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Posts for tag: foot cancer

By drbhatia
May 21, 2012
Category: Foot Care

 

Womens Health, Columbus Womens Podiatrist, athletes foot, nail fungus, nail fungus laser, foot health during pregnancy, foot cancer, Columbus Podiatry, Dublin Podiatry, Female PodiatristWomen around Columbus took part in a variety of activities celebrating National Women’s Health Week over the past week.  Local YMCA branches offered free health screenings, and events promoting a healthy lifestyle including a “Fitness Friday”.  Feet play a huge role when it comes to screening for health problems and maintaining good health for women. 

According to the American Diabetes Association, 10.8% of women over 20 years of age have diabetes.  This means that teaching women with diabetes how to care for their feet is a huge focus in women’s health.  In people with diabetes, their elevated blood sugars impair the function of white blood cells which are responsible for fighting off infection.  Because of this, serious infections can happen more easily in people with diabetes.  Foot infections are the most common infection individuals with diabetes develop.  Women with diabetes should schedule annual podiatric exams and always call their podiatrist at the first signs of infection in their feet.  The cardinal signs of infection to watch for are swelling, pain, redness, increased warmth of the skin around a wound, and loss of the normal function of the foot.  Foot health during pregnancy should always be monitored as it can be an important indicator of health problems, but pregnant women also need to focus on preventing the condition called “gestational diabetes”.  Women who develop this pre-diabetes condition during pregnancy are at a greatly increased risk of developing full blown diabetes type 2 and the foot and ankle complications it brings with it.

With summer on the horizon, many women will want their feet and toenails to look nice so they can wear their tall sandals out or go to the beach without feeling embarrassed by their toes.  One of the most important things women should do to care for their feet in the warm weather is to always apply sunscreen to the tops of the feet anytime the skin will be exposed, including when wearing strappy sandals.  This is one of the most missed areas for sunscreen application and creates high risk of developing malignant melanoma, or skin cancer in the foot.  Before summer, many women would like to get rid of dry scaly skin, and unattractive, thick, crusty toenails.  If your dry skin does not improve with moisturizing lotion, it can be a sign of a fungal infection or athlete’s foot and you should contact your podiatrist to receive anti-fungal medication.  Thick, discolored nails are also a sign of fungal infection.  Toenail fungus is very difficult to treat in the short period of time left to be ready for beach season, unless you choose to undergo treatment from the PinPointe Foot Laser.  Normally, when nails are infected with a fungus, nail polish should not be worn on the toes because it covers the fungus and allows it to continue growing and thriving.  However, with the PinPointe system, immediately after the treatment nails can be painted over and ready for your next pool party!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Westerville. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

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By drbhatia
December 14, 2011
Category: Foot Care

If you are planning on taking a tropical vacation away from cold Columbus winter this year, there is one item that should be packed in everyone’s suitcase: sunscreen.  While many people are getting better about covering their faces and shoulders, the feet are often a missed spot when it comes to sunscreen application. 

Increased exposure to the sun leads to an increased risk of several types of skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and the more deadly melanoma.  As the tops of your feet are often exposed in warmer weather, whether laying poolside or when out walking in flip flops, it is crucial to protect this area by using sunscreen.  It is also extremely important to examine for the development of any new lesions or changes in markings on your feet regularly through self-exams.  At the first sign of a noticeable change in the skin of your foot you should contact your podiatrist to catch any potentially malignant lesions early on.  The prognosis for a melanoma is related to how deep the tumor is able to grow into the tissues in your foot.  The more time a tumor has to grow deeper into your foot, the more deadly it becomes.  By catching a tumor early through regular self-exams, you increase your chances of having it treated before it can invade local tissue or metastasize throughout your body. 

Like anywhere else on the body, in the foot you want to watch for the “ABCDs” of pigmented, or dark colored lesions including moles and anything darker colored than the normal surrounding skin.  “A” stands for asymmetrical shape or pigmentation, “B” stands for borders that are irregular or indistinct, “C” stands for any changes in the lesion, and “D” stands for a diameter of over six millimeters.  If you notice any of these features on a skin lesion in your foot it can be an early sign of cancer development and you need to contact your podiatrist who can then do a simple biopsy to check for any abnormal cell growth.  It is also important to recognize that while some cancers in the foot may display these “classic” signs to indicate their cancerous nature, skin cancer in the foot can also have a more atypical presentation including being scaly or non-pigmented in which they will be the same or a lighter color than the rest of your normal skin.  Cancer of the feet can also appear similar to other typical ailments of the foot.  For example, a case of tinea pedis, or “athlete’s foot” that does not resolve with the normal treatment for tinea pedis may require a biopsy to rule out other conditions that can include an atypical skin cancer. 

Keep skin safe on all tropical travel this year with sunscreen use and with fair-skinned individuals especially taking further protective measures using clothes or sticking with the shade!  Happy travels and take care of your feet no matter where you choose to go!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

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Podiatrist - Animesh Bhatia, D.P.M., C.W.S. , Sarah Newby, D.P.M. , Columbus OH, 43235, Dublin, OH 43017, (614) 885-3338
If you are in search of an experienced podiatrist in Columbus Ohio, you have come to the right place. Our podiatrists in Columbus, OH and Dublin, OH are highly skilled in many aspects of podiatric treatments. Selecting a foot doctor in your area can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be, especially when you have Dr. Bhatia and Dr. Newby as options.