We ask a lot of our feet. Every day, all day long, we require our feet and legs to carry us around and perform without complaining. So, when our feet hurt, we take notice! Tired, achy feet at the end of the day are one thing, but when we experience discomfort or foot pain all day long, it can interfere with our ability to keep up with everyday activities.
Some skin conditions of the foot can cause us severe discomfort and even pain. Dr. Kleis is a Costa Mesa podiatrist with more than 25 years of experience in treating all varieties of skin conditions of the foot. Dr. Kleis has a full range of treatment options, depending on the skin ailment you are facing. For a consultation and evaluation of any skin condition of the foot, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kleis by calling (714) 760-4944 or book an appointment online.
Common Skin Conditions of the Foot
There are a number of skin conditions of the foot that can give a person trouble or cause them pain or discomfort. Just a few of these conditions include Athlete’s foot, blisters, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, infections of the foot, foot fungus, toenail fungus, and plantar warts.
If you experience skin conditions of the foot that aren’t responding to home remedies or over-the-counter medications, or if they persist for more than a couple of weeks, you should seek the advice of a certified podiatrist, like Dr. Kleis.
Dr. Kleis will perform a complete examination and take a full patient history during your consultation. He will examine the skin condition that is causing concern and also take into consideration any other co-existing conditions like diabetes. If necessary, Dr. Kleis will take blood tests or x-rays to rule out specific conditions or assist in his diagnosis.
After making a diagnosis, Dr. Kleis will prescribe a course of treatment for your foot skin condition that may include topical treatments, oral medications, and laser therapy. For a consultation and evaluation of any skin condition of the foot, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kleis by calling (714) 760-4944 or book an appointment online.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Non-allergic contact dermatitis is a reaction of the skin to something it comes into contact with but is not the result of an allergy to the material or substance, for instance when something too tight is worn around the wrist for a long time, causing the skin there to become red and irritated. This is different from allergic contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis is due to an allergy to a material or substance that a person comes into contact with. Allergic dermatitis doesn’t require prolonged exposure in order for skin irritation to develop. Allergic dermatitis, or an allergic reaction on the skin, can occur after very brief contact with the allergen.
Allergic contact dermatitis is not life-threatening, nor is it contagious. However, it can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful. The rash caused by allergic contact dermatitis can take weeks to completely heal and can not begin healing until the cause of the rash has been identified and is completely avoided.
Common Causes of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Many substances can cause an allergic reaction on the skin and what affects some people won’t affect others. However, some common allergens cause reactions in many people. Certain plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, wood nettle, stinging nettle, baby’s breath, and leadwort can cause a severe allergic reaction, rash, and even blisters on the skin. These reactions can take weeks to heal. Other substances that are common in jewelry, clothing, and fabric care products are also common skin allergens and can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
Treatment for Allergic Contact Dermatitis
If you are experiencing problems with the skin on your feet and ankles, Dr. Kleis can help you identify the source of the problem and prescribe a course of treatment. In addition to examining you for an allergic skin reaction, Dr. Kleis will also ensure that a fungal infection isn’t to blame for the symptoms you’re experiencing. Fungal infections can also cause itchy, dry, cracked skin that can look similar to allergic contact dermatitis. If your symptoms are due to a fungal infection, Dr. Kleis has a variety of treatments at his disposal that are effective in treating fungal conditions.
For an evaluation of skin conditions affecting the feet or ankles, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kleis today by calling (714) 760-4944.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungal infection in the skin of the foot. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is called Trichophyton. Trichophyton is a common fungus often found on common surfaces like floors. The fungus also lives on clothing and inside of shoes.
As long as the skin is dry and clean, the Trichophyton fungus is harmless and will not reproduce. Athlete’s foot begins when sweaty feet are confined in tight-fitting shoes for long periods, allowing the fungus an opportunity to grow and infect the skin. Athlete’s foot is also referred to as tinea pedis or ringworm of the foot.
Tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot, appears as a red, itchy rash that generally begins between the toes and then spreads over the skin of the entire foot. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is closely related to other fungal infections, like ringworm and jock itch. Athlete’s foot can be treated with over-the-counter medications but sometimes a prescription is required to fully rid a person of athlete’s foot.
Athlete’s Foot Treatment
Dr. Jeffery Kleis is a podiatrist in Costa Mesa. Dr. Kleis has more than 25 years of experience in treating all manner of foot and ankle conditions. Dr. Kleis can evaluate your athlete’s foot and prescribe a course of treatment that will treat the condition and restore healthy feet.
To consult with Dr. Kleis, schedule an appointment today by calling (714) 760-4944 or schedule an appointment online.
Corns & Calluses on Feet
Calluses and corns on the feet are caused by repeated pressure or friction, either from an occupation or activity. Shoes that are too tight or don’t fit well can also cause abnormal pressure or friction and promote the growth of calluses.
Calluses on the feet are the body’s way of protecting the skin from additional damage from continued friction. Without calluses, blisters would be much more common. Blisters are painful and often burst, leaving raw skin open to infection.
Calluses on the foot are not generally dangerous or painful, though the placement of the calluses may result in pain, over time. As a foot callus grows, it can result in additional pressure being placed on the bones or pad of the foot that lies under the callus. This added pressure can be uncomfortable, or even painful, if the callus grows too large.
A common place for calluses of the foot to form is on the bottom of the foot, the balls of the feet, and on the toes. These calluses are often caused by wearing shoes that are too tight.
Sometimes calluses need to be removed or reduced in size to relieve pressure on other parts of the foot. This should be done with great care, as reducing the size too quickly or too much can result in additional damage to the foot or cause blisters to appear.
Callus Treatment
If you aren’t sure what’s causing your corns or calluses on your feet, or if you also have diabetes, you should seek the help of a qualified medical professional. Dr. Kleis has 25 years of experience helping diabetic patients and the general public manage their foot health. He can prescribe a course of treatment to address the corns and calluses on your foot. For a consultation, call (714) 760-4944 today!
Common Foot Infections
There are two types of common foot infections: bacterial and fungal. Bacterial infections are generally complications of existing injuries, such as a cut or blister on the foot. Fungal infections occur when the fungi that exist around us all the time finds an opportunity to multiply and overwhelm the body’s immune system in an area, taking over that part of the body and creating a painful or uncomfortable condition.
Fungal infections on the foot are common and require intervention to heal. Tight-fitting shoes create a warm, moist environment where fungi can grow out rapidly and invade the skin of the feet with conditions like athletes foot and toenail fungus. Fungal foot infections can be treated through a variety of methods, from creams to laser therapy, depending on the severity and resistance of the infection.
Bacterial infections are also quite common, as bacteria exist everywhere and in every part of the world. Walking barefoot increases the chances of a small cut or blister on the foot becoming infected with bacteria. Wounds that become infected are more painful and require increased time to heal.
Ingrown Toenail Infections
Ingrown toenails are a common problem in adults and teens where the edge of the toenail digs into the skin of the toe and the toenail grows into the flesh of the toe. The condition is painful and can become more painful if left untreated. Infections are common in ingrown toenails, exacerbating an already painful condition.
An ingrown toenail can be caused by cutting the toenail too short or cutting it in a rounded fashion that allows the corners of the toenail to grow into the skin at the side of the nail bed. Cutting toenails straight across in a flat line with the corners left slightly longer than the middle of the toenail is the best way to prevent ingrown toenails from occurring.
When to See a Doctor For Ingrown Toenails
If your ingrown toenail is not responding to at-home treatments or is continuing to worsen, you should see a podiatrist. You should also see a podiatrist if you get ingrown toenails on a regular basis and self-care and prevention don’t seem to help. Your podiatrist can treat the ingrown toenail by removing it and treat the damaged tissue that the ingrown toenail has created. If necessary, he can also remove part of the nail and nail bed to prevent the condition from returning.
Fungal Foot Infection
Fungal infections of the foot are extremely common and include athletes foot, also called tinea pedis, is caused by the fungus Trichophyton. Trichophyton is a common fungus often found on common surfaces like floors. The fungus also lives on clothing and inside of shoes.
