At Lansdowne Podiatry we are always encouraging patients to remember that your feet support your whole body. Taking good care of them now will ensure many years living the active life you love. In honor of National Foot Health Awareness Month, here are a few suggestions for improving your podiatric health:

1. Know your feet. Be proactive in preventing foot issues from occurring. If you tend to sweat excessively (creating an atmosphere that bacterial and fungal infections thrive in), use a foot powder and change your socks frequently. If the skin on your feet tends to be dry, moisturize daily to prevent cracks from forming, which can lead to infection. Knowing foot conditions that tend to run in your family, such as bunions or arthritis, can also be helpful information for your podiatrist to help diagnose foot problems.
2. Develop healthy foot habits. Your feet should be washed daily with a mild soap and dried completely (especially between the toes). Never share socks, footwear or pedicure tools with others.
3. Choose the right shoes. It makes sense that what you put on your feet has a lot to do with their health and well being. Always buy shoes that fit properly (there’s no such thing as a breaking in period). Avoid shoes with overly high heels or ones with narrow toe boxes that squeeze your toes and forefeet. Wear shoes designed for your specific sport or activity.
4. Practice self-checks. Examine your feet for changes in appearance, skin or nail color, temperature, bruising, lumps or other abnormalities. There are some illnesses that can first be detected by changes in your feet.
5. Don’t ignore pain. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Putting off getting your foot or ankle examined when in pain almost always leads to worse disability with more intense treatment and longer recovery time. Our board qualified podiatrist, Monique Renee Rolle will diagnose and treat your foot problem before it becomes unmanageable.

If you have any concerns about your feet, make an appointment at our Leesburg office by calling: (571) 223-0424.