We escaped winter without a scratch and now we’re ready for warmer weather, flip flops, and more sunny days ahead. All of this sounds amazing-that is, unless you suffer from toenail fungus.

1 in 4 Marylanders suffer from toenail fungus. Whether you are hesitant or embarrassed to see a podiatrist, or feel like you have tried everything to get rid of that yellow, flaky nail, now is the time for a change. Don’t wait until you’re slipping on those flip flops for the first time to realize you just can’t spend another summer with toenail fungus.

How do I know it’s toenail fungus?
The first symptom you may discover is a small white or yellow spot that will appear on the nail. The small spot is often hard to notice, but could be the beginning signs of a fungal infection. This spot will slowly become larger, and the toenail may become discolored, or dull around the edges. If you notice a dark brown or black discoloration, this is not a classic symptom, and is often a sign of severe infection.
The main, classic symptom of toenail fungus is thickening of the nail and a yellow discolored appearance. This may also cause flaking of the nail or abnormal growth. The only definite way to confirm a toenail fungal infection is to seek medical advice from your podiatrist. The 3 most common places patients often contract toenail fungus are public showers/gym locker rooms, nail salons, and from borrowing or sharing shoes.

Treatment Options

Topical Creams: There are many home remedy solutions and also readily available creams that claim to be effective. Studies have shown little effectiveness with creams that carry burdening long-term use and often times, a mess!

Oral Medication: There are a few prescription medications that can be taken orally that make their way into your bloodstream and deliver the medication underneath the nail. This has been shown to be less effective and could cause some serious side effects.

Surgery: When it comes to cost effectiveness, this may be your last option. Also, recovery time is a huge factor (you use your toes more than you think!)

PinPointe Footlaser: Virtually painless, 30 minute procedure with higher effectiveness than other treatment options. Designed to leave the nail itself unaffected, the Pinpointe Footlaser targets only the fungus. The laser passes through the nail, preventing any damage to the nail surface or the adjacent skin. Once the fungus has been treated, a healthy, clear toenail will start to grow, replacing the infected toenail(s).

Your Treatment
Did you spend last summer embarrassed by your toes? Have you been saying you will face the battle next year, or maybe not realizing it was toenail fungus until now? Whatever the case, now is the perfect time to treat your unsightly toenail fungus. Don’t hesitate to read more about the Pinpointe Footlaser on our FAQ page. Also, take a look at what others had to say about their experience. When you decide it is time to finally get rid of your toenail fungus, give Dr. Mark Spier a call! He is the exclusive area provider of the Pinpointe Footlaser and is only one phone call away.

The most common foot injuries that can sideline your training are due to quick or improper warm-up, overuse, intense workouts, improper footwear, or transferring your training to very hard surfaces. Luckily, there are treatments for the injuries listed above that can have you back on your feet, ready to run your race.

Proper training and preparation for a race is vital to helping you reach your goal, injury-free. Don’t set yourself back and end up on the injured-reserve list. If you have questions about a foot injury, prevention tips, or treatment options, please don’t hesitate to call our office.

Dr. Mark Spier.

What Causes An Ingrown Nail

• Tight shoes or high heels that push the toenail forward into the edge of the shoe, causing pressure on the nail and abnormal growth.
• Trimming your nails, if done improperly, can cause the nail to dig into the corners of your skin. Always trim straight across, not rounded.
• Toenail fungus, or other fungal infections, that cause the toenail to grow thicker or wider.
• Injury, repetitive damage, or trauma to the nail.
• Heredity. Some nails are naturally more rounded than others and are more susceptible to developing ingrown nails.

Symptoms

• The end of your toe may look red and could be painful with mild swelling. There is a possibility that it may feel warm to the touch as well.
• After you observe the above symptoms you will notice an extra layer of skin/tissue growing around a sharp point in the nail. You may experience a yellow liquid. This is not always an infection but should be watched closely.
• An ingrown nail could cause an infection, where the swelling would become much worse and you may observe yellow or white tinted fluid. Although unusual, you may develop a fever, in which case you should see your podiatrist.

Home Remedies
Early in the stages of your ingrown toenail symptoms, you have the opportunity to be successful in preventing a doctor visit or surgery by appropriately taking care of your ingrown nail. Here are some tips you can try at home:

• Soak your foot in warm water four times a day. There is no need to add soap or other products.
• Wash the infected area twice a day with soap and water. Make sure to keep clean and dry for the rest of the day.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting shoes or high heels. Wearing sandals is your best option, if possible.
• If there is no improvement within three days, it is important to call your podiatrist.

Proper Prevention

• Wear proper-fitting shoes.
• Keep feet clean and dry.
• Trim nails straight across and keep the nail longer than the skin edge, making sure not to cut too short.

