Do you notice dry, scaly skin and an itching, burning sensation between your toes or on your soles? If so, then you might have Athlete’s Foot. The rash can spread up the sides of your feet as well. Blisters may even form because of it. The fungus that causes this infection thrives in warm, damp environments like swimming pools, locker rooms, and your shoes. Because it’s contagious, it can spread to other areas of your body as well.

If an area of thick skin has built up on the bottom of a toe, ball of your foot, or heel, then you likely have a callus. Calluses usually form in pressure or friction areas where you bear weight. They’re rarely painful.

If your foot comes in contact with an irritant, then it could inflame your skin. You could be allergic to irritants such as poison ivy, harsh chemicals, and even the materials used to construct your shoes. Reactions such as itchiness, redness, and small blisters take place usually within 24 hours. Dr. Huey can evaluate your condition and treat your problem with care.

If you feel pain that’s aching, burning, or sharp on the ball of your foot, then you might be suffering from Metatarsalgia. This symptom of other conditions is usually caused by strenuous activities like jumping and running, or wearing footwear that’s either too large or too small. Other indicators include worsening pain when you bear weight on your foot and the feeling of a pebble in your shoe when you take a step.

If you notice pain, numbness, and/or a burning sensation in the ball of your foot between your third and fourth toes due to a thickening of nerve tissue, then you might have Morton’s Neuroma (also called Intermetatarsal Neuroma). We often hear it described as walking with what feels like a pebble in the shoe or a folded or bunched-up sock. While it can happen between your second and third toe as well, it’s less common.

Synovitis is the inflammation of the membrane that lines a joint capsule. When the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) at the base of your toes is overstressed, it can cause swelling on the top of your foot and pain in the ball of your foot.

If you have an open sore, then please don’t wait to get it properly treated. Because your foot is farthest away from your heart, foot ulcers are very slow to heal; for that reason, it increases your risk of infection not just in the skin but the bone. Besides inflammation and thickening of the tissue, telling signs include drainage and odor from the wound. For diabetics, even the smallest scrape or blister can turn into an ulcer and can become limb- or life-threatening.

With Psoriasis, new skin cells turn over faster than normal, building up over your old skin cells. If you notice whitish/silvery scales over dry, red patches of skin on the bottom of your feet, then chances are good that you have Psoriasis. This very common condition can happen anywhere on the body.

If you feel pain on the ball of your foot at the base of your second toe, then you might have Capsulitis. Other indications include the feeling of a pebble in your shoe or a bunched-up sock. The ligaments near the toe joint form a capsule. When too much stress is placed there, they begin to weaken and can eventually cause the toe to dislocate. That’s why this condition is also called Predislocation Syndrome.

Sesamoids are two pea-size bones under the big toe joint at the ball of your foot. If you feel a dull pain that comes and goes there, then it might be Sesamoiditis. Increased pressure and overuse causes chronic inflammation of these bones and the surrounding tendons.

Warts are small, rough-looking growths that are is similar in color to your skin. They are caused by exposure to a virus and can spread by touch. It’s common to find them anywhere on your hands or feet. The ones that appear on the bottom of your feet are called Plantar Warts.

Osteoarthritis (a gradual wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones) can damage any joint. If you have inflammation and stiffness in the joint where your big toe meets your foot, then it may be a form of osteoarthritis. Hallux Limitus occurs when you have a stiff big toe that you can’t bend fully. Hallux Rigidus occurs when you can’t bend it at all.

If you feel intense pain coming on in your big toe followed by warmth, swelling and redness, then you might be experiencing a gout attack. This happens when too much uric acid crystallizes in the joint. Gout can also affect the ankle, knee, elbow and wrist joints.

If you’ve ever injured a toe, especially if you dislocated or fractured it, then you could develop Post-traumatic Arthritis. Often, people don’t notice the problem until years later. Be sure to tell Dr. Huey if you ever had an injury where you’re currently experiencing pain, stiffness, or swelling.

If you have joint pain, stiffness, or swelling of your toes and they look like sausages (a.k.a. sausage toes), then you might have Psoriatic Arthritis. It can affect the bottom of your feet and heels, too.

