Cart

Monthly Archives

May 2022

how to get rid of nail infection

Got Verrucas On Feet? Our Verruca Treatment in Chesham Can Help.

By Blog

What Are Verrucas On Feet?

Verruca or verruca infections are a virus. It is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and is highly contagious. Verrucas on feet are commonly spotted on the soles of the areas around one’s toes. These viruses thrive in moist environments and tend to cyclically be an outbreak in children at the park (like hand, foot, mouth disease). Verrucas tend to look kind of like cauliflowers, but then they flatten up because of pressure when they are on the soles of your feet.

Sometimes verrucas can be painless, but more often than not they are very uncomfortable and even painful to deal with. They can disappear overnight or can be persistent for years on end.

How Do Verrucas Form?

As mentioned earlier, verruca infections are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). There are lots of old wive’s tales surrounding the causes of verrucae, and the most common one is “swimming pools cause verrucae”. Though this is true, it needs a little more context. Swimming pools themselves do not cause the verruca infection, but since verrucae are highly contagious, it’s very easy to develop verrucae from being in the same swimming pool with someone who is affected.

Cross-infection is very common, and if you have a verruca and you’re walking around barefoot, you’ll probably infect the next barefoot person to walk on the same floor. You can also catch it by direct contact with another person’s verruca. In fact, you can even be contagious to yourself. If you have a verruca, and you touch it and then touch other parts of your body, you’re likely to spread the verruca infection.

How Do I Know If I Have Verrucas On My Feet?

It’s very easy to confuse verrucas on feet for other types of warts and corns. That’s why it’s important to know the distinct symptoms of verrucae (yes, that’s the plural of verruca!). This way you can identify them and give them the correct form of verruca treatment.

There are some key identifying factors when it comes to Verrucas which can help you single them out from all these other ailments:

  • There’s a black dot in the centre of the raised skin (in most cases)
  • The “wart” is oddly cauliflower-shaped
  • You feel a stinging “stepping-on-a-needle” type of pain when you apply pressure
  • The lump is small and rough
  • You may have multiple on your hands and around your mouth as well (in the case of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, or HFM for short, which is common in most children)

Okay, I Have Verrucas On My Feet. Now What?

If you’ve noticed any of the above symptoms, you most likely have verrucas on your feet. You can try to deal with them using at-home remedies, but nothing works better than our Verruca Treatment in Chesham.

If you’re still unsure whether you’re dealing with verrucas or not, you can always book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic, where our top podiatrists can properly diagnose your condition.

Verruca Treatment Chesham

If you’re ready to bid your verrucas farewell, you can opt for our Verruca Treatment in Chesham.

Depending on the severity of your condition, there are different ways we go about verruca treatment in Chesham. The most common ones are Salicylic acid, Cryotherapy, and SWIFT verruca treatment. Our podiatrists will be able to tell you which verruca treatment is best for you.

Here’s some information on each verruca treatment:

  • Salicylic Acid:
    There are many creams, gels and medicated plasters for treating warts and verrucas. You can buy these over-the-counter, but only do so if you’re sure it’s a verruca infection. Most of these contain salicylic acid which is a key ingredient in treating verruca infections. Be careful when applying these medications, and try to use as little as possible in surrounding areas because it can cause irritation to healthy skin. You can even protect the skin around the verruca infection with non-fragranced and natural petroleum jelly. Try not to get any of the treatment on broken skin. You can soften the area before-hand by soaking it in water and rubbing it to remove excess hard skin. Once dried, make sure to cover the affected area with a plaster. Apply the treatment according to your Podiatrist / Pharmacist’s advice.
  • Cryotherapy:
    This is the process of freezing your wart or verruca using liquid nitrogen so it falls off. Most pharmacists have OTC cryotherapy preparations that contain other gases, but these don’t normally work too well because they can’t freeze at temperatures as low as liquid nitrogen, which is why it’s better if you visit a Podiatrist to get this done (book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic today!). During cryotherapy, your doctor will apply the liquid nitrogen to your verruca using either a spray or a cotton bud. It usually takes between 5-30 seconds to freeze depending on the size and location and also the method used. You may have to repeat the treatment multiple times till the verruca or wart eventually falls off. Cryotherapy, however, hasn’t been shown to work any better than salicylic acid and can often lead to blisters and scarring that can be painful, which is why it’s not recommended for younger children.
  • SWIFT Verruca Treatment:
    SWIFT is a relatively new technology that’s been developed in the UK, and has been licensed for treating verrucas by podiatrists all over. SWIFT uses microwave energy, delivered through a probe which is put on the skin to treat the affected area. With SWIFT Machine Treatment, you can get rid of multiple verrucas and warts in just one sitting, and it’s quick and efficient in doing so. The cherry on top is that you don’t require anaesthetics or dressings afterwards!

