Don’t Be Scared of Podiatric Conditions

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we find that often patients put off visiting our Upper West Side office for foot problems because they are afraid of what treatment will entail. More times than not, podiatric disorders can be healed with minimal discomfort. In fact, most patients wish they’d come in sooner. At Halloween, we want to tell patients to save their fear for the horror movies and don’t let it impact your decision to come in to get the following podiatric problems evaluated.

Ingrown Toenail—this very painful condition occurs when a corner of the nail grows into the skin around the toe causing inflammation and swelling. Left untreated, infection can occur where the nail punctures the skin. One of our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia will gently numb the toe and then remove the offending corner of the nail. If an ingrown nail is a chronic problem, the root of the nail can also be removed permanently in a simple in-office procedure to prevent that part of the nail from re-growing. You will go home in way less pain than when you arrived.

Ganglion Cyst—a lump that suddenly appears on the top of your foot can be alarming, but a ganglion cyst is among the most common benign, soft-tissue masses. It consists of a sac filled with a jelly type fluid that forms a knot-like mass under your skin. In many cases, if the cyst is not causing you any pain or discomfort, no immediate treatment may be necessary, and it may shrink or disappear all on its own. It’s always best, however, to get any lumps or growths on your foot checked promptly.

Tinea pedis—no it’s not some kind of plague, just a fancy name for athlete’s foot. This incredibly itchy, red, scaly rash is actually a fungal infection, most likely caught because your bare feet came in contact with the fungi directly either by walking someplace where an infected person was or by sharing items that touched an infected person’s feet. The foot doctor can treat the infection and advise you on how to prevent it in the future.

Don’t ever be scared of coming to visit the podiatrist! If you have questions or concerns, contact us by calling: (212) 877-1002.