Items filtered by date: May 2025

Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, most commonly on the big toe. This condition can be caused by improper nail trimming,  wearing tight shoes, injury, or a genetic tendency for curved nails. Symptoms include redness, swelling, tenderness, and pain along the nail edge. In more severe cases, the area may become infected, leading to pus, warmth, and increased discomfort. Walking or wearing shoes can become painful, especially if the condition worsens. A podiatrist can effectively treat ingrown toenails by carefully removing the ingrown portion and relieving pressure. For recurring cases, a minor in-office procedure may be done to permanently remove part of the nail and prevent future problems. They may also provide guidance on proper nail care, footwear, and hygiene to reduce the risk of recurrence. If you have a painful ingrown toenail, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for effective treatment.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Southwest Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Dallas, and Carrollton, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Foot or ankle pain while running can stem from several causes, including overuse, improper footwear, poor running form, or underlying structural issues. Repetitive impact places stress on the joints, muscles, and tendons, leading to inflammation or irritation. Common conditions include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, or stress fractures. Ankle pain may result from instability or tight calf muscles, which place extra strain on the joint. Wearing supportive shoes, warming up properly, and gradually increasing training intensity can help prevent discomfort. Runners benefit from cross-training to strengthen supporting muscles and improve flexibility. Paying attention to pain and allowing time for recovery also plays a key role. When managed proactively, foot and ankle pain does not have to interfere with enjoying or excelling in running. If you have developed this type of pain from running, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist who can offer effective treatment remedies, and guide you on additional running injury prevention tips.

All runners should take extra precaution when trying to avoid injury. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists of Southwest Podiatry. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

How to Prevent Running Injuries

There are a lot of mistakes a runner can make prior to a workout that can induce injury. A lot of athletes tend to overstretch before running, instead of saving those workouts for a post-run routine. Deep lunges and hand-to-toe hamstring pulls should be performed after a workout instead of during a warmup. Another common mistake is jumping into an intense routine before your body is physically prepared for it. You should try to ease your way into long-distance running instead of forcing yourself to rush into it.

More Tips for Preventing Injury

• Incorporate Strength Training into Workouts - This will help improve the body’s overall athleticism
• Improve and Maintain Your Flexibility – Stretching everyday will help improve overall performance
• “Warm Up” Before Running and “Cool Down” Afterward – A warm up of 5-10 minutes helps get rid of lactic acid in the muscles and prevents delayed muscle soreness
• Cross-Training is Crucial
• Wear Proper Running Shoes
• Have a Formal Gait Analysis – Poor biomechanics can easily cause injury

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Dallas, and Carrollton, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Heel ulcers can start small but often grow into serious wounds that are slow to recover. These open sores usually appear on the back of the heel and may begin with redness, dryness or thickened skin. People with diabetes or poor circulation are especially at risk, as the skin on their feet can break down more easily. Pressure from walking or shoes that do not fit well can make the problem worse. Over time, the skin may crack, drain or develop a scab that never quite closes. Treatment involves relieving pressure, cleaning the area carefully and often using special dressings or prescribed medications. In more advanced cases, a podiatrist may need to remove dead tissue to encourage healing. If you notice a sore on your heel that does not improve, it is suggested you see a podiatrist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with one of our podiatrists from Southwest Podiatry. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic. 

What Is the Importance of Wound Care?

While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.

How to Care for Wounds

The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Dallas, and Carrollton, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Pain in the big toe joint, or first metatarsophalangeal joint, may result from a variety of conditions that affect the bones and soft tissue structures of the forefoot. This joint links the long bone of the foot to the base of the big toe and bears significant stress during walking and running. Common causes of pain in the big toe joint include bunions, arthritis, gout, metatarsalgia, and turf toe. A bunion can result when the top of the big toe shifts toward the second toe, causing the bottom of the toe to shift away from the foot. Arthritis, including osteoarthritis and inflammatory types, can damage the joint cartilage, leading to stiffness and pain. Gout, another form of arthritis, may produce sudden swelling due to uric acid crystal deposits in the big toe joint. Turf toe, common in athletes and dancers, may occur from forced upward bending of the toe. A podiatrist can evaluate the underlying cause of your big toe joint pain and may recommend surgery when other methods are not effective. If you have pain in the joint of your big toe, it is suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for appropriate treatment.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact one of our podiatrists of Southwest Podiatry. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices located in Dallas, and Carrollton, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.