Conclusion

If you want to efficiently and permanently remove your verruca, we suggest our SWIFT verruca treatment in Chesham. Most Podiatrists would opt for this treatment as it is a very efficient and good solution to the problem of verrucas on feet.

Book an appointment with us today.

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

Don't suffer from foot pain any longer

Book your appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic

Book Appointment
how to get rid of nail infection

Ingrown Toenails: Symptoms, Management, And More

By Blog

As podiatrists, we see a variety of conditions on a daily basis. One of the most common ones we treat is Ingrown Toenails.
When it comes to ingrown toenails, it is vital to know the symptoms to avoid infection. When you know ingrown toenail symptoms, you can treat the condition before it turns into something more serious. We’ve put together this article to educate you on ingrown toenail symptoms, management, etc.

Read on to learn more

Don't suffer from foot pain any longer

Book your appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic

Book Appointment

What Are Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown Toenails: Symptoms, Management, And More

Before we move on to ingrown toenail symptoms, treatment and management, it would help to make it clear exactly what an ingrown toenail infection is and how it’s caused.

Ingrown toenail infections occur when the corner tip or edge of your toenail pokes into the skin surrounding it, instead of freely growing outwards. The toe that’s most likely to suffer from this issue is your big toe since it’s usually the one that’s most in contact with your footwear.

This condition is potentially very painful and can affect pretty much anyone, of all ages. Left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can lead to other infections that may even spread into the underlying bone structure of your feet.
If you have a condition that reduces the blood flow to your feet, like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease, you’re more likely to suffer from an ingrown toenail. In fact, if you suffer from any of these conditions, your ingrown toenail can turn sour very quickly and lead to severe complications. This is why it’s important to know the symptoms early on and treat it accordingly.

Ingrown toenails are treatable at home, but at-home treatments can lead to complications if not carried out properly and hygienically. These complications will require immediate attention from a podiatrist or medical practitioner.

Ingrown Toenails Symptoms

As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to catch ingrown toenail symptoms in the beginning in order to avoid developing an infection. The leading cause of ingrown toenail infections is negligence and lack of knowledge when it comes to ingrown toenail symptoms.

Now that you know what an ingrown toenail is and why it’s important to know its symptoms early on, we can tell you what to look out for when self-diagnosing an ingrown toenail infection.

You may have an ingrown toenail infection if you have any of the following symptoms

  • Swelling in the affected area
  • Pain when you touch the area 
  • You feel pressure under your affected toenail 
  • Throbbing sensations in the area 
  • A foul smell coming from the affected area
  • Warmth in and around the infected area (this is your body’s way of telling you that you have an infection, while also fighting off said infection)
  • Hardened skin around the affected nail, accompanied by redness
  • You may experience a build-up/ooze of fluid in the affected area
  • Your nail is thick, yellowing, or cracked. This is a key symptom of a fungal infection and must never be ignored 
  • You may even develop an abscess that fills with pus, in the area where your nail has punctured your skin 
  • The edges of your nail have an overgrowth of new and inflamed tissue 

Just like any other medical issue, an ingrown toenail starts with minor symptoms that can later on become more serious if not tended to. You must always try to identify an issue when it’s in its budding stage so you can take care of it before it gets too serious.

What Causes Ingrown Toenail Infections?

As we said earlier, the leading cause of ingrown toenail infections is a lack of understanding/negligence. When you have an ingrown nail, it is important to treat it with utmost care so as to not let it get infected. If you notice an ingrown nail, you must treat it so you can prevent infections from spreading into your foot. 

You can get ingrown toenails from cutting your toenails too short or keeping them too long, wearing improper footwear, angled nail cutting, toenail injury, and poor foot hygiene. 

Sometimes, it’s genetic too. If you have a genetic predisposition to having curved toenails, you are at high risk for ingrowths and infections. 

The best way to prevent these infections is to maintain proper foot hygiene, remember to cut your nails straight, wear shoes that fit you comfortably and check in with your podiatrist if something seems amiss.

