Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that affects the skin of the feet, often developing between the toes. Also known as tinea pedis, these organisms thrive in areas where sweat and moisture collect, making the feet especially vulnerable. Wearing closed shoes for extended periods may increase the risk, particularly when moisture becomes trapped around the feet. Athlete's foot spreads through direct contact with infected skin or contaminated surfaces. Public showers, locker rooms, and swimming pool areas are common places where the infection spreads. Although frequently associated with athletes, this fungal infection affects people of all activity levels. 

Symptoms of athlete's foot include itching, burning, and redness between the toes or along the soles. The affected skin may become dry, cracked, or scaly as the infection develops. Some individuals notice peeling skin or small blisters that cause additional discomfort. In certain cases, the infection spreads to the toenails, causing discoloration and thickening. Cracks in the skin may also increase the risk of bacterial infections. Athlete's foot sometimes resembles other skin problems, making an accurate diagnosis important. Without appropriate treatment, symptoms may persist or return, particularly when conditions continue to support fungal growth.

A podiatrist examines the affected skin to determine whether a fungal infection is responsible for the symptoms. During an evaluation, the podiatrist may collect a small skin sample to confirm the diagnosis and distinguish athlete's foot from similar conditions. Treatment typically involves antifungal medications designed to eliminate the infection. More persistent infections may require prescription-strength medication or additional treatment. Care from a podiatrist also focuses on identifying factors that contribute to recurring infections and protecting overall foot health. If you are experiencing persistent itching, peeling, or irritation on your feet, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist for an evaluation and appropriate treatment options.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is often an uncomfortable condition to experience. Thankfully, podiatrists specialize in treating athlete’s foot and offer the best treatment options. If you have any questions about athlete’s foot, consult with one of our podiatrists from Shady Grove Podiatry. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment.

What Is Athlete’s Foot?

Tinea pedis, more commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a non-serious and common fungal infection of the foot. Athlete’s foot is contagious and can be contracted by touching someone who has it or infected surfaces. The most common places contaminated by it are public showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. Once contracted, it grows on feet that are left inside moist, dark, and warm shoes and socks.

Prevention

The most effective ways to prevent athlete’s foot include:

• Thoroughly washing and drying feet
• Avoid going barefoot in locker rooms and public showers
• Using shower shoes in public showers
• Wearing socks that allow the feet to breathe
• Changing socks and shoes frequently if you sweat a lot

Symptoms

Athlete’s foot initially occurs as a rash between the toes. However, if left undiagnosed, it can spread to the sides and bottom of the feet, toenails, and if touched by hand, the hands themselves. Symptoms include:

• Redness
• Burning
• Itching
• Scaly and peeling skin

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is quick and easy. Skin samples will be taken and either viewed under a microscope or sent to a lab for testing. Sometimes, a podiatrist can diagnose it based on simply looking at it. Once confirmed, treatment options include oral and topical antifungal medications.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Gaithersburg, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Diabetic neuropathy occurs when high blood sugar damages nerves. It most often affects the feet and legs first because those nerves are among the longest in the body. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, or sensitivity to touch. Some patients lose the ability to feel heat, cold, or pressure. Nerve damage can also weaken foot muscles and change the way a person walks. Symptoms usually develop slowly, so early changes can be easy to miss. Poor circulation can make the problem more serious because tissues receive less oxygen and heal less effectively.

Loss of feeling raises the risk of injuries that go unnoticed. A blister, cut, or burn may worsen before a patient realizes it is present. An untreated wound can develop into a foot ulcer or infection. Severe infections can spread to bone and place a patient at risk for limb loss. Damage to nerves that control sweating can also leave the skin dry and cracked. In addition, muscle weakness can contribute to bunions, hammertoes, or changes in the foot's shape. These changes create areas of extra pressure inside shoes, which can lead to skin damage.

A podiatrist can check sensation, circulation, and muscle strength in the feet. The examination also includes the skin and foot structure. A specialized tool may be used to test whether a patient feels light pressure. The podiatrist can identify wounds, pressure points, or changes in shape before they become more difficult to manage. Treatment includes podiatric wound care, removal of unhealthy tissue, and guidance on properly fitting shoes. Custom orthotics can redistribute pressure and protect vulnerable areas. Regular visits to a podiatrist are especially important for patients who have lost protective sensation or have a history of foot ulcers. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce complications and help preserve comfortable movement. If you have symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be a potentially serious condition, especially if it is left undiagnosed. If you have any concerns that you may be experiencing nerve loss in your feet, consult with one of our podiatrists from Shady Grove Podiatry. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment for neuropathy.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that leads to damage to the nerves in the body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy that affects your peripheral nervous system, usually occurs in the feet. Neuropathy can be triggered by a number of different causes. Such causes include diabetes, infections, cancers, disorders, and toxic substances.

Symptoms of Neuropathy Include:

• Numbness
• Sensation loss
• Prickling and tingling sensations
• Throbbing, freezing, burning pains
• Muscle weakness

Those with diabetes are at serious risk due to being unable to feel an ulcer on their feet. Diabetics usually also suffer from poor blood circulation. This can lead to the wound not healing, infections occurring, and the limb may have to be amputated.

Treatment

To treat neuropathy in the foot, podiatrists will first diagnose the cause of the neuropathy. Figuring out the underlying cause of the neuropathy will allow the podiatrist to prescribe the best treatment, whether it be caused by diabetes, toxic substance exposure, infection, etc. If the nerve has not died, then it’s possible that sensation may be able to return to the foot.