If you have inflammation in the same joint of both feet or ankles, then it’s an indication of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This autoimmune form of arthritis inflames the joint lining causing pain and swelling. Also, it can affect other joints in your body.

Do you notice dry, scaly skin and an itching, burning sensation between your toes or on your soles? If so, then you might have Athlete’s Foot. The rash can spread up the sides of your feet as well. Blisters may even form because of it. The fungus that causes this infection thrives in warm, damp environments like swimming pools, locker rooms, and your shoes. Because it’s contagious, it can spread to other areas of your body as well.

If you notice pain, swelling, redness, or bruising after a repetitive activity or an injury, then it may be a fracture. Stress fractures (tiny breaks in the bone) can develop over time and lead to a full fracture (complete break). If you suspect a fracture, Dr. Huey can provide you with a complete diagnosis and treatment.

If a bony bump has formed next to the base of your big toe, then it’s likely a bunion. When this bunion forms, it pushes the big toe inward (against the next toe) causing pain and stiffness.

If a bony bump has formed next to the base of your little toe, then it’s likely a Tailor’s Bunion. When this bunionette forms, it pushes the little toe inward (against the next toe) causing pain and stiffness. Plus, wearing shoes that crowd your toes can aggravate it.

If you notice a small fluid-filled sac (bursa) that’s inflamed on a toe joint, then it’s most likely Bursitis. These sacs act as cushions to protect your joint areas from friction. Bursitis on your toes and heels usually comes from a repetitive rubbing against your shoes.

If an area of thick skin has built up on the bottom of a toe, then you likely have a callus. Calluses usually form in pressure or friction areas where you bear weight—more commonly on your heels or balls of your feet. They’re rarely painful.

If your foot comes in contact with an irritant, then it could inflame your skin. You could be allergic to irritants such as poison ivy, harsh chemicals, and even the materials used to construct your shoes. Reactions such as itchiness, redness, and small blisters take place usually within 24 hours. Dr. Huey can evaluate your condition and treat your problem with care.

Do any of your small toes resemble a claw? The characteristic of a claw toe is an abnormal bending of all three joints. Instead of pointing outward, your toe stays curled at these joints. You can experience pain, redness, and swelling because of it. Corns can form on top of the joints, and calluses on the ball of your foot, due to the constant pressure and rubbing from your shoes.

If a small bump of thick skin has built up on the top or side of a toe, then you likely have a corn. Unlike calluses, corns usually form in pressure or friction areas that don’t bear weight and they can be painful when you press it.

If you notice a round knot-like lump under the skin, then it may be a Ganglion cyst (also called a Bible cyst). This noncancerous sac is filled with a jellylike fluid. Although they most often develop on the wrists and hands, they also can show up on the ankles and feet.

Imagine the head of a hammer. The characteristic of a hammertoe is a bent joint at the middle of your toe. Instead of pointing outward, your toe stays curled down at that joint and resembles an upside-down V. This deformity can happen with any one of the small toes and is usually caused by wearing high heels or shoes that crowd the toes. Look out for pain, redness, and swelling as well as corns and calluses.

Imagine the head of a mallet. The characteristic of a mallet toe is a bend at the first joint (closest to the tip of your toe). Instead of pointing outward, your toe stays pointed down at this joint. This deformity often occurs with the second toe because it’s typically the longest. A corn and callus can form from pressure and rubbing, and you can experience pain, redness, and swelling at the joints.

If you have an open sore, then please don’t wait to get it properly treated. Because your foot is farthest away from your heart, foot ulcers are very slow to heal; for that reason, it increases your risk of infection not just in the skin but the bone. Besides inflammation and thickening of the tissue, telling signs include drainage and odor from the wound. For diabetics, even the smallest scrape or blister can turn into an ulcer and can become limb- or life-threatening.

We commonly see this condition in children. If their feet are pointing inward, it can cause pain, interfere with walking (tripping, for example), and issues with footwear. If the condition doesn’t resolve on its own in early childhood, then let Dr. Huey examine and treat the problem.

