4 Top Misconceptions: These Really Aren’t Good For Your Feet!

We have found there are things people think they’re doing to help their feet when actually these things have zero or negative effect! Today, Dr. Joel Segalman, Dr. Stephen Lazaroff, and Dr. Brittany Ciaramello at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, in New Haven County and Fairfield County, are sharing the truth about 4 of these myths. 

1. Carving a notch in an ingrown toenail. Some believe that cutting a V-shaped notch in an ingrown toenail will help take the pressure off and stop it from growing inward. This is just not true. Ingrown toenails are often caused by footwear that crowds the toes together, leaving them little room to move. That’s an external force and cutting a notch in it will not help.

2. Getting regular pedicures. Many people think professional pedicures seem like a perfect way to care for their nails and skin. But foot spas are not the best places for preventing infections. Chances for transmitting nasty organisms can result from tools not being properly sterilized. If you do get regular pedicures at a foot spa, make sure the tools they use have never touched anyone else after the last time they were sterilized.

3. Thinking corns have roots and warts have seeds. In some instances, we might have a tendency to try to remove problems we see on our skin by ourselves. But plantar warts do not have seeds that must be removed. The little specks are tiny blood vessels that have broken and clotted.

   A corn also does not have roots that must be removed. Corns are your skin’s natural way of building a defense against friction and other irritating factors by thickening. Professional treatment is the best way to take care of warts is through professional treatment.

4. Moisturizing too much. Moisturizer can be applied daily, but the amount you use and how you apply it can be important. A thin amount is recommended because slathering on lotion and then putting on your socks is not going to be very comfortable and can lead to degradation of the skin. One area to be especially careful with when using moisturizer is between your toes. It can become very easy for excess moisture to become trapped, paving the way for problems.

If you’re having any issues with your feet, contact the offices of Dr. Joel Segalman, Dr. Stephen Lazaroff, and Dr. Brittany Ciaramello at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, in New Haven County and Fairfield County, today to schedule a consultation. You can reach our Waterbury office at (203) 755-0489 or our Newtown office at (203) 270-6724.