When To See A Podiatrist
If there is no sign of infection, home remedies are most likely your best option. If you don’t experience signs of improvement within three days of trying home remedies or you develop a fever, you should seek treatment with a podiatrist.

When you come in for your appointment, you will be evaluated based on the stage of your ingrown nail and whether or not you have tried any of the above remedies at home. There are several options when treating an ingrown toenail based on the severity and condition of the nail. Extra tissue may be removed, or your nail may be filed down to try and alter the shape of your nail for future growth. Surgery may be required, but this must be evaluated by your doctor based on pain level, cause, circumstances, and medical history.

It is important to monitor foot health at all times, especially potential infected areas and the causes surrounding nail complications. This is significantly important to those with diabetes and other foot related health concerns. Questions? Don’t hesitate to call Dr. Mark Spier with any questions or concerns, or to schedule an appointment. Don’t let your ingrown nail slow you down this spring!

Toenail fungus can be embarrassing and hard to get rid of. Yes, proper prevention is the ultimate goal, but just like a cold, when you catch it, it’s too late. Now, you have toenail fungus, but how did you get it? More importantly, how do you get rid of it and make sure it doesn’t come back?

Although the actual source of toenail fungus is difficult to identify, exposure to warm, damp places increases growth of the infectious pathogens. Just like a cold, toenail fungus is easy to pass on and can be caught once or many times over. What are some common places toenail fungus can be caught?

Public Showers/ Gym Locker Rooms
The gym, public pool, spa, or dorm. We all know public facilities can be unsanitary at times to say the least, but how can I catch toenail fungus? People are walking in their bare feet in most of these locations, and the warm, wet conditions are an ideal home for fungus to grow and spread. Also, most people don’t wash their feet before taking a shower or leaving the locker room. Tip: Wear shower shoes or flip flops!

Nail Salons
Summertime means barefoot trips to the beach and a pre-travel trip to your local nail salon for a pedicure for your tired feet, right? Whether you are a loyal nail salon customer, or only choose pedicures for special occasions, tools in nail salons are a breeding ground for fungus. Yes, they sanitize their tools and wash the basins after each customer leaves, but sometimes this does not kill the pathogen.

Shoes
Borrowing shoes from friends can be fun, affordable, and could potentially give you toenail fungus! Infected nails could pass on their infection by a shared towel, shoes, socks, or even exposure to an area where the infected toenail has been. You may not have noticed a yellow, flaky nail, but they could have been infected without showing any symptoms quite yet.

Getting Rid of Toenail Fungus
The easily spread and difficult to destroy toenail fungus puts up a tough fight against most treatments. Those frustrated with toenail fungus have most likely tried pills and/or topical creams with little or no success. The treatment of toenail fungus is often difficult because the infection is under and inside the nail, making it difficult for most treatments to reach and destroy the fungus.

Will Toenail Fungus Come Back After Treatment?
It is important to note that, although laser treatment is virtually painless and highly effective, the patient must be willing to make a conscious effort post-treatment. Follow-up appointments and taking proper precautions when it comes to fungus exposure is very important. For example, if you seek treatment for toenail fungus and decide to wear the same pair of shoes you have been wearing, it is very likely you will be exposed to the fungus again and be infected. It is possible to avoid the infected areas or exposing your feet to your favorite pair of exposed shoes by using the SteriShoe.

We Can Help
Don’t hesitate to give Dr. Mark Spier a call with any of your toenail fungus questions. Dr. Spier has 28 years of experience and is the first Podiatrist in the Baltimore area to provide the Pinpointe Footlaser. He has treated over 2,000 patients in Maryland and is ready to help your feet look their best this year for flip-flop season!

If you or a loved one deal with diabetes on a daily basis, you understand the importance of monitoring your foot health. There are several risk factors you should note when it comes to caring for your feet, including: proper footwear, nerve damage, poor circulation, trauma to the foot, infections, and smoking.

Why Our Feet Are At Risk

• Damage to the nerves (damage can occur and not be detected)
• Prone to infection – body processes that normally fight infection respond slower, due to poor circulation
• Stiff Joints
• Other diabetic complications, like eye disease (being able to see any medical issues), and kidney disease (wound healing) can be a risk factor relating to foot health

Potential Complications

• If an injury does occur you may not feel it due to nerve damage, which may lead to infection
• Common foot ulcers
• Spreading of infections
• Decrease in joint movement
• Amputation if an infection is not taken care of

Find the Source, and Eliminate the Fungus
Socks – Wherever you picked up toenail fungus, it has made a nice home not only under your nail bed, but probably in your socks as well. Washing, or even replacing your socks can help make sure your toenails are not exposed and re-infected by the fungus after treatment.

