Discover When You Might Need To Visit A Podiatrist

Podiatry care is the medical care of your feet. The podiatrist is a doctor that specializes in all things related to foot care and treatment of various issues that can happen to someone's feet. Even if you have never needed podiatry care in the past, you never know when you might need it. A good way to know when you should call to schedule an appointment for podiatry care, you will want to read through the following issues that you could face one day:

Athlete's Foot That Keeps Coming Back

A simple case of athlete's foot can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications and treatments found at your local pharmacy or drug store. However, if you ever find yourself dealing with a serious case of athlete's foot that won't go away or that keeps coming back, it is time to seek help from a podiatrist. They can examine your feet and prescribe cream treatments that will clear it up in no time at all.

You Have A Diagnosis Of Diabetes

Whether you have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you will want to make sure that you are making a yearly trip to the podiatrist so they can examine the condition of your feet. Those with diabetes are much more susceptible to developing infections in their feet, nerve damage, and ulcers. You want to make sure that any such issues are dealt with as soon as possible so treatment can be started.

You Have A Severe Ingrown Toenail

Ingrown toenails can be incredibly painful. Some people find that even just having a bed sheet lay across their toe causes an intense amount of pain. You could try to remove the ingrown toenail on your own, but it might not be worth it because of the amount of discomfort you would experience. There would also be the risk of accidentally making the problem worse and causing an infection. For reoccurring ingrown toenails, the podiatrist may need to surgically remove the ingrown section and narrow the width of your toenail so it does not keep coming back.

Depending on your medical insurance coverage, you might not be able to self-refer to a podiatrist. You might need to first make an appointment with your primary care doctor, who will give you an official referral to a podiatrist. You might also need prior authorization from your insurance company. A quick phone call to your insurance company can help you sort out how you can get a podiatry appointment set up. 

Contact your doctor for more information about podiatry care.