Avoiding the fungus that causes athlete's foot is the key to preventing the itchy, uncomfortable fungal infection. Our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, treats athlete's foot, along with many other foot and ankle conditions.

What's the best way to prevent athlete's foot infections?

The fungus responsible for athlete's foot is very contagious. It can survive for weeks on surfaces and is often found around public pools and in public shower and locker rooms. If you swim at a public pool or work out at a Gainesville area gym, you can reduce your risk of developing athlete's foot by wearing sandals or shower shoes at all times.

Other ways to avoid athlete's foot, include:

• Decreasing Moisture: Sweaty socks and shoes provide the dark, moist environment the fungus needs to thrive. Adding talcum powder to your socks, spraying antiperspirant on your feet, wearing socks that wick away moisture and changing your socks throughout the day will help keep your feet drier.
• Alternating Footwear: Moisture can become trapped. Materials that breathe, such as canvas or leather, are a better choice than shoes made of synthetic materials.
• Washing Clothing, Bedding, and Towels in Hot Water: The athlete's foot fungus will survive a trip through the washing machine if you use cold water to clean your clothes. In fact, it only dies if clothing and other items are washed in 140F water. If someone in your home has athlete's foot, prevent the infection from spreading by washing bathmats, washcloths, towels, bedding, and socks on your washer's hottest setting.

How is athlete's foot treated in Gainesville?

An athlete's foot infection won't go away on its own, even if you keep your feet clean and dry as soon as you notice symptoms. Although over-the-counter anti-fungal creams can be helpful, the topical products may not be able to penetrate the deeper layers of the skins. If your infection doesn't go away or worsens, your foot doctor can prescribe topical medications that can reach the fungus deep inside your skin or oral anti-fungal medication if topical treatment isn't helpful.

Are you tired of living with athlete's foot? Call our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist, Dr. Bhakta of Prince William Foot & Ankle Center, at (703) 753-3338 to schedule an appointment.

Ankle sprains are one of the most common podiatry injuries. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a sprained ankle results from strain or injury to the ligaments that help to keep the ankle stable and aligned in the joint. Like most soft tissue injuries, a sprained ankle can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the size, location and extent (partial or full) of the tear. Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, a podiatrist at Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville, VA, offers a range of diagnostic and treatment options for ankle sprains and other orthopedic injuries and conditions.

Ankle Sprain Diagnosis and Treatment in Gainesville, VA

The ankle is stabilized the lateral and medial ligaments, which are looked on the side and center front of the ankle. Although they are strong and designed to support the ankle's normal range of motion, a forceful twisting motion can create tears in the ligament, or a complete rupture in extreme cases.

The main symptoms of a sprained ankle are:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Pain or tenderness when you touch it or apply pressure
• Ankle instability (severe sprains where a ligament has fully torn)

In most cases, a mild ankle sprain will heal on its own with conservative treatment like rest, elevation, icing, and over the counter pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like Advil or Motrin. Moderate to severe sprains may require additional treatment that includes immobilizing the ankle and performing exercises to restore strength and range of motion. The treatment period can range from 2 to 12 weeks depending on the type of strain. Your podiatrist will physically examine the ankle and may order diagnostic imaging tests to determine the extent and severity of the injury.

Find a Podiatrist in Gainesville, VA

If you suspect that you have a sprained ankle but are not sure or are experiencing foot or ankle pain, contact Prince William Foot & Ankle Center by calling 703-753-3338 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bhakta today.

Are you suffering from foot warts?

If you have foot warts and don't know how to treat them, then your best bet may be your, Gainesville, VA, podiatrist, Dr. Mukesh Bhakta.

What are foot warts?

Foot warts are usually mistaken for corns or calluses, which are layers of dead skin built up to protect an area constantly irritated. Viral infections cause warts that penetrate the skin through cuts and abrasions. On the upside, the majority of foot warts are not dangerous but painful.

What do they look like?

They are raised above the rest of your skin and fleshy, and are found anywhere on the foot or toes. Warts can sometimes disappear, then recur in the same place. If, however, they are left untreated, they can grow up to an inch or more in circumference and spread into clusters.

Who is like to get warts?

Children and teenagers are the most susceptible to warts. It's vital to ensure your children's feet are constantly clean and dried properly after a bath.

What's a common wart?

