A fungal nail infection is four times more likely to develop in a toenail than a fingernail, and whilst it can look unsightly it is not serious and is rarely painful. A fungal infection can look ugly because the nail often becomes thickened and can turn white, black, yellow or green. The nail can sometimes become brittle, with pieces of nail breaking off or even coming away from the toe completely. Underneath and around the nail (the nail bed), the skin can sometimes become inflamed and painful, but this tends to suggest a yeast infection. A fungal nail infection is not serious, but it will not clear up on its own and requires treatment with antifungal medicine. It can be treated with a Lacquer that treats the nail but does take 6 to 9 months for them to work. If the nail is infected at the base (matrix) of the nail it would need to be treated by the use of antifungal tablets these also take a number of months to work.

Corns and calluses are areas of hard skin on the feet caused by excessive pressure or from shoes rubbing. Corns are usually small and circular. Hard corns tend to develop on the top of toe joints or high pressure parts of the foot and soft corns develop between the toes where sweat keeps them moist. Calluses are wider and less well-defined and will often develop on the parts of the foot that take the most weight, such as the ball of the foot. Unlike a corn, it has no nucleus or root.

If they cause discomfort, corns and calluses can be treated by a Podiatrist, who can cut away the thickened skin. This build up of skin can be prevented by using a foot file and an emollient to soften the skin. Choosing insoles or silicone covers or more comfortable properly fitted shoes may also help with preventing corns.

Verrucas are warts on the soles of the feet – often found on the heel or ball of the foot. They are caused by a virus (human papillomavirus or HPV) and range in size from approximately 1mm to 10mm. They can appear in pairs or groups and are flat, have a cauliflower type appearance with rough areas of skin – sometimes with a cluster of black dots at their centre.  These dots are blood vessels that the virus uses to survive. Due to these blood vessels, a verruca is very likely to bleed slightly if some of the overlying skin is removed with a scalpel which can also make it easy to identify

Verrucas (like warts) are contagious but the risk of passing them onto others is low. The skin is most vulnerable when damaged, in contact with rough surfaces or if it's wet, for example in swimming pools and changing rooms. Verrucae are rarely painful but can be diagnosed by pinching it rather than pushing it. A corn will hurt when you push it.

Verrucas will often disappear without treatment within a year of appearing. They are though notoriously difficult to get rid of. At Southfields Footcare, we use a number of different acids to treat the virus. The main acid used is Salicylic acid. Once this applied to the Verucca it has to be kept totally dry for three days with very positive results.

Other treatments include cryotherapy (freezing) which is usually delivered as a spray that freezes the tissue and kills the virus inside. 

Southfields Footcare is pleased to announce that it is one of the first clinics in South West London to offer Swift, a pioneering new microwave therapy for skin that has been licensed for the general treatment of skin lesions such as verrucas and warts in Podiatry and Dermatology. It is the new alternative to cryotherapy, acids and laser therapy. Using a special probe it is applied to the skin for a few seconds to treat the affected tissue with a precise, highly controlled energy dose which quickly destroys infected tissue. In just seconds the treatment is complete, leaving the body to absorb and replace the treated tissue.

If you are interested in using Swift, please call us on 020 8870 3742 or email info@southfieldsfootcare.co.uk to discuss before making an appointment.           

 www.treatwithswift.com                                                                                                                                                       

An ingrown or ingrowing toenail is a painful condition (onychocryptosis) where the toenail grows into the skin at the side of the toe. The big toe is the most commonly affected, but any toe can develop an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails are mostly caused by incorrect nail cutting or picking the nail, which leaves a spike at the side, ill-fitting or tight shoes, trimming toenails at an angle (toenails should always be cut straight across) and fungal nail infections. An ingrown toenail will make the toe red, swollen and warm to touch. As it becomes more advanced it may become infected.  The first thing to do is to bathe it in salt water.  This will reduce the infection and swelling and make it much more comfortable.

Treatments will depend on how severe the problem is.  If the nail has just broken the skin a little, then often we will be able to use some nippers to remove the spike and if the nail is cut correctly from then on, it shouldn’t cause any further problems. Sometimes however, due to the shape of the nail, it will always grow back into the skin.

