What Causes Toenail Fungus?

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Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common condition that is caused by the growth of fungi, including yeasts and molds, on the toenails. Toenail fungus can affect the nails on both the toes and the fingers, but it is more common on the toenails. If you think you may have toenail fungus in Pflugerville, TX, contact your podiatrist right away. Here are several factors that can cause toenail fungus, including:

Age

Toenail fungus is more common in older adults, as the nails become thicker and more prone to infection with age. Also, elderly adults are often not able to properly clean and maintain their feet and toes, due to limited flexibility and mobility, so the likelihood of toenail fungus increases.

Poor Hygiene

Not washing the feet at least daily, or failing to dry the feet thoroughly after swimming or bathing can increase the risk of developing toenail fungus.

Trauma

Toenails that are injured or damaged are more susceptible to fungus infections, particularly if the skin layer has been breached due to cuts or abrasions.

Sweating

Feet that sweat excessively can create a warm and moist environment that is conducive to the growth of fungi.

Constricting Footwear

Wearing shoes that are too tight or that are unusually constricting inhibits the skin’s ability to breathe, which can increase the risk of developing toenail fungus.

Moist Environments

The fungus that causes toenail fungus thrives in warm, moist environments like pools, showers and locker rooms. Walking barefoot in these places can increase the risk of toenail fungus.

Weakened Immune System

Those with compromised immune systems are more prone to all infections, including toenail fungus.

Diabetes

People who have diabetes are more prone to all kinds of foot infections, including toenail fungus.

Toenail fungus can be treated by your podiatrist in Pflugerville, TX. Early detection and treatment is key to a successful outcome. Contact us today to book your appointment.

athletes-foot

Can Sweat Cause Athlete’s Foot?

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Athlete’s foot is a type of fungus that develops on the skin of the feet. Usually found between toes, the condition can be caused by excess sweat. However, this is by no means the only cause of the disorder. If you’re concerned about athlete’s foot in Austin or Pflugerville, TX, we’ll look at how to identify it and what you can do to prevent it.

How Athlete’s Foot Manifests 

The most common sign of athlete’s foot is a scaly, red rash, though it can also be purple or gray. Itching, burning, and stinging usually accompany the physical symptoms, particularly when shoes or socks are removed. Some people will have blisters or extremely dry skin on the bottom of their foot that also creeps up the sides of the foot.

What Causes Athlete’s Foot? 

The name of the fungus is dermatophytes, which can be found anywhere from locker rooms to swimming pools. The fungus is contagious and can cause anything from athlete’s foot to jock itch to ringworm. Closed-toe shoes and sweat have both been linked to the condition, as has walking around barefoot in public areas. To prevent athlete’s foot, wear protective footwear (e.g., slippers, etc.) in public, choose loose-fitting shoes when possible, and clean your feet regularly (including between the toes).

Foot Doctors in Austin or Pflugerville

If you’re looking for a podiatrist in Austin or Pflugerville, TX, it may be because you have symptoms that haven’t gone away on their own. While there are plenty of over-the-counter treatments available, you’ll want to see a DPM if the itching and rash persists. You may need a stronger antifungal medicine than those you can buy at the drugstore. With offices in Austin and Pflugerville, Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA is here to be of service.

Can Plantar Warts Be Different Colors?

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Plantar warts can show up as gray, flesh-colored, or brown, so it’s important to know what you’re looking at before you try to self-diagnose. These noncancerous growths are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be spread anywhere HPV is present. It’s worth nothing that this can mean contact with another plantar wart, which is why noticing any abnormalities as soon as possible can be key to stopping the spread.

What to Look for

In addition to the color of your feet, here are a few other tell-tale signs of plantar warts:

  • Black dots: You may find dark dots in the center of the wart. These are the capillaries in the wart that provide the wart with blood.
  • Pain: Pressing on a plantar wart in any form, whether it’s pressure from a hand or by walking on the wart, can trigger pain and discomfort.
  • Lesions or calusses: Rough lesions on the bottom of your feet or thick, hard calluses can be a symptom of plantar warts.

Plantar warts in Austin orPflugerville, TXare almost always found either on the balls of the foot or the heel, which is just one of the reasons why they’re hard to ignore for most people. The best way to prevent them is by wearing protective footwear, which will limit the number of cuts and abrasions to your foot.

Podiatrists in Austin or Pflugerville

In general, plantar warts are more of an inconvenience than they are a danger. For people with diabetes or anyone with an immunocompromised system, though, the consequences of a plantar wart can be more severe. If you’re looking for apodiatrist in Austin or Pflugerville, TX who can treat them, Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA has a number of ways to help you get rid of them for good.

arthritis-causing-heel-pain

Can Arthritis Cause Heel Pain?

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Heel pain can be a sign of any number of issues, including joint inflammation, bone infection, or tendonitis. In rare cases, though, it can be a sign of an underlying problem. Arthritis doesn’t usually manifest as heel pain, but it’s important to have it on your radar. Becauseheel pain in Austin or Pflugerville, TX, can show up before any other symptoms of arthritis, it’s important to get heel pain taken care of so you know what’s behind the discomfort.

Arthritis and Heel Pain 

While it’s rare for arthritis to cause arthritis, it may help to know how different types of arthritis manifest in heel pain:

  • Rheumatoid: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause pain and swelling in the joints in the foot. It can also wear down the pads of the foot that protect the heel and the ball of the foot.
  • Psoriatic: This condition mimics rheumatoid but targets different joints. The actual results are the same in terms of how your heels feel, but in addition to the pain and swelling of the joints, you may also see differences in the skin or the nails.
  • Reiter’s: Reiter’s Disease is joint pain that’s usually caused by an infection. Reiter’s will manifest as heel spurs, and a podiatrist may be able to use those symptoms to catch infections.

Podiatrists in Austin or Pflugerville

Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA, a podiatrist with offices in Austin and Pflugerville, TX, knows that pain in the foot can come and go. However, if you have heel pain that’s unexplainable or doesn’t clear up in a week or two, it may help to get the situation checked out. Contacting our staff for an appointment means that you can pinpoint the cause, whether it’s a common problem like plantar fasciitis, or something rarer like arthritis.