As long as the skin is dry and clean, the Trichophyton fungus is harmless and will not reproduce. Athlete’s foot begins when sweaty feet are confined in tight-fitting shoes for long periods, allowing the fungus an opportunity to grow and infect the skin. Athlete’s foot is also referred to as tinea pedis or ringworm of the foot.
Tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot, appears as a red, itchy rash that generally begins between the toes and then spreads over the skin of the entire foot. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is closely related to other fungal infections, like ringworm and jock itch. Athlete’s foot can be treated with over-the-counter medications but sometimes a prescription is required to fully rid a person of athlete’s foot.
Foot Fungus Treatment
Dr. Jeffery Kleis is a podiatrist in Costa Mesa. Dr. Kleis has more than 25 years of experience in treating all manner of foot and ankle conditions. Dr. Kleis can evaluate your athlete’s foot and prescribe a course of treatment that will treat the condition and restore healthy feet.
To consult with Dr. Kleis, schedule an appointment today by calling (714) 760-4944 or schedule an appointment online.
Toenail Fungus Infections
Toenail fungus is a common condition, especially among athletes, older individuals, and people with compromised immune systems. Up to 10% of the population is estimated to suffer from toenail fungus infections. This condition is so common because the microbes that cause the infection are all around us all the time. When we wear tight fighting shoes that trap sweat and moisture next to our skin, we help to create an environment where fungus can take hold of our feet and toenails.
Treatment for Toenail Fungus
There are several different treatments for men and women suffering from toenail fungus. Oral medications are extremely effective in clearing fungal infections but have been shown to have moderate to severe side effects including diarrhea, upset stomach, rashes, liver damage, and even heart failure. Many patients with other health problems aren’t candidates for oral medication because of the serious nature of the possible side effects.
Topical treatments for toenail fungus do not have side effects but can be less effective than oral medications in clearing up the infection. Topical treatments have to penetrate the nail in order to attack the fungi living beneath the nail surface. If the topical medications aren’t able to penetrate the toenail, the fungus won’t be eliminated.
Laser treatments for toenail fungus are shown to be most effective with the least chance of side effects. Patients in poor health are still candidates for laser toenail treatments, as the laser treatment doesn’t require any anesthetic or carry any side effects. Laser treatments are fast and effective, leaving patients with clearer nails with zero recovery time.
Laser Nail Fungus Treatment
Dr. Kleis uses three different lasers in his office to remove toenail fungus. The Cutera Genesis Plus and the Q-Clear lasers allow Dr. Kleis to use different light wavelengths to penetrate the nail and kill a wider spectrum of organisms within the nail. The cool laser treatment employed by the LunaLaser application has been proven effective for treating onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, in four separate clinical trials. The laser targets the fungus and stimulates new, clear nail growth using a dual diode delivery mechanism that targets only the infected tissues. The treatments are painless and don’t take more than a half-hour in the physician’s office.
Most patients experience improvement in the appearance of their toenails after a single laser treatment. Removing toenail fungus with lasers is pain-free and doesn’t require any recovery time.
Plantar Warts
Plantar warts are non-cancerous growths that occur on the bottom of the feet. Plantar warts are caused by particular strains of the HPV virus that enters the body through tiny cracks or breaks in the skin of the foot. All warts are caused by various strains of the HPV virus and are named for either their particular appearance or the location where they are most likely to be present. Plantar warts are so named because they are located on the bottom of the feet, along the plantar fascia. Warts on the hands are caused by the same strain of the HPV virus but are named palmar warts because of their location on the palms of the hands.
The particular strain of HPV that causes plantar warts is not extremely contagious. The likelihood of passing plantar warts from person to person is very small. However, the virus thrives in warm, moist environments, making it very likely for the virus to be present in places like a public shower, locker room, or swimming pool, where a person might come into contact with the virus at any time. If a person contacts the virus with broken skin on their feet or even tiny cracks, the virus can enter the body and begin to replicate in the skin where it found an entrance, causing plantar warts.