Shoes – Most of us have several pairs of shoes that we wear on a regular basis. Regular wear, however, means that our shoes may never have a chance to fully dry out. Warm, moist shoe beds are a breeding ground for bacteria.

What To Do
Whether you’re trying to reduce the chances of getting toenail fungus or athlete’s foot, or trying to prevent reoccurrence after treatment, keeping the environment around your feet fungus-free is a must. At our podiatry practice in Maryland, we recommend our patients try a solution like the Sterishoe Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer. 

About the Sterishoe Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer
The Sterishoe Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer kills up to 99.9% of the germs that cause foot infections and shoe odor. It uses germidical ultraviolet light (UVC) to kill the organisms  that can cause:

• Toe nail fungus
• Athlete’s foot
• Offensive shoe odor

Sterishoe is:

• Accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association
• Very easy, safe and convenient to use
• Chemical and drug-free
• A must for diabetics as part of a general foot care regimen

This product is shaped like a “shoe tree” and fits right inside any of your favorite shoes. The UVC light is powerful and safe, reducing the chance of reinfection after your nail is treated.

How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus
Many have tried topical creams, prescription medications, and more, to try and finally get rid of toenail fungus, with limited success. Oral drugs are also not effective in all patients and are not recommended for those with certain health conditions. As with any prescription medication there can be side effects, including headache, diarrhea, upset stomach, skin rash, and serious risks like liver damage and heart failure.

The PinPointe Footlaser provides a virtually painless, 30-minute treatment that targets the fungus underneath the nail. After treatment, a clear, healthy nail will begin to grow, replacing the old, ugly, damaged and affected nail in 4-6 months. The Pinpointe Footlaser treatment is over 70% effective with just one treatment. The most severe cases may require multiple treatments in order to effectively eliminate the toenail fungus.

FDA-Cleared
The Pinpointe Footlaser is the first laser to be reviewed and cleared for use by the FDA for the treatment of toenail fungus.

Treatment for Toenail Fungus in Maryland
Dr. Mark Spier, a Maryland podiatrist with over 25 years of experience, is the first podiatrist in Maryland to offer the Pinpointe Footlaser for the treatment of toenail fungus.

Over 1,700 Marylanders Successfully treated
Dr. Spier has successfully treated over 1,800 Marylanders suffering from toenail fungus in the past 2 years alone, since receiving one of the first Pinpointe Footlasers in the country.

Contact Dr. Mark Spier
Dr. Spier has two Maryland offices in Columbia and Reisterstown, and sees patients from all over the state. For a consultation with Dr. Spier, visit his website at www.spierfoot.com, or call him at (410) 833-0040.

Most common running injuries occur due to overuse, overtraining, improper nutrition, and/or a flaw in body structure and motion. Runners do not want to stop running when they are injured, and staying on a rigid training schedule is the key to successful preparation for most. If an injury becomes painful enough where it effects your stride or pace, it is important to take it easy, see a doctor, and listen to your body.

The week leading up to race day is full of mixed emotions, as you may feel: nervous, excited, anxious, and scared all wrapped into one. You may be “carb-loading”, taking on easier runs, and hydrating to the fullest, all the while making sure you don’t get injured in the last few days of training. Here is a list of the five most common running injuries to your feet, how you can prevent them, and if injured, how to treat:

Stress Fractures
Symptoms: Tenderness of a bone in your foot without warning and/or explanation. If the pain does not go away or get better over a run or days of rest, you need to see a doctor.
Cause: Overtraining, shortage of calcium, running style or body structure.
Prevent: Be cautious of overtraining and be sure to ice on rest days. Don’t forget to set aside rest days! Avoid switching quickly to hard surfaces and ease into your training regimen.
Treat: Because ceasing exercise is almost impossible for most runners, running in a pool can keep you on your training schedule while reducing pressure on your stress fracture.

Shin Splints
Symptoms: Pain in the mid section, front of the outer leg.
Cause: Flaw in your foot movement that can be made worse by improper shoe support, and overtraining.
Prevent: Switch to a thicker shoe and/or focus on motion control.
Treat: Stretch by standing with your feet two to three feet away from the wall and place one foot behind the other and one bent with your hands touching the wall. Point your toes forward with your heels on the ground. Hold for 10 seconds each stretch, ten times on each leg.

Plantar Fasciitis
Symptoms: Sharp pains in the arch or heel of your foot.
Cause: Inflammation of the ligament along the bottom of your foot, abnormal motion of the foot, or a tight calf muscle.
Prevent: Calf stretches before and after running.
Treat: Stretching for minor injuries but others may require a doctors visit.

