Vitamin B-3, also known as niacin, plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and overall well-being. A deficiency in this essential nutrient can lead to various skin issues, including cracked heels. Cracked heels, characterized by dry, fissured skin around the edges of the heel, often result from inadequate moisture retention and weakened skin integrity. Vitamin B-3 deficiency exacerbates this condition by impairing the skin's ability to retain moisture and regenerate cells effectively. Incorporating niacin-rich foods such as meat, fish, nuts, and fortified cereals into the diet can help prevent vitamin B-3 deficiency and alleviate cracked heels. Understanding the connection between vitamin B-3 deficiency and cracked heels underscores the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and proper skin care regimen for optimal foot health. If you have developed cracked heels, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist for successful treatment methods, in addition to determining if there is an adequate amount of vitamin B-3 in your daily food intake, and how it may relate to cracked heels.

If the skin on your feet starts to crack, you may want to see a podiatrist to find treatment. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Kirk Sherris from Liberty Bay Foot & Ankle. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Cracked Heels

It is important to moisturize your cracked heels in order to prevent pain, bleeding, and infection. The reason cracked heels form is because the skin on the foot is too dry to support the immense pressure placed on them. When the foot expands, the dry skin on the foot begins to split.

Ways to Help Heal Them

• Invest in a good foot cream
• Try Using Petroleum Jelly
• Ease up on Soaps
• Drink Plenty of Water

Ways to Prevent Cracked Heels

• Moisturize After Showering
• Skip a Shower
• Keep Shower Water Lukewarm
• Don’t Scrub Your Feet

If you are unsure how to proceed in treating cracked heels, seek guidance from a podiatrist. Your doctor will help you with any questions or information you may need. 

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

Determining whether to pop a blister is essential, considering the type of blister you have. Blisters, characterized by raised bubbles filled with clear liquid, blood, or pus, can be uncomfortable, especially in high-use areas of the body like the feet. The decision to pop a blister depends on its type, and it is never recommended to do so on your own. Friction blisters, often caused by pressure or rubbing, typically heal on their own when the source of friction is removed. However, if you cannot protect the blister from further irritation, a podiatrist safely popping it may be necessary to prevent infection. Blood blisters, which contain a mix of blood and clear fluid, follow a similar healing course as friction blisters and can be treated similarly. If you have a painful foot blister or if it becomes infected and it seems to require popping, it is strongly suggested that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist to determine what the best course of action is for you.

Blisters may appear as a single bubble or in a cluster. They can cause a lot of pain and may be filled with pus, blood, or watery serum. If your feet are hurting, contact Dr. Kirk Sherris of Liberty Bay Foot & Ankle. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters are often the result of friction. This happens due to the constant rubbing from shoes, which can lead to pain.

What Are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

Symptoms

(Blister symptoms may vary depending on what is causing them)

• Bubble of skin filled with fluid
• Redness
• Moderate to severe pain
• Itching

Prevention & Treatment

In order to prevent blisters, you should be sure to wear comfortable shoes with socks that cushion your feet and absorb sweat. Breaking a blister open may increase your chances of developing an infection. However, if your blister breaks, you should wash the area with soap and water immediately and then apply a bandage to the affected area. If your blisters cause severe pain it is important that you call your podiatrist right away.

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

Gout, once associated with excess and opulence, is making a modern resurgence, affecting nearly 4 percent of adults in the US. Gout, a painful inflammatory arthritis, can be found in both men and women, although men are three times more likely to develop it. Caused by the crystallization of uric acid within joints, gout can be both debilitating and chronic. Uric acid, a byproduct of cellular processes, accumulates when the body produces too much or doesn't excrete enough. Gout attacks occur when uric acid levels become excessively high, forming crystals that trigger inflammation and intense pain. The initial gout attack typically targets one joint, often the big toe, with subsequent attacks potentially affecting various joints simultaneously. Joints in the foot, ankle, knee, and even fingers may be affected. During an attack, the affected joint becomes red, swollen, and extremely tender. Even the slightest pressure can induce severe pain. Gout attacks tend to occur suddenly, with nighttime flares being more common. The effect on daily life during a gout attack is significant. While there is no cure for gout, medications and self-management strategies may help to alleviate symptoms and prevent future flares. For help in managing gout, it is suggested that you consult a podiatrist.

Gout is a painful condition that can be treated. If you are seeking treatment, contact Dr. Kirk Sherris from Liberty Bay Foot & Ankle. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints. The condition usually affects the joint at the base of the big toe. A gout attack can occur at any random time, such as the middle of the night while you are asleep.

Symptoms

• Intense Joint Pain - Usually around the large joint of your big toe, and it most severe within the first four to twelve hours
• Lingering Discomfort - Joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks
• Inflammation and Redness -Affected joints may become swollen, tender, warm and red
• Limited Range of Motion - May experience a decrease in joint mobility

Risk Factors

• Genetics - If family members have gout, you’re more likely to have it
• Medications - Diuretic medications can raise uric acid levels
• Gender/Age - Gout is more common in men until the age of 60. It is believed that estrogen protects women until that point
• Diet - Eating red meat and shellfish increases your risk
• Alcohol - Having more than two alcoholic drinks per day increases your risk
• Obesity - Obese people are at a higher risk for gout

Prior to visiting your podiatrist to receive treatment for gout, there are a few things you should do beforehand. If you have gout you should write down your symptoms--including when they started and how often you experience them, important medical information you may have, and any questions you may have. Writing down these three things will help your podiatrist in assessing your specific situation so that he or she may provide the best route of treatment for you.

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

Podiatrists play a vital role in preventing falls among the elderly population in various ways. A couple of important ways they can help is by assessing footwear and prescribing custom foot orthotics. Wearing proper footwear can significantly improve balance and gait, offering better stability and reducing the risk of falls. Since many older adults wear improperly fitting shoes, a podiatrist can recommend appropriate footwear, including shoes with good traction suited to various conditions, and modifying existing shoes for a better fit. Custom foot orthotics are designed to support the feet and enhance feedback to the brain, which improves balance. They can accommodate different foot shapes and deformities, making each step more comfortable and stable, thus reducing the risk of falls. If you are elderly and want to ensure that you are doing all you can to prevent falling, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist who can evaluate your situation and provide the help you are seeking.

Preventing falls among the elderly is very important. If you are older and have fallen or fear that you are prone to falling, consult with Dr. Kirk Sherris from Liberty Bay Foot & Ankle. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality advice and care.

Every 11 seconds, an elderly American is being treated in an emergency room for a fall related injury. Falls are the leading cause of head and hip injuries for those 65 and older. Due to decreases in strength, balance, senses, and lack of awareness, elderly persons are very susceptible to falling. Thankfully, there are a number of things older persons can do to prevent falls.

How to Prevent Falls

Some effective methods that older persons can do to prevent falls include:

• Enrolling in strength and balance exercise program to increase balance and strength
• Periodically having your sight and hearing checked
• Discuss any medications you have with a doctor to see if it increases the risk of falling
• Clearing the house of falling hazards and installing devices like grab bars and railings
• Utilizing a walker or cane
• Wearing shoes that provide good support and cushioning
• Talking to family members about falling and increasing awareness

Falling can be a traumatic and embarrassing experience for elderly persons; this can make them less willing to leave the house, and less willing to talk to someone about their fears of falling. Doing such things, however, will increase the likelihood of tripping or losing one’s balance. Knowing the causes of falling and how to prevent them is the best way to mitigate the risk of serious injury.  

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