A podiatrist is a doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the ankles, feet and lower extremity. This branch of medicine is known as podiatry. These medical professionals work with patients of all ages, and they focus on foot related issues ranging from warts to ingrown toenails to bone deformities. Patients who are experiencing pain in their feet or ankles, as well as those who have endured a foot or ankle fracture, may need to consult a podiatrist.
When to Contact a Podiatrist
A general practitioner can deal with many feet-related issues, and thus, it can be difficult to determine when you should actually contact a podiatrist. If you have a family physician whom you see regularly, you may wish to consult with him or her first when you have an issue. However, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or problems, you can simply contact a podiatrist directly:
- Constant pain in the feet or ankles
- Unexplained changes to your toenails or to the skin of your feet
- Severe cracks or scales on your feet
- Severely peeling foot skin
- Unexplained or severely painful foot blisters
Bacteria on Your Feet
Many people experience the growth of bacteria on their feet at some time or another during their lives. In many cases, this bacteria or fungus may be temporarily addressed with an over-the-counter medication or topical cream. People with diabetes, however, need to be especially careful when it comes to foot bacteria. Thus, if you have diabetes and you get athlete’s foot, you should call a podiatrist immediately. Regardless of whether or not you have diabetes, if the bacteria is too severe, you should contact a podiatrist to help you. If you have a bacterial infection on your foot, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
- More foot pain than you usually feel
- Feet that feel swollen, red, hot, or tender
- Red streaks that appear around the infected area
If you decide to treat your symptoms with an over-the-counter remedy, you should contact a podiatrist if that remedy has not worked in a two week period. You should also contact the podiatrist if the treatment makes the condition worse.
When to Contact a Laser Treatment Clinic
People who are experiencing severe pain in their feet should always contact a podiatrist. However, when it comes to toenail fungus, a professional clinic that provides laser treatment will provide the necessary relief and can even help to prevent the condition from returning.
To learn more about what laser surgery can do for toenail fungus, browse the information at Clear Toes Clinic.