Am I Susceptible To Ingrown Toenail Infections?

This condition is potentially very painful and can affect pretty much anyone, of all ages. Left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can lead to other infections that may even spread into the underlying bone structure of your feet.
If you have a condition that reduces the blood flow to your feet, like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease, you’re more likely to suffer from an ingrown toenail. In fact, if you suffer from any of these conditions, your ingrown toenail can turn sour very quickly and lead to severe complications. This is why it’s important to know the symptoms early on and treat it accordingly.

Ingrown toenails are treatable at home, but at-home treatments can lead to complications if not carried out properly and hygienically. These complications will require immediate attention from a podiatrist or medical practitioner. 

How To Manage An Ingrown Toenail

Another very important thing to take care of is ingrown toenail management. When you have an ingrown toenail, and you practice ingrown toenail management, you are generally safe from fungus and infection. Good foot care and hygiene is very important. Here’s how you can go about ingrown toenail management: 

  • NEVER yank or pull on your nail! This can break the skin severely and lead to horrendous complications. You might be able to access your ingrown toenail by lifting your skin gently with a piece of floss. Just make sure to never force it open, and also ensure that your hands are sanitised and clean before you try to treat your ingrown toenail infection.
  • To drain the affected area of pus and to reduce your pain, you must fill a bucket with warm water and add Epsom salt or coarse salt to it. Then, gently soak your foot in this solution so your skin softens around your ingrown toenail.
  • After softening your skin and draining it of any pus, you can put an antibiotic/antifungal lotion or cream on the nail and the skin around and under it. Apply the cream directly.
  • If your pain is unbearable, you can take an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to help with it. Apart from this, you can also take OTC medications to reduce swelling and discomfort. If the pain truly is unbearable, though, we suggest seeing a podiatrist instead of jumping into OTC medications and trying to treat it on your own.

After you’ve tried all of the above, if your pain and infection persist after a few days, it’s advisable to visit a podiatrist. They’ll be able to lift and access the underpart of your nail much easier, so your topical antibiotics can be applied swiftly and can take effect better.

Conclusion 

We hope this article helped you understand ingrown toenails, symptoms, and management better. If you think you may have an ingrown toenail, it’s best to treat it as soon as possible to avoid a nasty infection from developing.

Looking for reliable podiatrists to help you out? Book an appointment with Bucksfoot Clinic for the best ingrown toenail treatment in town.

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

how to get rid of nail infection

How To Get Rid Of Nail Infection

By Blog

Out of all the patients we treat, we found that there was one very common issue they faced: Ingrown Toenail Infections.

Ingrown toenails are extremely common, but when left untreated, can lead to nail infections like fungal nail infections. That’s why it’s always best to treat your ingrown toenails before they get to this point. In case you’ve already developed an infection, we’ve put together this article to tell you how to get rid of a nail infection.

Read on to learn more.

Don't suffer from foot pain any longer

Book your appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic

Book Appointment

What Are Ingrown Toenail Infections?

Before we move on to how to get rid of nail infection, it would help to make it clear exactly what an ingrown toenail infection is and how it’s caused.

Ingrown toenail infections occur when the corner tip or edge of your toenail pokes into the skin surrounding it, instead of freely growing outwards. The toe that’s most likely to suffer from this issue is your big toe since it’s usually the one that’s most in contact with your footwear.

This condition is potentially very painful and can affect pretty much anyone, of all ages. Left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can lead to other infections that may even spread into the underlying bone structure of your feet.

If you have a condition that reduces the blood flow to your feet, like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease, you’re more likely to suffer from an ingrown toenail. In fact, if you suffer from any of these conditions, your ingrown toenail can turn sour very quickly and lead to severe complications. This is why it’s important to know the symptoms early on and treat it accordingly.

Ingrown toenails are treatable at home, but at-home treatments can lead to complications if not carried out properly and hygienically. These complications will require immediate attention from a podiatrist or medical practitioner.

How To Get Rid Of Nail Infection

Nail infections are definitely not a pleasant sight, this makes a lot of people adopt the idea of “out of sight, out of mind” and completely ignore the infection. Doing so just prolongs the ordeal even though one can get rid of the infection quite easily without a doctor’s appointment.

Here’s how to get rid of nail infection at home:

  1. Non-Prescription Treatments/Over the Counter Remedies
    Some treatments do work when it comes to non-prescription treatments. It is possible to get inexpensive, non-prescription anti-fungal remedies at a drug store, but sometimes these tend to not be as effective, as they aren’t strong enough to fight the fungus.

