Us girls want our feet looking beautiful and what better way than to get a pedicure, right? That may sound relaxing, but you should be aware of the dangers of a nail salon. The potential for infection in nail salons are greater than people realize. Here are 5 tips to consider for your next pedicure.

With the colder weather, we have seen an increase in very dry feet here at Feet First Podiatry. Dry, cracked heels are the most frequent concern. If these cracks, called fissures, become severe, they may cause bleeding, infection and pain when standing or walking.

Cold and flu season is upon us, a time of year that sends many Americans scrambling to refresh their stockpiles of tissues, hand sanitizer and chicken soup. In all, it’s estimated that Americans suffer from 1 billion colds a year, about 2-4 each year for adults and 6-12 annually for children ages 6-12.

Here are five common myths that doctors with the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) hear from their patients:

A very common problem that causes pain, embarrassment, and confusion is fungal infection of the toenails. Often, people assume that nothing can be done about it and they resign themselves to a lifetime of simple neglect. Most of the time there is not a hygiene issue and research has shown that there is a family predisposition to contracting nail fungus. Sometimes only one person becomes infected or the entire family can have a toenail problem.

“The human foot is a biological masterpiece that amazingly endures the stresses of daily activity, ” said Daniel Adamovsky, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon in the St. Charles area. “For runners, the feet are more vulnerable to injury than any other part of the body, and these athletes should be on the alert for signs of foot problems that can slow them down if not treated promptly.”

When a toenail is ingrown, it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This “digging in” of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.

With the changing leaves and cooler weather, many adults and children will be participating in sports: football, soccer, softball, and running, to name just a few. There is also is a flurry of activity associated with back to school prep that includes parents’ outfitting their children with new wardrobes, including new shoes. Many important factors should be considered when purchasing new “kicks” for children returning to school.

“Oh my aching feet” is a phrase you hear often from pregnant women. But, are sore feet a symptom they just must deal with during pregnancy? According to St. Charles foot and ankle surgeons Daniel Adamovsky, DPM and Dennis Timko, DPM the answer is “no.”