elderly foot care – Anderson Podiatry Center

Swollen Legs and Edema: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Explained

Posted on January 20, 2025June 27, 2025 by admin

If you note swelling in the lower extremity, the swelling is commonly called edema. Edema is a problem that can be seen in any body part including the abdomen, and arms but it is most common in the feet and lower extremities. Edema in the legs simply means the accumulation of fluid in the body’s tissues. There can be multiple causes and the older you get, the more likely you may experience edema in the lower extremity. It is more common over the age of 65.

What are the symptoms of edema in legs?

Tightness or uncomfortable feelings – Because of the pressure of the swelling in the legs, they may feel heavy and may cause dull pain.
Difficulty with walking – The swelling may be significant enough that the heaviness of the edema may increase the weight in the limb and make moving the joints more difficult. Walking may be more difficult because in the legs, and ankles, there may be increased weight from the fluid accumulation in the legs or in the feet and ankles and reduction of motion in the joints.
Dermatological – The skin may become more stretched and pitted which means when you press on the skin an indentation may remain for a period of seconds. Also, for patients whose swelling is from varicose veins, a dermatological called stasis dermatitis may occur causing a brownish discoloration and itching on the skin.
Location – Edema does not tend to be in a small swollen area but rather over a larger region.

What causes edema in legs?

The causes of edema can be multiple and can be related to various medical conditions.

Salt intake – Having too much salt in your diet can cause retention of fluid in the body and this can lead to fluid buildup in the lower extremity.
Venous disorders – The veins are blood vessels that return blood to the heart after it has traveled to the lower extremity via the arteries. People may have had deep vein thrombosis which is a medical term for blood clot. Afterwards, they may have edema in the lower extremity. During a blood clot, swelling may be an early warning sign that it is occurring and if chest pain is associated with this, consider it a medical emergency and seek immediate treatment.
Heart failure– Patients with heart failure are also more likely to have edema in the lower extremity and can be an early warning sign of this condition.
Kidney disease – Kidney disease can also be a cause of edema and may be an early indicator that you may have this problem. If you have swelling in your legs and feet and this is accompanied with difficulty breathing, it would be important to consider kidney disease, call 911.
Lymph nodes – Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system and may facilitate drainage from the lower extremity. Some may suffer from lymphedema which causes generalized swelling of both legs in the lower extremity, and it can make walking difficult, and it may cause tightness in the lower legs.
Medication – The side effects of some medications can cause swelling, and this can include medications for high blood pressure, estrogen, and testosterone medications, some medications that treat nerve pain, and diabetic medication.

Treatment

Treatment options for edema in legs include the following:

Monitor your salt intake. If the swelling is mild and you believe you have too much salt intake, one of the first steps is to lower your salt intake in your diet.
Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time and instead consider walking or elevating your legs when you’re sitting.’
Wear a support hose. Support hose can typically be purchased over the counter and create compression on the limb that will help reduce the swelling. It is important to put this on early in the morning before you walk and when your edema is at its lowest.
Treatment of related medical conditions. When the edema is chronic and more severe, it is very important that you see a healthcare provider to rule out problems such as heart failure, pulmonary (lung) problems, kidney disorders, and problems in the circulatory system including the veins and the lymphatic channels.

Treating the cause of the problem

Once the potential cause of the problem is addressed, sometimes medications to control high blood pressure as an example or surgical procedures to address problems such as varicose veins or lymphedema, the swelling may be improved.

The information in this blog should offer you important information regarding the edema in legs that you might be experiencing. One of the biggest takeaways is that edema can be the first warning sign that you are starting to experience a serious issue such as heart or kidney problems. You should not forget that swelling in the legs accompanied with difficulty breathing should be considered as a medical emergency and can be a sign of a blood clot. A quick emergency evaluation is important. Finally, if your symptoms are more chronic and severe, always err on the side of seeking medical attention.

Swollen, heavy legs from edema? Our specialists offer advanced treatments to reduce discomfort and improve circulation.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Do You Have Stinky, Itchy Feet? You May Have Pitted Keratolysis

Posted on December 2, 2024June 27, 2025 by admin

If you have feet that are very itchy and have a bad odor, chances are you might have pitted keratolysis, also known as keratolysis plantare sulcatum. The foot is an area that can perspire quite a bit and might put you at risk of acquiring pitted keratolysis. Topical antibiotics are frequently part of the treatment option that a podiatrist may suggest to get rid of this disorder.

Who is affected by pitted keratolysis?

