Welcome back to “Buy This, Not That.” People often ask me about calluses and athlete’s foot and how to treat these conditions at home. Let’s start with calluses. There are various filers (like pumice stones) available at your local drug store. Pumice stones have helped many people smooth out their calluses, but what people don’t realize is that pumice stones can breed fungus when left in the shower. Buy instead PedEgg or Amope to smooth the calluses. Make sure your skin is dry when using these products, this will prevent scrapes and tearing of the skin. When using these products don’t go too low. Diabetics shouldn’t use these products because they lack sensation in their feet. Instead, seek the attention of a podiatrist for this condition.
Enough about calluses, let’s turn to athlete’s foot. Most people use a body lotion or even Vaseline for dry skinbecause athletes foot infection can mimick regular dry skin. People need to have the condition properly diagnosed first. So to address the issue, buy an antifungal cream, don’t buy regular skin lotion. Fungus thrives in moist environments, so if your feet tend to sweat a lot – skin lotion will just add to the moisture. Use anti-perspirant spray on the bottom of your feet to keep them dry. Do not use foot powder. It is messy and won’t keep your feet as dry as anti-perspirant spray.
In the next installment of “Buy This, Not That” I’ll write about diabetic socks and over the counter inserts.
Dr. Dang H. Vu is a highly rated Baltimore Podiatrist maintaining offices in Reisterstown and Towson for more than 15 years. He works hard to gain the trust and confidence of his patients. Dr. Vu is proud of the high praise and positive reviews offered by his Baltimore patients. He is board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a member of the Maryland Podiatric Medical Association and the American Podiatric Medical Association.