Blisters
Symptoms: Soreness and fluid under the skin.
Cause: Friction combined with excess moisture.
Prevent: Synthetic socks that wick away moisture.
Treat: Band-Aids, rest, and antibiotic ointment.

Achilles Tendinitis
Symptoms: Tightening and/or soreness of the achilles tendon.
Cause: Chronic overuse, abnormal foot stroke in pushing off, and tight calf muscles.
Prevent: Same stretch as used for shin splints before and after running.
Treat: Correcting foot stroke and pronation angle of your foot by seeing a doctor.

Having ran many races myself, it is always important to focus on not altering anything on race day; stick to your routine. This applies to: nutrition, clothing, shoes, accessories, and anything else involved in your running routine. Injuries can be emotionally devastating for a runner, but listening to your body and seeking help when needed is key to a quick recovery and a better running experience. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to give me a call. As the Baltimore area provider of the Pinpointe Footlaser, a certified podiatric surgeon, and an avid runner, I can help answer your questions and treat you accordingly when it comes to any of your foot ailments.

When considering various treatments for toenail fungus, many are apprehensive about their options and if they will work. Although there are several prescription medications that claim to clear toenail fungus, many can take up to a year to take effect and may not be totally effective. Another option, you may or may not have heard of, is the Pinpointe Footlaser.

What is the Pinpointe Footlaser?
The Pinpointe Footlaser is designed to leave the nail itself unaffected, targeting only the fungus. The laser passes through the nail, preventing any damage to the nail surface or the adjacent skin. Once the fungus has been treated, a healthy, clear toenail will start to grow, replacing the infected toenail(s). The laser procedure is virtually painless and lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Why Now?
Maybe you have spent an embarrassing summer covering your toes, saying you will face the battle next year, or maybe you didn’t realize it was toenail fungus until now. Whatever the case, now is the perfect time to treat your unsightly toenail fungus. When you decide it is time to finally get rid of your toenail fungus, the Pinpointe Footlaser will remove the fungus and allow a new nail to begin to grow. The old nail will eventually grow out and you will be left with a brand new, clear and healthy toenail. Depending on how quickly your toenails grow, this could take anywhere from eight to twelve months. This will allow a healthy toenail to grow back just in time for spring weather and allow a few months until summer if your nails grow slower.

How Can I Learn More?
Research is very important when it comes to any medical procedure or medication. If you want to read more about the Pinpointe Footlaser you can visit our FAQ page. Also, take a look at what others had to say about their experience. Don’t forget that Dr. Mark Spier is the exclusive area provider of the Pinpointe Footlaser and is only a phone call away.

What is a flexible spending account?
A flexible spending account can be provided by your employer as a part of a benefits program. A fixed amount of money is contributed from your paycheck to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses that could include any of the following, depending on your insurance carrier:

If you are diagnosed by a M.D. you can also use your flexible spending account for the following additional products/services:

What are the benefits of having a flexible spending account?
The fixed amount of money deducted from each paycheck is deposited into a flex account that is exempt from federal, state, and payroll taxes. This means you are benefiting from using “pre-tax” dollars which can ultimately reduce your overall medical costs as much as 30%. An example of this would be if you deduct $100 per pay period—your check amount may only reduce by $75, due to less tax being withheld.

Another benefit of investing in a flexible spending account is that if you need to withdraw from your flexible savings account ahead of the time it will be available and can still be issued to you immediately. For example, if you decide to contribute $3,600 annually ($300 per month for twelve months) and you need to pay $1,100 in approved medical expenses during month three, you are able to pay the expenses in full as long as it does not surpass the annual pledged amount of $3,600. Flexible spending accounts also allow you to determine, at the beginning of the year, how much or how little you would like to contribute each pay period.

I have extra money in my flexible savings account—now what?
Whether you are looking to take extra precautions when it comes to medical expenses, or are just looking to save money on routine expenses, a flexible spending account allows significant savings and added support. It is important to note that you can only use the money in your flexible spending account within the same year that you contributed the money. This means you must use the money that has been set aside by December 31^st of the same year.

Have you thought about what you want to use your money for? If you are not planning on using the money remaining in your flexible spending account for the remainder of your routine expenses this year, note that many choose to take advantage of cosmetic medical treatments that can be approved by a doctor. It is important that you take advantage of the money you have worked hard to save over this past year.

Dr. Mark Spier is the exclusive area provider of the PinPointe Footlaser—the first podiatrist licensed and trained to offer the PinPointe Footlaser for the removal of toenail fungus for patients in the Baltimore area. Offering a thirty minute, virtually painless procedure removing toenail fungus, Dr. Spier is only a phone call away.