Dr. Roth's Products - Foot Problems & Solutions

Athlete's Foot Treatment and Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:52:00 +0000

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot, also known as Tinea pedis, is a common fungal infection which lives in the outer layers of the skin. Although some people refer to athlete's foot as a ringworm infection, no actual worm is involved in athlete's foot or any other fungal infections.

What are the causes?

Athlete's foot most easily spreads and flourishes in warm, dark, and moist environments- such as those found on the sweaty shoes, floors of locker rooms, swimming pool, gyms and public showers. This foot fungus can also transmitted by sharing shoes or socks of the infected person and contact with pets that carry it on their fur.

What are the symptoms?

Athlete's foot can manifest in many ways, such as dry skin, or a white, scaly, reddened rash on the bottom and sides of feet. Athlete's foot may cause cracking, or peeling of the skin; especially between the toes. In some people the skin becomes very sore and may even bleed. People suffering from athlete's foot may also have a fungal infection of the toenails.

What are the treatment and prevention measures?

Dr. Roth suggests the use of the Foot Fixer Kit to help resolve the fungus problems associated with Athlete's foot. If your athlete's foot condition is severe, the doctor suggests using the Nail & Foot Gel even if no nail fungus is present. In mild athlete foot infections use of the Foaming Foot Wash and Foot Balm should eliminate the condition.

Foot Care Tips

Keep feet dry, especially between toes.
Always wear sandals when at public showers, swimming pools and locker rooms.
Do not share or borrow shoes.
Regularly apply anti-fungal foot powder to reduce perspiration.
Wear cotton socks and light, breathable shoes to allow air circulation

Heel Pain Causes

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Heel pain is a common foot condition which leads to pain on the bottom of the heel. Excessive or extended weight bearing and pressure on the heel can be extremely painful.

What are the causes?

Plantar Fasciitis

Arch and heel pain are generally caused by a condition called Plantar Fasciitis, which occurs when the main ligament on the bottom of the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot becomes inflamed.

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive strain to the plantar fascia of the foot. The plantar fascia is the thick, connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot. It originates at the heel and extends to the base of the toes.

The plantar fascia tightens and stretches each time the foot is used, and is highly prone to overuse, especially if the arch is not supported by proper footwear.

Heel Spurs

Heel spurs are frequently associated with acute heel pain. A heel spur, also known as a calcaneal spur, is an abnormal, nail-like growth of calcium at or around the tendons and ligaments of the foot where they attach to the heel.

Heel spurs occur most commonly in people over the age of forty. The condition can also be associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, poor circulation of the blood and other degenerative diseases.

Excessive stretching of the plantar fascia, also known as plantar fasciitis, can lead to arch pain, and heel spurs.

Heel Spurs Treatment and Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Heel Spur

A heel spur, also known as a calcaneal spur, is an abnormal, nail-like growth of calcium at or around the tendons and ligaments of the foot where they attach to the heel.

What are the causes?

Heel spurs occur most commonly in people over the age of forty. The condition can also be associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, poor circulation of the blood and other degenerative diseases.

Excessive stretching of the plantar fascia, also known as plantar fasciitis, can lead to arch pain, and heel spurs.

What are the symptoms?

Heel spur pain is usually characterized by a sharp poking sensation and is localized to the heel or under the heel. Pain can become very severe and bruising can sometimes occur.

The pain caused by a heel spur results from inflammation around the tendons where they attach to the heel bone. The pain is most severe when you first start to walk after a period of rest.

What are the treatment and prevention measures?

In order to prevent the heel spurs, one should always wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes with good arch support and cushioning and avoid wearing high heeled shoes or sandals.

Dr. Roth recommends FABS or MAGFABS to help relieve the pain associated with heel spurs.

Cracked Heels Problems & Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Cracked Heels

Cracked heels, also known as heel fissures, are a common, often quite painful, foot problem. Cracked heels are due to the thickening and fissuring of the skin on the heel of the foot. Deep cracks can cause the skin to bleed and in severe cases can cause infection.

What are the causes?

Cracked heels are caused by dry skin. Certain medical conditions predispose an individual to dry skin, such as diabetic neuropathy, obesity, and skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema.

What are the symptoms?

The initial symptom of getting cracked heels is the development of dry, hard, thickened skin around the rim of the heel. This may be yellow or dark brown discolored area of skin. Initially small cracks are visible. If left untreated and as more pressure is placed on the heel, these cracks become deeper and can begin to bleed. This results into very painful situation during walking and standing.

What are the treatment and prevention measures?