Here are some other common treatments:

  • Mentholated Salve/Vicks:
    It may seem unlikely since Vicks VapoRub is made for cough suppression, but it is a great topical ointment for fungal toenails. Its active ingredients like camphor and eucalyptus oil can help treat toenail fungus. All you have to do is apply tiny amounts of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day. A study done in 2011 proved that this ointment had a “positive clinical effect” when it came to the treatment of toenail fungus.
  • Snakeroot Extract:
    Snakeroot extract is an antifungal made from plants belonging to the sunflower family. A study done in 2008 showed that Snakeroot extract is as effective in treating fungal toenails as a prescription antifungal called ciclopirox. In the study, Snakeroot extract was applied to the affected areas every third day for the first month, twice a week for the second month, and once a week for the third month. It proved to be very effective.
  • Tea Tree Oil:
    Tea tree oil is an essential oil that has antiseptic and antifungal properties. Small-scale clinical studies showed that tea tree oil may be effective in treating toenail fungus. To use this home remedy, all you have to do is apply tea tree oil directly onto the affected nail at least two times a day with a cotton swab.
  • Listerine/Vinegar:
    This may seem like an unconventional method, but hear us out. Listerine mouthwash has ingredients like menthol, thymol, and eucalyptus. All of which are known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. This is why it’s a popular home remedy for toenail fungus. People that have tried and tested this method say that you should soak the affected foot in a tub/basin full of amber-colored Listerine for 30 minutes every day.Vinegar is also a reasonably safe home remedy to try out, although there’s only anecdotal evidence saying that vinegar is an effective treatment for toenail fungus. For this method, soak the affected foot in one part vinegar and two parts warm water for 20 minutes a day.
  1. Prescription Medications
    You should check in with a dermatologist or podiatrist if your nail fungus doesn’t clear up at home. Your doctor may gently scrape under your nail to remove some of the fungus or send it to a lab for diagnostic testing. Stronger medications may also be prescribed.
  • Topical drugs
    For mild infections, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream or cream solution to apply to the nail or lacquer to paint on the nail. Before applying these remedies, trim your nails and soak the affected area. Using this technique, the drug is able to attack the fungus on the deepest level. In addition, your doctor may suggest that you thin your nail first with a file or urea lotion (which will also reduce pain). That can help the medicine work better, too.

To get rid of nail fungus, you may need to use topical drugs such as:

  • Ciclopirox (Ciclodan, Penlac, Loprox)
  • Efinaconazole (Jublia)
  • Naftifine (Naftin)
  • Tavaborole (Kerydin)
  • Terbinafine (Lamisil)

When you apply them, you may experience side effects such as redness, swelling, stinging, and burning.

  • Oral medication
    The doctor may prescribe an antifungal pill you’ll need to take for 12 weeks if the infection is severe. Several studies have shown that drugs like terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox) are highly effective at encouraging a new, healthy nail to grow in to replace the infected one.
    It is not recommended to give these pills to people with liver or heart conditions. There may be interactions with any other medications you’re taking, including beta-blockers and antidepressants.

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you understand how to get rid of nail infections. If your nail infection persists or gets worse, you should visit a podiatrist immediately to avoid further complications. Book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic for the best podiatric care in town.

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now

how to get rid of nail infection

Who Treats Ingrown Toenails: Podiatry Near Me?

By Blog

Do you feel pain in your toenail when you wear shoes? Or maybe the pain is prevalent irrespective of your footwear. Either way, you could just be dealing with an ingrown toenail or an ingrown toenail infection.

A lot of people aren’t sure how to properly treat and care for their ingrown toenails. In fact, some people even ask “who treats ingrown toenails?”. If you think you may be confused, this blog is perfect for you. We’ll explain what ingrown toenails are, their symptoms, how to deal with them, and who treats ingrown toenails (Podiatrists).

If you think you need to visit a podiatrist “near me”, book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic today.

Don't suffer from foot pain any longer

Book your appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic

Book Appointment

What Are Ingrown Toenail Infections?

First, it would help to make it clear exactly what an ingrown toenail infection is and how it’s caused.

Ingrown toenail infections occur when the corner tip or edge of your toenail pokes into the skin surrounding it, instead of freely growing outwards. The toe that’s most likely to suffer from this issue is your big toe since it’s usually the one that’s most in contact with your footwear.

