Summer Guide for Healthy Feet & Ankles

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Summer Guide for Healthy Feet Ankles

• BY
• http//www.advancedanklefoot.com/

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Warm weather, (I guess 108 degrees would be hot
for this Canuck!!) and open toed shoes allows us
to have routine pedicures and look at our feet
more often. One of the most important things we
can do for our foot and ankles is to look at
them. There are places on the body that people
dont consider when they think of cancer and skin
cancer in the feet is one of them. Since our feet
are at the bottom of our bodies and usually
tucked away in shoes, we typically forget that
they are just as susceptible to cancer as the
rest of us. All three types of skin cancers can
arise on and under our feet, with squamous cell
carcinoma being the most common form and basal
cell carcinoma being less common. Malignant
melanoma is even less common, but it is by far
the deadliest. Melanomas on the feet can occur in
men and women, and while they usually develop in
people over the age of 50, they can be found at
any age. Lighter-skinned people are more likely
to develop melanomas on sun-exposed areas of the
body, but only one-third of African-American
patients who have melanoma develop it on
sun-exposed areas.
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Early detection is extremely important since
malignant melanoma can spread (metastasize)
rapidly. Since melanomas on the foot and ankle
often go unnoticed during their earliest stage,
routine foot examinations can increase the
likelihood of diagnosing and treating melanomas.
Melanomas on the feet usually occur between toes,
around the nails and on the soles of the feet.
During routine examinations your podiatric foot
and ankle physician will look for moles and use
a common dermatological rule (the ABCDE rule)
to characterize these moles Asymmetrical
lesions Border irregularity Color
variation Diameter greater than the size of a
pencil eraser Evolving changes in appearance
over the past weeks/months
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Skin cancer is rarely painful, so routine
podiatric medical visits are important for anyone
with disconcerting lesions on the feet and legs.
Also remember to apply sunscreen all over your
feet, especially the tops and fronts of ankles
and reapply sunscreen after youve been in the
water. Pick broad spectrum sunscreens such as
Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 50 since they
provide protection against UV (ultraviolet) A B
rays. The Ouch Factor What to do About
Splinters The warm, sunny weather of summer is
an invitation for us to shed our shoes and socks
and run barefoot. But doing so can be risky since
running or walking (both inside and outside) can
lead to problems for your feet. Needles, broken
glass, small tacks, hairs, or splinters of wood
can be hidden in the carpets of your home, and
those are only the problems inside your house.
Outside, the obstacles can be even more varied
and dangerous. While small splinters can be
removed at home, any large or deep splinters in
the foot should be removed by your foot and ankle
doctor. Anyone with diabetes should be especially
vigilant, since a small splinter can grow quickly
into a serious infection.
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To remove small splinters, clean tweezers with an
alcohol wipe and wash your hands and the affected
area thoroughly. Grasp the visible end of the
splinter with the tweezers and pull gently. Most
splinters will come out easily. If you have any
trouble removing the splinter, contact your
podiatric physician immediately. You can soak
your foot prior to your appointment to soften the
skin, but do not attempt to open the skin. Wipe
the area with antiseptic and cover with a
Bandaid, then head to a foot and ankle
physicians office. Also, contact your doctor
immediately if the area becomes red, swollen, or
hot to the touch, either after you remove a
splinter or if you cannot see any foreign body
under the skin. These are all signs that you may
have missed part of the splinter or have an
infection, and your foot and ankle physician will
need to do further treatment of the area.
Whatever is imbedded in your foot will determine
how the podiatrist will treat you, but deeply
imbedded foreign bodies may even require a
surgical procedure. One good way to avoid
splinters is to wear shoes both in the house and
outside. There are many great options for summer
besides bare feet, so keep feet healthy and happy
by making good choices and avoiding
splinters. Contact  Baseline Center2915 East
Baseline 103Gilbert, AZ 85234Phone (480)
962-4281