel Alberts, or Dr. Jasper Lee, in San Francisco CA at (415) 731-6700.

Bunions are a bony protrusion on the side of the foot near the base of the big toe. Bunions can cause pain and discomfort throughout the day as they rub against the inside of the shoes, which causes friction and inflammation. Several treatment options are available. We can help you manage your bunions at Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA. Our experienced podiatrists, Dr. Daniel Alberts, Dr. Richard Rolfes, and Dr. Jasper Lee, can discuss different treatment options with you.

What are Bunions?

A bunion is a bone deformity that develops on the side of the foot just below the big toe. The joint connecting the big toe to the foot is known as the metatarsophalangeal joint. When this joint moves out of place, it causes the big toe to slant toward the smaller ones. This movement also causes the metatarsophalangeal joint to protrude at the side of the foot and form a bunion. Friction produced from footwear rubbing against the feet can irritate and inflame bunions, which leads to discomfort and pain.

Bunions will not heal without treatment. They can also lead to other foot problems over time. For example, untreated bunions can eventually lead to the development of hammertoe, which is another foot condition associated with toe deformities. Additionally, bunions can also lead to the development of bursitis or arthritis in the feet. At our office in San Francisco, CA, our podiatrists can recommend treatments for alleviating bunion pain, correcting the condition, and preventing further foot problems.

Treatments to Manage Bunions

One of the main causes of bunions is wearing tight-fitting shoes that squeeze the toes together. Wearing footwear with enough room for the toes to move can help prevent bunions. For patients with bunions, wearing supportive shoes with sufficient room and cushioning can help reduce friction and minimize the discomfort it causes. There are many ways to treat bunions, including:

• Removing corns and calluses on the feet
• Wearing a splint at night to realign the toe joint
• Performing foot exercises to improve joint functioning
• Wearing custom orthotics in the shoes to stabilize the toe joint
• Inserting protective padding in the shoes to reduce friction and cushion the feet

In some cases, surgery might be needed to effectively treat bunions and prevent additional foot problems. Bunion surgery, referred to as bunionectomy, can be performed to remove bunions and realign the metatarsophalangeal toe joint so bunions do not form again.

We can help you manage your bunions. Dr. Alberts, Dr. Rolfes, or Dr. Lee can develop a treatment plan specifically for you. To schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists, call Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco at (415) 731-6700.

Ingrown toenails are painful, distracting, irritating, and immobilizing. Fortunately, the podiatrists here at Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, Drs. Daniel Alberts, Richard Rolfes and Jasper Lee, are here to help—read on to learn more about ingrown toenails and how we can help.

Causes

Ingrown toenails commonly arise from the excessive trimming of toenails, carelessly picking at them, or receiving improper pedicures that are performed so that the nails are short and skin is softened, as this provides all of the circumstances for the nail to grow into the sides and pierce the skin.

Improper footwear can also affect the nail/skin balance, and either push down improperly on the nail or cause swelling in the surrounding area on the toe. The constant repeated pressure and possible trauma to the foot make athletes particularly vulnerable to this condition.

Left untreated, some ingrown toenails may cause infections, especially with the prevalence of bacteria under toenails. The pierced skin may also develop a deep tissue infection, which may lead to a bone infection, as well. Complications like this pose a great risk, and your San Francisco podiatrist should be seen immediately.

Treatments

The best treatment is preventative:

• Maintain proper foot hygiene
• Trim nails regularly
• Wearing appropriate, comfortable footwear

If you do get develop an ingrown nail, soak your feet in warm, soapy water several times a day, and contact your podiatrist if you suspect that there may be an infection.

In advanced cases, where the toenail has grown far too deep into skin or tissue, the ingrown nail may be removed surgically.

Consultation

It's important to check with a podiatrist to confirm that you have the best footwear and hygiene to avoid this condition. The podiatrists of Stonestown Podiatry Group in San Francisco, CA, can help treat these distressing cases as well as offer preventative care to avoid such discomfort. Call us today at (415) 731-6700.