This condition is potentially very painful and can affect pretty much anyone, of all ages. Left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can lead to other infections that may even spread into the underlying bone structure of your feet.

If you have a condition that reduces the blood flow to your feet, like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease, you’re more likely to suffer from an ingrown toenail. In fact, if you suffer from any of these conditions, your ingrown toenail can turn sour very quickly and lead to severe complications. This is why it’s important to know the symptoms early on and treat it accordingly.

Ingrown toenails are treatable at home, but at-home treatments can lead to complications if not carried out properly and hygienically. These complications will require immediate attention from a podiatrist or medical practitioner.

Ingrown Toenail Symptoms

Now that you know what an ingrown toenail is, we can tell you what to look out for when self-diagnosing an ingrown toenail infection.

You may have an ingrown toenail infection if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Swelling in the affected area
  • Pain when you touch the area
  • You feel pressure under your affected toenail
  • Throbbing sensations in the area
  • A foul smell coming from the affected area
  • Warmth in and around the infected area (this is your body’s way of telling you that you have an infection, while also fighting off said infection)
  • Hardened skin around the affected nail, accompanied by redness
  • You may experience a build-up/ooze of fluid in the affected area
  • Your nail is thick, yellowing, or cracked. This is a key symptom of a fungal infection and must never be ignored
  • You may even develop an abscess that fills with pus, in the area where your nail has punctured your skin
  • The edges of your nail have an overgrowth of new and inflamed tissue

Just like any other medical issue, an ingrown toenail starts with minor symptoms that can later on become more serious if not tended to. You must always try to identify an issue when it’s in its budding stage so you can take care of it before it gets too serious.

Who Treats Ingrown Toenails?

 If you’ve ever wondered, “who treats ingrown toenails?” we’ll clear up that doubt for you. The best person who treats ingrown toenails is a Podiatrist.

Lots of people still aren’t aware of what podiatrists do and still find themselves asking the question, “What is a Podiatrist?”

A Podiatrist is a medical specialist that helps with problems related to your feet and lower legs. We can deal with complications from health issues like diabetes and even treat minor and major injuries. People also call us Podiatric Physicians or Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, as well as Chiropodists.

Though a Podiatrist IS a doctor, they don’t go to traditional medical schools. There are separate schools and professional associations for Podiatrists. Doctors usually have an “MD” after their name, which stands for “Medical Doctor”. We have “DPM” at the end of our names. This stands for “Doctor of Podiatric Medicine”.

We can perform surgeries, reset broken bones, order lab tests or x-rays, and even rest broken bones. We’re completely licensed to do so, and we often work alongside other specialists that treat issues of the feet and lower legs.

Managing Ingrown Toenails At Home?

If your ingrown toenail looks like it’s just about budding and is still in its early phase, you can go ahead and try out any of the below ingrown toenail management methods.

  • NEVER yank or pull on your nail! This can break the skin severely and lead to horrendous complications. You might be able to access your ingrown toenail by lifting your skin gently with a piece of floss. Just make sure to never force it open, and also ensure that your hands are sanitised and clean before you try to treat your ingrown toenail infection.
  • To drain the affected area of pus and to reduce your pain, you must fill a bucket with warm water and add Epsom salt or coarse salt to it. Then, gently soak your foot in this solution so your skin softens around your ingrown toenail.
  • After softening your skin and draining it of any pus, you can put an antibiotic/antifungal lotion or cream on the nail and the skin around and under it. Apply the cream directly.
  • If your pain is unbearable, you can take an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to help with it. Apart from this, you can also take OTC medications to reduce the swelling and discomfort. If the pain truly is unbearable, though, we suggest seeing a podiatrist instead of jumping into OTC medications and trying to treat it on your own.

After you’ve tried all of the above, if your pain and infection persist after a few days, it’s advisable to visit a podiatrist. They’ll be able to lift and access the underpart of your nail much easier, so your topical antibiotics can be applied swiftly and can take effect better. Finding a podiatry “near me” is fairly simple. You can just google it and you’ll find many viable results. Now that you’re here already, you can book an appointment with us too!

Podiatry near me

As we said above, it’s easy to find a podiatry “near me”. The internet is full of amazing information and businesses ready to help you out. We’re one of them! If you need a podiatrist near you, book an appointment with Bucks Foot Clinic today!

Please call us on  0800 107 3290 / 077 99 122 099 Or contact us now