PinPointe FootLaser
Family Foot Care is pleased to announce that we are now a proud certified provider of PinPointe, a leader in podiatric light based therapy and creators of the PinPointe FootLaser intended for use for the temporary increase of clear nails in patients with onychomycosis, or nail fungus. PinPointe FootLaser is the first & currently the only laser to receive clearance from the U.S. FDA to treat the symptoms of patients suffering from onychomycosis, and Family Foot Care is the only practice in Whatcom & Skagit Counties to offer this clinically proven treatment.
Fungal infection is estimated to affect more than 10% of the U.S. population, or 35 million Americans. The PinPointe FootLaser is designed specifically to meet the needs of the podiatric community. PinPointe FootLaser typically requires only a 30 minute treatment performed in the comfort & privacy of our office. Nail fungus, Onychomycosis, is an embarrassing chronic condition that impacts a person's quality of life and can lead to other health problems for patients with diabetes, poor ciculation or immune disorders. The treatment of nail infection is difficult because the infection is under & inside of the nail, which makes it hard for other treatments to reach & destroy the fungal organisms. treatments such as medicated liquids/creams or oral medications may be associated with side effects or serious drug interactions. Home remedies such as bleach, vinegar, Vicks Vapor Rub, mouthwash or household cleaners to resolve the problem are often tried but ultimately fail to resolve it. After a single treatment, between 78-88% of patients experienced an increase in clear nails at 6 and 12 months, and 81% of all patients sustained improvements at 12 months. If you would like to more about our exciting new treatment for toenail fungus or would like to make an appointment, please call us at (360) 738-9797.
Ulcers are skin wounds that are slow to heal. In the foot, as prominent metatarsal heads on the plantar (bottom of the foot)are subjected to increased pressure, the skin begins to become callused. When subjected to shearing forces, there is a separation between the layers on this callused skin, which fills with fluid and becomes contaminated and infected. The result is a foot ulcer.
Ulcers are classified in four stages, according to how deeply they penetrate the layers of skin they have broken through.
The four stages of ulcers are:
- Stage 1—Characterized by reddening wounds over bony areas. The redness on the skin does not go away when pressure is relieved.
- Stage 2—Characterized by blisters, peeling, or cracked skin. There is a partial thickness skin loss involving the top two layers of the skin.
- Stage 3—Characterized by broken skin and sometimes bloody drainage. There is a full thickness skin loss involving subcutaneous tissue (the tissue between the skin and the muscle.)
- Stage 4—Characterized by breaks in the skin involving skin, muscle, tendon, and bone and are often associated with a bone infection (osteomyelitis).
The are also four major cause of foot ulcers:
- Neuropathic—Related to the nerves and characterized by a loss of sensation in the feet.
- Arterial—Related to poor blood circulation to the lower extremity. This type of ulcer can be very painful and is usually found on the tips of toes, lower legs, ankle, heel, and top of the foot. It can very easily become infected.
- Venous—Related to compromised veins. These ulcers are often seen around the inside of the ankle and are slow to heal.
- Decubitus—Derived from excessive and prolonged pressure on one area of the foot. The most common type of decubitus ulcer of the feet is bed sores on the backs of the heels of people confined to bed for long periods of time.
Foot ulcers are a common problem for diabetics. Contact casts are sometimes applied to the diabetic foot to relieve the bony prominent areas of pressure, allowing ulcers to heal.