Ingrown Toe Nail Treatment
In most cases ingrown toe nails can be addressed early and treated with routine care. In other cases when it becomes too infected or is chronic (constantly recurring) surgery may be required.
An ingrown toe nail occurs when the edge of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin. This is often caused by footwear that is too tight, causing pressure in the toe area. Other possible cause are related to foot structure where there is a fleshy toe and a thin nail plate. The toenail pierces the skin along the sides of the toe, putting pressure on the nerves and causing a shooting pain. The nail embedded in the side of the toe can also cause infection due to irritation. Ingrown toe nails can also be a result of toe misalignment, foot hypermobility or hereditary factors. Treatment for ingrown toenails can be simple and painless at Head to Foot Oasis. We can treat mildly ingrown nails with therapeutic routine management such as buffing, clipping and topical medication to give you fast pain relief. Ingrown toenails will usually NOT improve on their own. The imbedded nail referred to as the offending spike must be removed. Infection can occur if the problem is not dealt with. If the area around the toenail is painful, swollen, red with pus/blisters, then the area is probably infected. In this case, the patient may require local anesthesia or antibiotics in addition to the treatment. During the course of the antibiotic the pain and swelling may go away. You may feel that the problem has been resolved but in most cases once the course of antibiotics are finished the problem will start right back again unless the spike of nail is removed.
Ingrown Toenail - Nail Surgery
Nail Surgery – A partial nail avulsion is a minor surgical procedure performed by podiatrists. It involves the administering of a local anaesthetic followed by the permanent removal of one or both sides of the nail.
This normally provides a permanent solution to ingrowing nail problems, the remaining nail typically has a normal appearance, though narrower than prior to the procedure. As with any surgical procedure there is a risk of infection, regrowth and altered nail appearance. However, at our centre every precaution is taken to minimise these risks. More detailed information on our Nail Surgery Package of Care is available.
Thickened and or discoloured toenails can occur due to several reasons. The most common reason is repeated micro trauma or one major trauma. The body thickens the nail to protect the toe. This new altered nail growth pattern cannot be reversed but can be improved in appearance. Another reason to have a thickened nail is due to a fungal infection of the nail. Fungus enters the nail after trauma to the nail. The fungus lives off the nail and leaves the nail thick, flaky and yellow. Very commonly, the fungus can spread between nails.
Foot Fungus
This is a fungal infection that afflicts the skin. Typical symptoms include: moderate to severe itching, redness, skin blisters and peeling. This can be successfully treated with a topical medication. Other common skin diseases of the foot include: psoriasis, anhydrosis (dry, cracked skin), eczema and dermatitis, all of which can be helped with appropriate care. Cracked dry skin around heels and toes is treated successfully with gentle skin debridement and specialized prescribed skin healing conditioners.
Athlete’s Foot is a fungal skin infection causing itchy, red, cracked or scaly skin. Skin between the toes is usually affected with itchy skin/ blisters. This condition, also called tinea pedis. It is very contagious, and is often picked up in communal changing areas attached sports locker rooms, swimming pools,hotel rooms and other public areas. Shoes create a humid, dark and warm environment which allows the fungus to grow. The fungus can spread from the feet to other parts of the body by contaminated bed sheets or clothing.
Treatment is usually topically applied prescription and education to avoid recurrence of the infection. Relief of symptoms is usually fast within 24 hours.
Diabetes Care
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, chiropody is crucial to your care. The long-term effects of diabetes, such as impaired sensation, impaired vision and decreased circulation, place patients at a higher risk for serious foot infections and potential limb loss. Our chiropody services include individual assessments to establish the circulatory and neurological status of your feet, as well as personalized advice about caring for your feet.
Warts are a common occurrence and a total nuisance. There are caused by the hpv virus the same type which give you cold sores. There are not many options for treatment of warts both conservative and more aggressive. Some options for treatment include cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen, chemical treatments, natural treatments are available. The effectiveness will depend on the size location lifestyle and length of time you have had the wart. Warts can be long standing as they sometimes get mistaken for corns. The earlier you get treatment the better the outcome as they are contagious at specidix stages. Visit your chiropodist to find out if what you are dealing with is a wart.
