SKIN AND NAILS
This page covers issues you might have with either your skin or nails. If you don't see what you're looking for here, please contact us to see if we can help.
Ingrowing toenails
Nails become ingrown for a number of reasons, the most common being trauma to the nail and incorrect cutting of the nails. This can lead to a spike in the nail, or the nail growing into the toe, which is when it can become painful and sometimes infected.
Ingrowing toenails can become infected and are often very painful. After an initial appointment, when we will make your feet as comfortable as possible as well as giving them an MOT, we are able to offer you a few ways that could help.
If you suspect you have an ingrown toenail, why not book in to see us today?
Simply click the button below, scroll to 'Ingrown Toenail First Appointment' and find a time that suits you!
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Treatments include:
Nail management
Nail management can include:
- if the nail is growing at an awkward angle, our podiatrists can help by cutting the affected nail regularly to prevent it digging in to the skin can be the best for someone that wants to avoid surgery
- our podiatrists can also prescribe antibiotics if the nail is infected, it is often recommended prior to nail surgery as infection can effect the local anaesthetic.
Nail surgery
Nail surgery is performed under local anaesthetic. It is a popular option for people who have one or more painful or infected ingrown toenails for a long term solution to the problem
The cost includes:
- the surgery itself,
- all follow up appointments,
- dressing pack
- 1 year guarantee, if the same nail grows back within the next year, the surgery can be repeated at a minimum cost
Fungal Nails & Athlete's Foot
Fungal nails and skin can be a nightmare to resolve, especially when it feels like nothing is working.
Its estimated that 1.2million of the UK population have a fungal infection, it's a lot more common than people might think. Fungal infection can change the appearance and texture of your nails as well as making them painful.
Athlete's Foot is also very common, and without being treated effectively, can last for much longer than necessary.
Are you worried or self conscious about your nails or skin and think it could be fungal? Book in with us for a 'Fungal Nail or Skin First Appointment' now!
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Treatments include:
5 minute fungal test (additional cost)
Sometimes a nail can appear to be fungal but actually have other causes, such as historical trauma or other conditions. The 5-minute fungal test can confirm whether the nail is definitely fungal so that the correct treatment can be recommended
Topical skin and nail treatments
Our podiatrist will be able to help you with the correct diagnosis and advise on the best antifungal treatment for your skin and nails, they will take into concideration any other medication you are taking before advising in case there are any contraindications
Footwear treatments
If you do have a fungal infection the podiatrist will be able to give advise on how to care for your footwear in order to help prevent any reoccurance of infection.
Verrucae
Verrucae and warts are caused by a virus that sits just underneath the top layer of skin. They're usually picked up in places like swimming pools, as they thrive in warm and damp environments.
In younger children and sometimes in adults, they resolve themselves, but they can become painful and last for years, sometimes decades.
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Treatments include:
Swift Verruca Treatment
Faulknor's needling
An alternative when Swift is not appropriate. It is a treatment that was first done in the 1960s and still has relevance today.
The treatment involves numbing the area with local anaesthetic and the podiatrist breaking down the verruca manually
Conservative management
This involves regular debridement of the overlying callus from the verruca (taking off the hard skin over the area)
Corns & Callus
Callus is a build up of skin on a certain point of the foot which turns hard over a period of time. Its can be caused by a number of factors, including your shoes,
In some circumstances,small areas of callus can turn into a corn if left untreated. Corns usually develop on thinner areas of skin, such as on a joint, or areas where there is a lot of pressure and can feel like its digging in.
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Treatments include:
Corns are usually taken out by the podiatrist and advise will be given on how to look after the area
Thick or tricky nails
Nails can become difficult due to trauma, genetics, fungal infections or age. They can become difficult to cut yourself, at which point its best to see a podiatrist.
If you're unable to cut your own nails due to mobility, sight or other reasons, give us a call or book online for a General First Podiatry Appointment with either Wendy or Donyah
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Treatments include:
Once the podiatrist has established the nails are not fungal, thickened nails can be managed by regular cutting and reducing the nail thickness with either nippers or a burr (attached to a special drill in the clinic)
