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CELLEX-C SERUM TOPICAL ANTI-OXIDANTS AESTHETICA-C MAGIC DROPS FIRMER C'ESTA SERUM DERMAL-K " or SUN BLOCK SPF-50 OSMETIC VIE-C PATCHES PYCNOGENOL SERUM RETINA POUNDING page 75 Too-narrow athletic shoes are one threat, and too-wide shoes tend to cause blisters, and raise the risk for strains and sprains. Too-short shoes bruise and black- en toenails. Jude Timlin, personal trainer at Power House Gym in West Bloomfield, advises his clients to be sports specific when purchas- ing athletic shoes. "I see too many people wearing the shoes they play tennis in when they go to the store, work out and maybe even for rurming," says Mr. Timlin. "Those shoes were only made for tennis or for walking or for running and using them for some other activity is just asking for trouble. "I also tell clients to get new running shoes every 500 miles or a new pair every season. Those shoes seldom wear out on the soles, but they lose their ability to absorb shock and for bracing the ankles after so many miles. The spring is always a good time to get new running shoes, especially if you've been running with them in the snow and slush in the winter." Although many people expe- rience foot problems of some de- gree, very few seek medical treatment because they mistak- enly believe that discomfort and pain are normal. One runner's foot and ankle were swollen for weeks after stumbling in a pot hole. "When it got to the point where it was too painful to play tennis, let alone run, I finally went to a doctor who told me I had really strained my Achilles tendon and had Achilles tendinitis," says Susie Sillman of Birmingham. "He told me to forget running and tennis for a couple of months. I'm on medication and it's im- proving. I'm glad I went to get it checked out because I'll be in good shape when the good weather gets here." Farmington Hills podiatrist Dr. Mitchell Wayne says, "Feet are barometers of a person's health because they are often the first place circulatory disorders, dia- betes, arthritis, and other sys- Common Problems Knowing what to do with the more common foot problems will let you enjoy more summer fun. If conditions persist, and before you turn a minor problem into a major problem, see your podia- trist. • Athlete's foot is a skin disease that starts between the toes and can spread to other parts of the foot and body. It is caused by a fungus which likes warm and dark places. Prevent infection by washing feet daily in soap and water and drying carefully, especially between the toes. Change shoes and hose regu- larly. Use foot powder. temic diseases are detected. `To keep feet healthy, we need to be familiar with the more com- mon foot problems because some- thing that could be treated by a patient as a minor problem can turn into a major problem if there's no treatment. If someone is diabetic, it's particularly im- portant they take care of their feet because they're more likely to de- velop serious infections and com- plications because of nerve damage and reduced flow of blood to the feet. "I also feel it's important to tell my patients that if they do go to a manicurist or a pedicurist they should be careful about how the instruments are sterilized," says Dr. Wayne. "Its not enough to have instruments placed in a cold sterile solution these days; they need to be autoclaved." Many of the common foot prob- lems are due to corns and callus- es — thickened and hardened patches of dead skin cells, typi- cally resulting from constant rub- bing of a part of the foot against a shoe. Corns usually develop on the toes, while calluses occur on the soles. Often corns and calluses lie dor- mant in the winter when there's little outdoor activity and then bloom in the spring causing all sorts of pain and discomfort, often curtailing the same activities that caused the problems in the first place. Sometimes a problem corn can be removed with over-the-counter remedies or pressure from a shoe can be relieved with a pad. The same procedures hold true for cal- luses. Another remedy is warm-wa- ter soaks to soften corns and cal- luses so that gentle rubbing with a pumice stone or callus file re- moves the dead tissue. In some cases, a podiatrist will use a scalpel or other sharp instrument to thin a corn or callus. "If everyone paid attention to the normal hygiene that is re- quired for feet and periodically vi- sa check their feet for hot spots in their early stages, then many • Blisters are caused by skin fric- tion and moisture, often from rubbing in poorly fitted shoes. If the blister is large, it may be ap- propriate to pierce it with a ster- ile needle and drain the fluid. For smaller blisters, apply an antiseptic and cover with mole- skin. • Corns and calluses are pro- tective layers of compacted dead cells. They are caused by friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas. Corns nor- mally appear on the toes and cal- luses on the soles of the feet. • Foot odor usually results from perspiration. Wash feet daily and change your shoes. Use de- odorizing foot powders.