Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC

Calluses are thick patches of skin that develop on your feet when there is excessive friction and pressure applied. Calluses can become a problem if they are not managed properly. Our doctors at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry encourages wants our patients to visit us if you notice signs any calluses forming. We advise our patients to always wear shoes when they’re outdoors to avoid developing calluses on your feet. Since there are many rough surfaces outdoors, your feet creates calluses that crack and make it painful to walk and wear shoes. To help manage your calluses you can use a variety of products available at the store including foot soaks, pumice stones, and files. Other ways to manage calluses include moisturizing, exfoliation, and pedicures. Remember to wear shoes outdoors and take extra precautions to prevent calluses from developing. Mercer-Ocean Podiatry is located in two locations in NJ. Our Mercerville, NJ office can be contacted at 609-585-3200. The Tom River, NJ office is availa...

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...

A corn on the foot is a hard patch of skin that may appear flaky and dry. They consist of thickenings in the skin in areas where constant pressure is being placed on the foot. Corns can be annoying and painful and will occur on parts of the feet and sometimes the fingers. They often develop due to friction caused by tight shoes.  If you notice thickening of the skin on your feet that becomes painful and a nuisance, Dr. Frank Killian of Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC, can treat the problem. You may have a corn or a callus if you notice a thick, rough area of skin located on the foot, a hardened, raised, bump, or tenderness and pain under the skin. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, the chances of developing corns and calluses increase. To treat corns, Dr. Frank Killian may suggest trimming away excess skin, callus-removing medication, or shoe inserts.   If you have questions or concerns regarding foot conditions, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the...

Calluses can develop anywhere that there is repeated friction. However, the common callus usually occurs when there’s been a lot of rubbing against the hands or feet. Calluses are rarely painful and typically develop on the soles of your feet, especially under the heels or balls, on your palms, or on your knees. If a callus on the foot becomes very painful or inflamed, visit Dr. Frank Killian of Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC to get the issue under control. Pressure and friction from repetitive actions cause calluses to develop and grow. Some sources of this pressure and friction include wearing ill-fitting shoes, wearing shoes and sandals without socks, or by wearing socks that don’t fit properly. At Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC, a callus is diagnosed upon examination and simple over-the-counter treatments may be recommended. In severe cases, calluses may require regular shaving to keep them from becoming too large. While treatment for calluses is not always necessary, it may provide you with...