Do your toes turn bluish-white when you’re cold or stressed? It happens because your blood vessels spasm in response and reduce the blood supply to your toes. The color cycle goes from white when your blood flow is cut off, to blue when your blood vessels open up to keep blood in your tissues, to red when your blood flow returns to normal. Women are more affected by this condition.

Do you have a toe that just doesn’t want to touch the ground? This happens when the tendon on top of your foot that usually allows your toe to extend, pulls it back instead.

Do you have toes that looks significantly shorter than the others? Even though Brachymetatarsia (shortened toes) can affect any of your toes, we see it most often on the fourth toes of both feet. The condition occurs when the growth plate of the metatarsal bone doesn’t develop fully or closes prematurely. With surgery, it’s possible to gradually lengthen these toes.

If you have inflammation and stiffness in the joint where your big toe meets your foot, then it may be a form of osteoarthritis (a gradual wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones). Hallux Limitus occurs when you have a stiff big toe that you can’t bend fully. Hallux Rigidus occurs when you can’t bend it at all.

We commonly see this in children when they’re learning how to walk. If it doesn’t resolve on its own in early childhood, then let Dr. Huey examine and treat the problem. Toe walking may have become a habit or may be caused by a shortened Achilles, the tendon that connect the calf muscle to the heel bone.

Turf Toe is a big toe joint sprain that occurs during sports—common with people who play on artificial turf because getting a foot caught on it is easier. The sprain can happen gradually or suddenly. If you have pain, swelling, and limited movement, then the RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help until you can come in and see Dr. Huey.

Warts are small, rough-looking growths that are similar in color to your skin. They’re caused by exposure to a virus and can spread by touch. It’s common to find them anywhere on your hands or feet.

The characteristic of this rare condition is when toes are joined by a bridge of skin. This birth abnormality can occur in any of the toes but is most often seen between the second and third ones.

Causes of black toenails range from common traumas to rare melanoma. Bruises can form under your nail and turn black if you stub your toe or wear shoes that cram your toes. Rare causes of black toenails include fungal infections, chronic ingrown nails, and a serious form of skin cancer called malignant melanoma. If you have black toenails but didn’t hurt your toes, then please come in for a diagnosis from Dr. Huey as soon as possible.

If you notice a blue spot in your toenail, it could be a mole beneath the nail called a Blue Nevus. The most common Blue Nevus is usually benign and stays that way throughout a person’s life. However, the very rare Cellular Blue Nevus can become cancerous. If you have a blue spot on your toenail, then please come in for a diagnosis by Dr. Huey.

If you have brown or black stripes that run from the bottom to the top of your toenails, then you have a condition called Melanonychia. A lot of things can cause it and they can be either benign or cancerous. If you have brown or black striped toenails, please come in to see Dr. Huey for a closer look.

Green toenails could be caused by a bacterial infection beneath the nails. Also known as Green Nail Syndrome (GNS) or technically as Chloronychia, it usually occurs when your feet are exposed to moisture or dampness for prolonged periods of time; the bacteria can lurk in environments such as hot tubs and saunas or even in items such as sponges and shoes. If your toenails are green, then please come in to get treated by Dr. Huey.

If the sides of your toenails are growing into your skin, then you have ingrown toenails. Two things might happen from this: your toenails start to irritate your skin causing pain, redness, and swelling, and/or dig in and break your skin causing an infection. If you have ingrown toenails that need attention, please let Dr. Huey examine and treat it.

As you get older, your toenails get thicker naturally but they can get thicker for other reasons, too. Wearing shoes that cram the front of your toes or growing in a new nail after an injured one has fallen off are reasons easy enough to understand. Less apparent causes could be from a fungal infection, psoriasis and even hypothyroidism. If you have thick toenails, please let Dr. Huey figure out the cause of it.

If your toenails have changed in color and texture, then you probably have a fungal infection. Black, brown, green, white, yellow, solid, striped—the color and pattern are telling signs of what type it is. Fungal infections can be benign or cancerous so please come in to see Dr. Huey for a proper examination.

