It’s the time of year for fright fests, haunted houses and all kinds of scary attractions, but at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we believe the podiatrist’s office shouldn’t be one of them! Many times, patients may get a diagnosis that sounds scary. In most cases, however, the name of a disorder may sound more frightening than it is. The job of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas is to make sure you understand a diagnosis and the treatment recommended for it. Your job as a patient is to ask questions until you feel confident that you comprehend your condition and treatment plan. Below are a few foot problems that illustrate our point.

Xerosis: while this may sound like a condition common to an ancient Greek god, it’s actually a term to describe very dry skin. Dry air, showering too frequently with very hot water or the soap you are using may all be the underlying cause. In some cases, dry skin can be a symptom of a systemic disorder. Usually, however, applying a super-rich moisturizer to your feet several times a day will eliminate xerosis.

Ganglions: you may be a little frightened when you start to experience numbness, tingling and pain in your feet for no apparent reason. Oftentimes, however, these symptoms are caused by small fluid-filled sacs that occur in the tendons or joints on the top of the feet or ankles. Repetitive stress to tendon linings and joints and shoes that constrict your feet are frequently the reason behind ganglions.

Brachymetatarsia: no, it’s not a pre-historic dinosaur. This term describes a defect in the growth of a toe bone that results in one of the metatarsals being shorter than the rest of the toe bones. It will commonly be seen in both feet. In some cases, this condition will not cause pain or discomfort, but it can affect balance so careful shoe selection will be necessary. For other patients, surgical remediation may be necessary.

Don’t hesitate seeking evaluation of foot or ankle symptoms. Putting off treatment is when foot conditions can truly become scary. Contact our Long Beach office today for an appointment by calling: (562) 420-9800.