Dr. Roth recommends the use of the Foot Fixer Kit to help moisturize and protect skin against cracked heels. Gentle cleansing with Dr. Roth's Foaming Foot Wash, followed by the application of topical moisturizers such as Dr. Roth's Foot Balm, can help to maintain healthy skin that can better resist breakdown and injury.

For severe cracked heels, Dr. Roth recommends using the Nail & Foot Gel to help sooth and treat the affected area.

Flat Feet Pain Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:23:00 +0000

Flat Feet

Flat feet is a common condition in which the foot's natural arch collapses upon weight bearing; potentially causing severe discomfort and leading to other significant foot problems.

What are the causes?

Overpronation, caused by excessive stretching of the fibrous tissue that is present at the bottom of the foot, is the most common cause of flat feet.

Obesity, pregnancy, or repetitive, prolonged impact with a hard surface can weaken the arch, leading to overpronation.

What are the symptoms?

Some common symptoms of a flat foot include:

Uneven wear of the shoe.
Lower leg pain
Pain on the inside of your ankle
Swelling along the inside of your ankle
Foot pain

What are the treatment and prevention measures?

Dr. Roth recommends the use of FABS or MAGFABS to help support the arch and alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with flat feet.

Diabetic Foot Problems and Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:41:00 +0000

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease caused by a lack of insulin production in the body. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. High blood glucose levels, over extended periods of time, can cause damage to the nerves, blood vessels, vital organs and extremities.

How can Diabetes affect the feet?

People with diabetes have an increased likelihood of developing a variety of foot conditions. Even seemingly ordinary problems can worsen and lead to serious complications.

Diabetes reduces the effectiveness of the immune system, diminishing the body's natural ability to fight infection. When diabetes is not well controlled, damage to the organs and impairment of the immune system is possible.

Foot problems often occur when there is nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy, which results in loss of feeling and sensation in your feet.

Although it can often be quite painful, diabetic neuropathy can lessen your ability to feel sensations such as pain, heat, and cold. This loss of feeling can often prevent you from feeling a foot injury. You might not notice an injury, such as a cut or blister, until the skin breaks down and becomes infected.

Diabetes can also affect the blood vessels of the feet, causing them to narrow and harden. This condition, known as diabetic vasculopathy, reduces the amount of blood flow to the feet. With reduced blood flow, feet may be deprived of the oxygen and nutrients necessary to help heal and fight infection.

Nerve damage and poor circulation can also lead to changes in the shape of your feet and toes.

Common Problems

Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers most commonly occur on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers on the sides of the foot are often due to poorly fitting shoes.

Even a seemingly minor, non-painful ulcer should be inspected by a health care specialist. Neglecting ulcers can result in serious infections, which could ultimately result in amputation of the affected limb.

Keeping off your feet is especially important. Walking on an ulcer may irritate the wound, causing it to open larger and inhibit the healing process. A special shoe, brace, or cast may be required.

Nail and Foot Fungus

Diabetes increases the risk of many complications, including skin disorders and infections. Among these are fungal infections such as yeast infections, oral thrush and nail fungus.

Nail fungus, commonly regarded as an unattractive nuisance, can lead to severe complications in people with diabetes. If left untreated, nail fungus can progress to skin and bone infections or even tissue death- leading to a loss of mobility or even amputation.

It is estimated that about one-third of people with diabetes have a significant nail fungus infection.

Dr. Roth suggests the use of the Foot Fixer Kit to help resolve and prevent fungus problems associated with diabetes.

Calluses/Corns

Calluses are thickened areas of dead skin, which typically form on the bottom or sides of the feet. They are caused by excessive, prolonged pressure and friction within the shoe.

Calluses often occur more frequently and accumulate faster on the feet of diabetics. When neuropathy is present, you can't tell if your shoes are causing pressure and producing corns or calluses.

Thick calluses may crack, or bleed and can often progress to ulceration and infection of the foot.

Dr. Roth recommends TABS arch supports to help cushion, support and protect areas of the foot sensitive to excessive callus formation.

Dry/cracked skin

Diabetes can cause changes to the condition of the skin on your foot. Your skin may become dry, and begin to peel and crack.

Dry skin is generally caused by damage to the nerves of the foot that control the release ofnatural oils and moisture of the skin.

Dr. Roth recommends the use of the Foot Fixer Kit to help relieve skin irritation due to dry, cracked skin.

Dr. Roth's Foot Balm and Nail & Foot Gel are specifically formulated to sooth and protect feet from painful microtears of the skin caused by a lack of natural oil production.

Hammertoes

Hammertoes are a deformity of the foot that involves tightening of the tendons in affected toes and, most often occurs in the second, third or fourth toe.

Neuropathy can cause muscle weakness and loss of tone in the feet, resulting in hammertoes. Special, therapeutic shoes may be necessary, rather than forcing misshapen feet and toes into regular, ill-fitting shoes.