Causes of white toenails range from common traumas to fungal infections. White spots or lines can appear if you stub your toe or wear shoes that cram the front of your toes; in these cases, it didn’t cause bruising because blood vessels didn’t break. However, if your toenails are white all over, then you most likely have a fungal infection. Ask Dr. Huey about PinPointe™ FootLaser®, an FDA-cleared procedure we use to treat toenail fungus (onychomycosis).

Causes of yellow toenails range from something as simple as staining from nail polish to something more serious such as lymphedema or diabetes. Most commonly though, thick yellow toenails come from fungal infections. Ask Dr. Huey about PinPointe™ FootLaser®, an FDA-cleared procedure we use to treat toenail fungus (onychomycosis) without the risk of oral medications.

If you’ve ever fractured a bone, then you could develop Post-traumatic Arthritis. Often, people don’t notice the problem until years later. Be sure to tell Dr. Huey if you ever had an injury where you’re currently experiencing pain, stiffness, or swelling.

If you have inflammation in the same joint of both feet or ankles, then it’s an indication of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This autoimmune form of arthritis inflames the joint lining causing pain and swelling. Also, it can affect other joints in your body.

If your foot comes in contact with an irritant, then it could inflame your skin. You could be allergic to irritants such as poison ivy, harsh chemicals, and even the materials used to construct your shoes. Reactions such as itchiness, redness, and small blisters take place usually within 24 hours. Dr. Huey can evaluate your condition and treat your problem with care.

If you notice pain, swelling, redness, or bruising after a repetitive activity or an injury, then it may be a fracture. Stress fractures (tiny breaks in the bone) can develop over time and lead to a full fracture (complete break). If you suspect a fracture, Dr. Huey can provide you with a complete diagnosis and treatment.

If you feel pain, swelling, and tenderness, and/or see bruising on the outer side of your foot, then you might have fractured your fifth metatarsal. Until you’re able to see Dr. Huey, the RICE Method of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation can help.

Osteoporosis causes the weakening and thinning of bones due to the lack of calcium and/or Vitamin D; thereby, increasing the risk of bone fractures. The condition is mostly seen in women over 50 but men and younger people can develop it, too. Common areas of bone fractures because of it are the hips, wrists, and spine but for podiatrists, we see it in the metatarsals and other bones in the foot as well. If you see redness and swelling on the top of your foot and it hurts more when you walk, then you may have a foot fracture due to Osteoporosis.

Synovitis is the inflammation of the membrane that lines a joint capsule. When the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) at the base of your toes are overstressed, it can cause swelling on the top of your foot and pain in the ball of your foot.

If you have an open sore, then please don’t wait to get it properly treated. Because your foot is farthest away from your heart, foot ulcers are very slow to heal; for that reason, it increases your risk of infection not just in the skin but the bone. Besides inflammation and thickening of the tissue, telling signs include drainage and odor from the wound. For diabetics, even the smallest scrape or blister can turn into an ulcer and can become limb- or life-threatening.

If you notice a round knot-like lump under the skin, then it may be a Ganglion cyst (also called a Bible cyst). This noncancerous sac is filled with a jellylike fluid. Although they most often develop on the wrists and hands, they also can show up on the ankles and feet.

With Psoriasis, new skin cells turn over faster than normal, building up over your old skin cells. If you notice whitish/silvery scales over dry, red patches of skin on the bottom of your feet, then chances are good that you have Psoriasis. This very common condition can happen anywhere on the body.

These twisted, enlarged veins may show up most commonly in your legs, ankles, and feet. This happens when the vein valves or walls become weak or damaged. If you have Vericose Veins, you might experience aches, pain, swelling, bruising, itching, nighttime cramps, skin discoloration, and the feeling of heavy legs and feet. You’re also at risk of developing complications such as bleeding, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and skin sores. If you’re bleeding from this condition, please get emergency medical help.

Warts are small, rough-looking growths that are similar in color to your skin. They’re caused by exposure to a virus and can spread by touch. It’s common to find them anywhere on your hands or feet.