Take a Moment to Check in With Your Feet

With the holidays behind us and many of us staying home more than usual this winter, now is a great time to check in with your feet. It’s easy to take your feet for granted, but they require care and attention like any part of your body. Maintain optimal foot and ankle health this winter with these three steps:

1. Check on the appearance of your feet. It can be tricky, especially if your mobility is limited. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member to help, or you can hold your foot above a mirror you place on the floor. The skin should not be red, itchy, or scaly. Any of these can indicate Athlete’s foot or another fungal infection. A bluish tone to the skin might be a sign of poor circulation or Reynaud’s disease, particularly when accompanied by a persistent chill. New or changed mole? See your podiatrist as soon as possible, as melanoma and other skin cancer forms can occur on the foot.
2. Take note of foot pain. Depending on the location, your discomfort can indicate the formation of a foot deformity such as bunions or hammertoes. Is it located in the heel, or worse in the morning, when you first get out of bed? Plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the soft tissue that spans the length of the foot, could be to blame. Foot pain can even mean that you have an unresolved foot or ankle injury.
3. See your foot doctor for a checkup. With years of specialized training and experience, a board-certified podiatrist like Cook County foot doctor Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM is a medical expert and the best-qualified professional to care for this part of your body. Schedule an appointment in My Chicago Foot Expert’s modern, comfortable Ravenswood office. Call our friendly, professional staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to get started today.