Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC

Dry skin is common, especially with old age and during the cold months. No matter how common, though, steps should still be taken to replenish moisture in your skin. Skin that is left severely dry can become itchy and scaly, which are signs that your xerosis has progressed into pruritus. We at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC in New Jersey take pride in educating our patients about proper foot care. We want all of our patients feeling the best they can! While xerosis is a minor and temporary problem that does not normally require medical attention, if severe enough, it causes significant discomfort. Some symptoms include skin that is dry, itchy, scaly, tight (especially after a shower), white, flakey, irritated, or finely cracked. You should immediately see your doctor if you find that your skin is oozing or peeling, or if your skin worsens or develops a ring-shaped rash. Preventing xerosis is quite simple, though sometimes inevitable for those over sixty-five. At that point, you can reduce t...

Dry skin on your feet can make you feel self-conscious and embarrassed. You don’t have to be with the proper treatment. At Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC, Drs. Frank Killian and Sameep Chandrani offer top-tier podiatric treatment. Dry skin puts you at risk for contracting viruses and infections. Preventive care is of utmost importance. Visit our offices in Hamilton Township and Toms River to learn more.   It’s simple enough to diagnose and treat dry skin. The main symptoms are itchiness, red or flaky patches, and peeled/cracked areas. Certain fungal infections present similar symptoms. Your Hamilton Township and Toms River podiatrist will easily distinguish the two. One of these similar conditions is Athlete’s foot. Check around your toes for any blisters. This is a key sign of a fungal infection.   At your appointment with Drs. Killian or Chandrani, your feet are examined. Talk to your podiatrist about any past medical problems, especially any foot-related ones. There are certain risk fact...

If you have cracked heels you want to heal, Mercer-Ocean Podiatry is here to help. The skin on heels is thick, but if it splits, it could be more than just a cosmetic issue. If a crack goes deep enough, it may hurt the patient or become home to an infection. Cracked heels are the result of chafing or dry skin. Chafing could be due to a bad shoe fit and may be helped with orthotics. But dry skin could be due to both the environment and the patient’s lifestyle. While a lack of moisture in the air dries out the skin (making cracked heels common in the winter and summer), so does keeping the feet submerged in water. People who take long, hot baths and showers are especially at risk for cracked heels. If a patient has extensive dead skin, we can cut it away safely. It is especially recommended that patients visit us for help with cracked heels if they have peripheral neuropathy, which may prevent them from feeling a problem that is more than skin-deep. Preventing the return of cracked heels...