Pain medication may be issued for pain. Electrical nerve stimulation can be used to stimulate nerves. If the neuropathy is caused from pressure on the nerves, then surgery may be necessary.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Gaithersburg, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Inferior calcaneal bursitis is inflammation of a small fluid-filled sac beneath the heel bone. This bursa helps reduce friction during walking. When irritated, heel pain can develop beneath the heel. Symptoms may include tenderness, aching, or discomfort when standing. Pain may become worse after activity or pressure. Some people describe the area as bruised or sensitive. Understanding the cause of heel pain is important because several foot conditions can create similar symptoms.

Several factors can increase the risk of inferior calcaneal bursitis. Repetitive walking, running, or jumping can stress the heel. Wearing unsupportive footwear may increase pressure in this area. Certain foot mechanics can create uneven weight distribution, and excess body weight can increase heel stress. A sudden increase in activity may trigger irritation. Direct impact and prolonged standing may contribute to inflammation. Identifying these factors helps a podiatrist create appropriate treatment.

Diagnosis begins with questions about when pain started and what activities make it worse. A podiatrist examines the heel for tenderness, swelling, and irritation. Gentle pressure can help identify the painful area. Imaging, such as an X-ray or ultrasound, may be recommended when another condition needs review. Treatment may begin with reducing aggravating activities and choosing supportive footwear. A podiatrist may recommend custom orthotics to improve pressure distribution. Padding, medication, or an injection may also be considered, when appropriate.

Healing depends on addressing the source of irritation. Your podiatrist can monitor symptoms and adjust treatment as your heel improves. Persistent heel pain should not be ignored, especially when it affects walking. An accurate diagnosis helps separate bursitis from other causes of heel pain. A personalized treatment plan can support safe, comfortable daily movement and reduce irritation again. If you have consistent heel pain, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can accurately diagnose and treat inferior calcaneal bursitis.

Many people suffer from bouts of heel pain. For more information, contact one of our podiatrists of Shady Grove Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Causes of Heel Pain

Heel pain is often associated with plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a band of tissues that extends along the bottom of the foot. A rip or tear in this ligament can cause inflammation of the tissue.

Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon will cause pain from fractures and muscle tearing. Lack of flexibility is also another symptom.

Heel spurs are another cause of pain. When the tissues of the plantar fascia undergo a great deal of stress, it can lead to ligament separation from the heel bone, causing heel spurs.

Why Might Heel Pain Occur?

• Wearing ill-fitting shoes                
• Wearing non-supportive shoes
• Weight change           
• Excessive running

Treatments

Heel pain should be treated as soon as possible for immediate results. Keeping your feet in a stress-free environment will help. If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, applying ice will reduce the swelling. Stretching before an exercise like running will help the muscles. Using all these tips will help make heel pain a condition of the past.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Gaithersburg, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A heel spur is a small, bony growth that can develop on the heel bone. A plantar heel spur forms beneath the heel, while a posterior heel spur develops near the back of the heel. These growths can occur when repeated stress causes changes where soft tissue attaches to bone. Heel spurs may be found during an X-ray even when they cause no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, people may notice heel pain, tenderness, or discomfort while standing or walking.

Heel spurs are often associated with long-term strain on the foot. Risk factors include repetitive activity, excess pressure on the feet, and certain foot structures. Wearing unsupportive shoes can also increase stress around the heel. Flat feet and high arches may change how pressure moves through the foot. Previous foot injuries can contribute as well. Although a heel spur can look like a small pointed projection on an X-ray, its appearance does not always explain the amount of pain a person experiences.

Symptoms can vary depending on where the heel spur develops and what structures surround it. A plantar heel spur may be linked with pain beneath the heel, especially after periods of rest. A posterior heel spur may cause discomfort where the Achilles tendon meets the heel. Swelling or tenderness can develop around irritated tissue. A podiatrist will review your symptoms and examine your foot. X-rays may help identify a spur and evaluate the surrounding bone structure.

Treatment focuses on reducing pressure and addressing the source of irritation. A podiatrist may recommend wearing supportive footwear, custom or activity changes based on your needs. Medication may help manage discomfort when appropriate. The foot can then be monitored as symptoms improve. Surgery is generally considered only when persistent pain does not respond to conservative care. If you have heel pain, it is strongly suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can accurately diagnose and treat heel spurs. 

Heel spurs can be incredibly painful and sometimes may make you unable to participate in physical activities. To get medical care for your heel spurs, contact one of our podiatrists from Shady Grove Podiatry. Our doctors will do everything possible to treat your condition.

Heels Spurs

Heel spurs are formed by calcium deposits on the back of the foot where the heel is. This can also be caused by small fragments of bone breaking off one section of the foot, attaching onto the back of the foot. Heel spurs can also be bone growth on the back of the foot and may grow in the direction of the arch of the foot.

Older individuals usually suffer from heel spurs and pain sometimes intensifies with age. One of the main condition's spurs are related to is plantar fasciitis.

Pain

The pain associated with spurs is often because of weight placed on the feet. When someone is walking, their entire weight is concentrated on the feet. Bone spurs then have the tendency to affect other bones and tissues around the foot. As the pain continues, the feet will become tender and sensitive over time.

Treatments

There are many ways to treat heel spurs. If one is suffering from heel spurs in conjunction with pain, there are several methods for healing. Medication, surgery, and herbal care are some options.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Gaithersburg, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.