Over 50% of Americans over the age [...]]]> Happy New Year to everyone! We are in the midst of winter but it’s never too late to think about the upcoming months and with spring approaching in a few months, it’s important that your feet are in good shape to show off in those open toe sandals/heels/shoes!

Over 50% of Americans over the age of 40 suffer from thick, discolored (black/brown/yellow), brittle toenails. Many younger Americans also have the same condition including construction workers, athletes and women who frequently visit nail salons. Unfortunately many are embarrassed and don’t seek help because of it. This is especially problematic for women who aren’t able to wear open toe shoes and sandals during warmer weather. So what solutions are there?

Topical medications are approximately 8% effective. There is also a prescription medication called Lamisil which someone can take once a day for 3 months. One, though, has to have bloodwork drawn once before and once during the course of treatment to ensure he or she can take the medication in the first place. The success rate of Lamisil is approximately 50% but takes nearly 9-12 months to see the results (that is how long it takes the new nail to grow out). One also has the option of undergoing an in-office procedure to remove the infected nails (under anesthesia) in addition to taking the Lamisil which improves the success rate slightly but also requires the person to take off of work the following day and perform dressing changes at home for 1-2 weeks.

The third and newest option consists of a laser treatment. Pinpointe laser is an FDA approved laser that is set at a frequency that kills the fungus under the nail plate (in the nail bed). It is approximately a 30 minute procedure that is virtually painless other than a small tingling sensation that some may feel during the procedure. One can immediately return to work right after the procedure on the same day if they choose! The procedure is still relatively new so there aren’t a ton of published long term studies but it seems that the efficacy seems to be near 70+%! Just like with the Lamisil, it takes approximately 9-12 months to see the results.

Pinpointe laser treatment is available now for those who are interested. Feel free to call the office to inquire and/or schedule an appointment and remember basic tips such as wearing shoes with wide toe boxes that don’t press up against and damage the nails and bringing your own instruments when you go to get a pedicure.

Generally speaking I recommend New Balance and Asics but there are so many models out there how is one [...]]]> We are approaching the end of summer but outdoor activity is still in full force.  I have plenty of patients, particularly runners, who ask me the age old question “What is the best sneaker out there?”

Generally speaking I recommend New Balance and Asics but there are so many models out there how is one supposed to choose?!  Usually one won’t go wrong selecting any model from these 2 brands but I do highly recommend the New Balance 993 for most runners and even folks who just want a sneaker for casual usage.

I personally wear these sneakers and they are the best pair I have ever owned.   The sneaker features the patented ABZORB® DTS (Dynamic Transition System) which combines ABZORB® foam and ABZORB® SBS to provide optimal cushioning and a smooth transition on heel strike.  What does this all mean?  It means that it is less dense than foam (thus lighter than most shoes) and provides greater cushioning and shock absorption over a longer period of time vs other sneakers that do not have this technology.  It also decreases pronation velocity which in turn stabilizes flatfoot deformities and alleviates discomfort associated with it (pronation is directly related to a flatfoot – I will discuss this in a future blog).  Because it is such a good foot stabilizer and controls the amount of movement of the foot in the shoe, it also cuts down on the number of ankle injuries which for runners, is key.

The New Balance 993 has a few key components which make it one of the best stabilizing running shoes if not THE best stabilizing running shoe on the market (better than its predecessors the 991 and 992) and is also an excellent sneaker for casual walking.  To date, I have not had a single person return to my office unhappy after purchasing a pair of these and can confidently recommend them to you as well.

Questions/comments are welcome.

Rahul Patel DPM

This is a place where you will be able to find a wealth of information related to disorders of the foot and ankle.  This blog will be updated consistently and will cover topics such as good footwear, ingrown toenails, bunions, painful heels, fungal infections, flatfoot, warts, [...]]]> Hi everyone and thanks for checking out my blog!

This is a place where you will be able to find a wealth of information related to disorders of the foot and ankle.  This blog will be updated consistently and will cover topics such as good footwear, ingrown toenails, bunions, painful heels, fungal infections, flatfoot, warts, diabetic footcare and much more. In the near future I will also be bringing you videos of procedures and will incorporate brief question and answer sessions (keep in mind this is NOT a substitute for an official medical consultation) as well.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope this becomes a valuable resource for keeping your feet happy and improving the quality of your life!

Rahul Patel DPM