It tends to be more common among men.
Feet that perspire too much (hyperhidrosis).
People that live in warm, humid climates.
People that are on their feet working in hot climates.
How do I know if I have Pitted Keratolysis?

Location

Typically, the skin disorder will present on the soles of the foot, the pressure-bearing plantar surface areas. These weight-bearing areas including the ball of the foot is where a lot of perspiration takes place and may be where most of the bacteria may preside. The condition may also be in the web spaces in between the toes. An odor will be present. The unpleasant foot odor associated with pitted keratolysis is from sulfur compounds produced by bacteria.

Appearance

It usually presents as a white patch on the skin that is lighter than your natural skin color and will have pits that look like small holes or indentations in those locations. Oftentimes these small holes (pits) will cluster together and may cause a sore. Because of the clustering of the pits, it may be referred to as ringed keratolysis. There will also be an itchiness in the skin that is affected.

Bacteria that cause pitted keratolysis

The most common bacteria that cause pitted keratolysis are:

Dermatophilus congolensis
Kytococcus sedentarius
Streptomyces
Corynebacteria
Trichomycosis axillaris presents in the armpits and is caused by corynebacteria. The armpits, much like the feet, are warm, moist areas and the corynebacteria can cause both conditions.
Actinomyces

The one thing all these bacteria have in common is they like to breed in warm, moist conditions. The bacteria will then proliferate and produce an enzyme. These bacteria also have a protease enzyme that can destroy skin cells going down into a layer of the skin called the stratum corneum, also known as the horney layer.

How is the diagnosis made?

The presentation of pitted keratolysis will help to put this skin condition in a differential diagnosis that may include other dermatological conditions by doing a culture test, taking a swab of the skin or scraping a small amount of the infected skin. The podiatrist can assess if one of the bacteria that causes these disorders is present in the culture. A small skin biopsy can also be done where a small skin tissue can be looked at with a microscope. Another means of diagnosing pitted keratolysis is using coral red fluorescence. Under a Wood Lamp, the corynebacteria will show coral red fluorescence.

Differential Diagnosis of athlete’s foot and pitted keratolysis

Athlete’s foot is a very common foot complaint and more common than pitted keratolysis. Patients may think they have athlete’s foot but the difference between the two is pitted keratolysis is a bacterial infection whereas athlete’s foot is from a fungal infection. Both can cause itching, and both are present on the bottom of the feet. Pitted keratolysis has a different appearance than athlete’s foot as it has pitting on the skin while athlete’s foot has scaling of the skin. Also, pitted keratolysis causes a significant odor whereas athlete’s foot usually does not.

What you can do at home?

If you believe you have pitted keratolysis, it is important to wear shoes and socks to breathe. This will allow the reduction of perspiration that will stay on your skin. You may also want to consider antiperspirants that you can buy over the counter if you sweat a lot. Washing your hands and feet when you remove your shoes and socks should be done, and you can also change your shoes and socks when they get wet.

Home treatments may include essential oils such as tea tree oil and also soak your feet in a diluted mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. The ratio should be 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 3 part water and the soak should last for a couple of minutes.

What treatment options would your podiatrist suggest?

Topical Antibiotics

After doing appropriate testing to identify which bacteria is affecting your skin, there are several topical antibiotics that can be placed on the skin as part of the treatment of pitted keratolysis and this includes topicals that can contain erythromycin, clindamycin, mupirocin, or fusidic acid.

Antiseptics

Benzoyl peroxide comes in a gel or cream form and can also be applied to the skin to help fight the skin infection.

Injections

Botulinum toxin injections can be used and are injected locally in the area of the skin condition when the pitted keratolysis does not respond to the other treatments.

Treating Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating refers to hyperhidrosis and your podiatrist may prescribe antiperspirants so that the condition does not return.

When should I see my podiatrist?

If you have done the suggested home and the problem persists, you should seek treatment from your foot specialist. This diagnosis can be difficult to treat and for many, this is a dermatological condition where you would likely need the help of a healthcare professional to address it.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

If You’re A Senior, What You Should Know About Elderly Foot Care. 8 Tips!

Posted on March 7, 2023July 12, 2025 by admin

Eight Elderly Foot Care Tips

Your feet are complicated. They are comprised of one-fourth of all the bones in your body. The demand that we put on them throughout a lifetime is enormous. Some would call the foot an engineering feat. By the time you are a senior, many hours have been spent on your feet. They have been built to absorb shock for your body weight, they are asked to propel your body weight forward. Finally they also do a great job of allowing you to balance the weight and prevent you from falling. In general routines for healthcare seem to ignore the feet until one is presented with foot pain. Especially in older people, eventually our feet may begin to wear down. If you’re an older adult, you may be blessed with a good foot type. This may help you avoid a lot of the foot problems others may have. What foot type you’ve had throughout your life may be a prognosticator as to how well your feet hold up. A severe flatfoot for instance may cause more issues in an adult than a foot with a normal arch. Below I’ve listed 8 tips for proper elderly foot care that you may not be aware of.