Plantar warts appear on the soles of the feet and are painful. They are hard, flat, maintain well-defined boundaries and a rough surface and. They vary in color but are usually gray or brown.

You can get plantar warts if you walk barefoot on dirty or littered surfaces. The virus that causes plantar warts thrives in warm, moist environments, making infection a common occurrence in public pools and locker rooms.

Plantar warts spread by touching, scratching, or contact with skin shed from someone who has the wart.

How do you prevent warts?

Here are a few tips to prevent warts:

• Avoid direct contact with warts
• Avoid walking barefoot, except on sandy beaches
• Change your shoes and socks daily
• Constantly check your children's feet
• Keep your feet clean and dry

For more information on foot warts in the Gainesville, VA area call Prince William Foot & Ankle Center at (703) 753 3338 today!

Find out the best ways to handle an injured foot so you can get back on your feet quickly.

Most people at some point during their lifetime will have to face a foot injury of some kind. Regardless of the situation or magnitude, it’s important that everyone is able to get the proper foot care they deserve, and our Gainesville, VA, podiatrist Dr. Mukesh Bhakta is here to provide it. Are you dealing with any of these common foot injuries?

Strains and Sprains

Strains and sprains are commonplace within the world of sports. Most athletes, at some point in time, will deal with strained or sprained muscles, ligaments or other soft tissue within the feet.

Treatment options: Most minor or moderate strains and sprains can be treated through the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Of course, if you are dealing with a more severe sprain then our Gainesville, VA, podiatry physician will determine whether you may require a cast or boot to protect the foot or ankle from additional wear and tear.

Fractures

Stress fractures are a pretty common injury, particularly for runners. As you can imagine, if you don’t have the proper technique or if there is an imbalance within the structure of the foot, pounding the pavement could lead to these stress fractures.

Treatment options: Luckily, in most cases, a stress fracture will heal by itself if you rest and treat your feet with care. Nix running or participating in any other high-impact activities until the fracture has completely healed. Only wear supportive footwear or talk to us about whether a protective boot could also provide better protection and coverage to help your foot heal faster.

Plantar fasciitis

This is one of the common causes of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis leads to inflammation within the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that runs under the foot from the heel to the toes. If your heel pain is worse in the morning but eases up throughout the day then you could be dealing with a bout of plantar fasciitis.

Treatment options: Most treatment options are simple, everyday measures you can take to ease symptoms under the plantar fascia heals. Everything from stretching your feet and legs and icing your heel to wearing supportive footwear and avoiding high-impact activities can help speed up your recovery time.

If you aren’t experiencing the relief you need from your injury or if your symptoms are getting worse, it’s necessary that you get the answers you need to get your health back on track. Call Prince William Foot & Ankle Center in Gainesville, VA, today.

Chronic heel pain is one of the most common foot and ankle problems. While a little pain and stiffness from time to time can be normal, persistent pain is typically a sign of an injury or orthopedic problem like plantar fasciitis. Dr. Mukesh Bhakta, a podiatrist in Gainesville, VA, recommends scheduling an appointment if you are experiencing chronic pain.

Heel Pain Treatment in Gainesville, VA

There are two types of heel pain: under the heel, and just behind the heel. One of the most common causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, which causes pain under the heel due to strain or inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tendon that runs the length of the foot from the heel bone to the base of the toes. Another common source of heel pain is Achilles tendonitis, which causes pain behind the heel due to strain or an injury of the Achilles tendon.

What Causes Heel Pain?

According to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, heel pain is the most common podiatric complaint, and can result from a number of causes. Everything from the normal wear and tear of walking or exercising on hard surfaces, to wearing shoes with inadequate support can put strain on the bones and joints of your feet and ankles, making them more susceptible to pain and injuries.

Because foot and ankle injuries are very difficult to self diagnose, you should schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for persistent pain (lasts for several weeks, or clears up and returns). Depending on the severity and underlying cause of your heel pain, conservative treatments are usually successful in relieving heel pain. If you have low arches/flat feet, your podiatrist may recommend orthotics to help keep your feet in proper alignment and to prevent excessive strain on your feet and ankles.

Find a Podiatrist in Gainesville, VA

Don't wait for your heel pain to become debilitating. For more information about plantar fasciitis and other causes and treatment options for foot and ankle pain, contact Prince William Foot & Ankle Center by calling 703-753-3338 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bhakta today.