Charcot foot

Charcot foot is a progressive, degenerative condition caused by the weakening of the bones in the foot that can occur in people who have substantial nerve damage.

When neuropathy is present, the bones in the foot become weakened and are increasingly prone to fracture. Due to the nerve damage, the pain goes unnoticed and the person continues to walk on the fractured bone. This can lead to severe deformities of the foot.

Charcot foot is a very serious condition that can lead to severe impairment, deformity and even amputation.

Dr. Roth recommends the use of FABS or MAGFABS to help relieve pain associated with Charcot foot.

Prevention

Meticulous attention to foot care and proper management of minor foot injuries are key to preventing diabetic foot complications.

Gentle cleansing with Dr. Roth's Foaming Foot Wash, followed by the application of topical moisturizers such as Dr. Roth's Foot Balm, can help to maintain healthy skin that can better resist breakdown and injury.

Dr. Roth's Foot Fixer Kit is specifically formulated to aid in the prevention and management of many common diabetic foot conditions.

Foot Care Tips

Carefully inspect your feet daily. Check for any cuts, blisters, cracks, redness, or swelling.

Wash your feet everyday.

Keep feet dry; especially the area between the toes.

Consult your doctor if you exhibit any signs of infection such as redness, swelling, fever, or chills.

External Links

American Diabetes Association
World Health Organization - Fact Sheet on Diabetes

Heel Pain Treatment and Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:12:00 +0000

Heel pain is a common foot condition which leads to pain on the bottom of the heel. Excessive or extended weight bearing and pressure on the heel can be extremely painful.

What are the causes?

Arch and heel pain are generally caused by a condition called Plantar Fasciitis, which occurs when the main ligament on the bottom of the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot becomes inflamed.

What are the causes?

Plantar Fasciitis related pain is usually noticed with the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning or after getting up after extended periods of rest. When at rest, the plantar ligament is under no stress, so the arch of your foot is higher.

When a person is standing, the arch tends to lower and the ligament pulls on the heel, causing irritation, inflammation, and pain. When the foot is used, the ligament stretches and the pain stops or decreases.

What are the treatment and prevention measures?

Wearing comfortable, properly fitting shoes with proper arch support and cushioning is the most important prevention measure for heel pain. Avoid wearinghigh-heeled shoes or sandals.

Dr. Roth recommends FABS or MAGFABS to help relieve pain associated with the heel.

FABS is a one-size-fits-all, unique arch support which provides instant relief for tired, achy feet, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, pronation, heel pain, and lower back pain caused by poor arch support.

FABS are made of a highly engineered fabric and foam composite material that is uniquely joined together without the need of adhesives. The fabric is primarily a Nylon/Lycra blend, which is non-latex, non-neoprene, hypoallergenic with moisture wicking fibers. The Foam is urethane based, open cell, breathable, non-latex, non-neoprene, hypoallergenic, non-slip, hand washable and reusable.

FABS are designed to relieve foot pain in two specific ways. First, the highly compressive, arch. Simultaneously, the comfort pad applies pressure to the connective point where the Plantar Fascia ligament, the main ligament of the foot, connects to the heel. As the foot is overused this ligament become inflamed, tightened and painful. The applied pressure at this specific location relieves pain.

Originally developed for dancers and athletes, FABS are the only arch support you can wear with shoes, sandals or even bare feet. FABS' compression bands and shock-absorbent pads provide foot comfort like you've never felt before!

How to Eliminate Plantar Fasciitis Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Roth's Products) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive strain to the plantar fascia of the foot.

The plantar fascia is the thick, connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot. It originates at the heel and extends to the base of the toes.

The plantar fascia tightens and stretches each time the foot is used, and is highly prone to overuse, especially if the arch is not supported by proper footwear.

What are the causes?

Plantar Fasciitis is caused by excessive stretching of the fibrous tissue that is present at the bottom of the foot. This excessive stretching can lead to heel and arch pain. Flat feet, also known as overpronation, is a leading cause of Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar Fasciitis can be aggravated or caused by an unusually high arch, sudden changes in physical activity, improper footwear, obesity, and the weight gain associated with pregnancy.

What are the symptoms?

Pain is typically experienced on the inside of the heel and along the arch. Heel pain is especially common after long periods of physical activity or after getting up from a seated position.

What are the treatment and prevention measures?

Care measures include applying ice, stretching, anti-inflammatory medications, and gentle massage.

Flat feet, also known as overpronation, is the leading cause of plantar fasciitis. Dr. Roth recommends FABS or MAGFABS to help alleviate Plantar Fasciitis caused by pronation.