Fungal nail. Often toenails will become yellow and thicken as we age. An additional risk of an ingrown nail may then occur. To avoid this, make sure not to wear shoes all the time. It’s good to let your feet air out while at home as moisture makes for a good breeding ground for fungus. At early stages over the counter anti-fungal topicals may be used. We have also had great success with using lasers to destroy the fungus for the past 15 years. Corinna opted for laser toenail treatment to cure her toenail fungus. See her testimonial video below.
Heel pain is commonly referred to as plantar fasciitis. This occurs on the bottom of the heel and is caused by the fascia pulling from the heel where it attaches. By using more supportive shoes that support the foot and do not allow the fascia to pull as hard you may get relief. Also, calf stretching may be useful, especially in the early stages. Wo often uses custom-made arch supports called orthotics to eliminate the pain. We have also had great success with the use of human cellular tissue products, placenta cells, or umbilical cord, which when injected into the area, assist in repairing the tissues. Ray is running again after dealing with heel pain. Watch as he explains his recovery in our testimonial video below.
Ingrown nails. This occurs frequently and may be avoided by taking care not to dig down into the corner of your toenails. Often, we recommend removing the offending edge or edges of the nail by removing them and then applying a chemical that kills the nail cells, so the nail border does not regrow. This is done in the office, and you can usually resume normal activities the next day.
Bunions—A bunion deformity is a result of the first toe being angled towards the second toe. This then creates a prominence by the inside of the great toe that will become painful and rub shoes. When wearing shoes, it’s important to avoid high heels. Sometimes orthotics may also be helpful. Finally, surgery may also be considered and there approaches we use in the senior population require less risk and layup that can be considered. This senior foot care solution is important, because as we age dealing with improper balance can be a compounding problem for daily activities. Our testimonial video by Kari shows how we resolved her bunion issues on both feet below and she explains how the surgery went, including her recovery period.
Neuropathy– Many will suffer from burning tingling and numbness in the feet as they get older, especially on the bottom of their feet. This may be related to diabetes but may occur without diabetes. Make sure to exercise and avoid sugars and carbohydrates and help. We offer surgical procedures that can reverse your symptoms if they are severe and non-surgical options. See Chris explain his foot numbness in our testimonial video below.
Check your feet regularly– This is especially true if you are a diabetic. Diabetics may have poor circulation and neuropathy in diabetics often leads to a reduction of sensation. With a lack of feeling a callous or ingrown nail which would normally be painful may go undetected putting you at more risk of infection. So, either you or someone else should do a quick foot check regularly. Wearing closed shoes and cotton shoes is also recommended to protect your feet.
Osteoarthritis. The wear and tear of a lifetime on your feet can lead to damaged joints and osteoarthritis. For many, the idea of anti-inflammatories comes to mind as a treatment. It’s this doctor’s opinion as this is a poor choice and these drugs are Band-Aids and truly do not address the issue. There is evidence that long-term usage accelerates the arthritic condition and can complicate an elderly foot care routine. For many, the option of custom-made inserts may help with painful joints by reducing the stress on the joints. For over a decade, we have also found the use of restorative medicine by using the placenta or umbilical cord has helped many avoid surgery. Finally, if surgery to replace an ankle joint with an implant or have a joint fusion to reduce pain has been advised we offer joint denervation surgery which is much less risky and requires far less layup time. It’s something many have chosen to consider. See our testimonial video on Steve after his surgery below.
Be healthy- sleep well, eat well, and exercise. These three things that are good for you, in general, are also good for your feet. Sleeping well is the most important thing you can do for your health and to keep your weight down. When it comes to eating, avoid processed foods of all types and minimize sugar and carbohydrates as this may cause inflammation in your body. Finally, exercise with be good for your mind and improve your circulation in the feet. Another tip would be to consider intermittent fasting as part of your overall health regime. See our video by Dr. Anderson on intermittent fasting below and the benefits.

In conclusion, it’s not normal for your feet to hurt. You must consider these elderly foot care tips for better foot health in seniors. If you’re having problems don’t assume it’s your shoes as it can be something more significant and early intervention often is the wiser choice. Contact us or visit our Fort Collins clinic to see a podiatrist near you.