If the nail is too painful or deep to remove using nippers then nail surgery is an option.  The surgical procedure carried out is called a partial or total nail avulsion, depending how much of the nail is removed. The affected toe will be injected with local anaesthetic and once the nail or section of nail is removed painlessly, a chemical called phenol is applied to the area where the nail grows, which stops it from growing back.

A dressing is applied and it is changed after a couple of days to a less bulky dressing.  It normally takes around 3 to 6 weeks for the toe to fully heal. At Southfields Footcare we pride ourselves with around a 97% SUCCESS Rate with this procedure.

To prevent an ingrown toe nail, you should not pick at your toe nails and it is important to cut the nails straight across and do not cut down the sides. If you are unsure then you should seek advice as nail shapes can differ from person to person.

A bunion is a bony swelling at the base of the big toe and often leads to the big toe pointing inwards, towards the other toes. A bunion develops as a result of the small bones in the toes (the phalanges) moving out of line with the longer bones that run through the foot towards the ankle (the metatarsals). Bunions are common and anyone can develop them, although they are more common in women. The progression of a bunion may be slowed through the use of wider-fitting shoes or insoles and the pain can be easily managed by using painkillers. The only permanent solution is surgery, which may be recommended if your bunion causes you problems

Athlete's foot is a skin infection caused by a fungus that likes the warm, damp and airless conditions that exist between the toes. Anyone can get athlete's foot and it is easily spread from person to person. This may happen in environments such as swimming pools or changing rooms. Athlete's foot tends to start between the little toes and begins with an itchy rash that can spread if left untreated. The rash can cause the skin to become scaly, flaky, dry and red. It may lead to other symptoms such as blisters, swelling and stinging, or burning sensations in the skin. However, it is not a serious condition and can be treated with antifungal creams in severe cases oral medication can be prescribed by a GP. Keeping toes clean and dry will also help to prevent it reoccurring.

The sole of your foot is covered with a thick band of connective tissue called the plantar fascia. It is like a large elastic band that stretches from the heel and attaches to the foot tissue near the toes this fascia can become swollen and inflamed. Its classic diagnosis is pain on standing after long rest. It is often felt first thing in the morning when walking to the bathroom. On examination usually plantar fasciitis can be diagnosed by a pain and tenderness on the inside part of the heel bone or along the inside arch of the foot. It can be brought on by a number of things such as a sudden change in exercise, foot posture, weight, tight calf muscle and footwear.

A range of treatments are available for plantar fasciitis. Orthotic insoles might be prescribed for you to wear in your shoes. Some patients will have padding and strapping applied which can remain in place for up to a week which will help to rest the area. Also self-help tasks such as calf stretches, applying ice to the area or using a small frozen bottle of water to roll under the arch, using ibuprofen gel or tablets can also help with reducing the inflammation in the area.

With treatment most people are free from pain within a year and often a couple of months is all it takes if you help yourself and treat the injury as instructed.  In more severe cases, a steroid injection or surgery may be required. This is very rare and is only used after the conservative treatments have failed to work.

If diabetes is not correctly controlled, it can lead to problems to occur in the feet. One problem podiatrists commonly look for is a loss of feeling in the feet or “neuropathy This means that people with diabetes are more likely to get foot ulcers as they have a reduced sensation of pain in their feet. Poor circulation can also become a problem due to poor controlled diabetes, The slightest injury, such as blisters or cuts, can develop into an ulcer. Foot ulcers can be treated successfully if caught early, but if left untreated the consequences can be serious.

Regular checks of your feet is always very important.If your podiatrist discovers that the sensation or blood supply in your foot has decreased then it is really important that you pay special attention to your feet. Daily checks are great to make sure that there no visible problems or any wounds.  

The best way to prevent any problems with your feet is to see a Podiatrist regularly. This should be at least once a year so that your sensations and blood supply can be checked. If there are any concerns your GP will be informed.

 Book for an Annual review and we can contact you on a yearly basis to check your feet for you.

Most people have an arch, meaning the inner part of the sole of the foot is raised off the ground when standing. For people with flat feet, this part of the sole of the foot is flattened to the ground. This can run in families, but can also be caused by arthritis or a ruptured tendon. Some people with flat feet may not experience any difficulties, but others may feel pain in the foot, ankle or leg. Wearing well-fitting shoes or insoles that support the arch of the foot can relieve discomfort. A podiatrist can help advise further on treatment