January 2023

Podiatry, also known as chiropody, is the branch of medicine that deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. A podiatrist, also known as a “foot doctor”, is a healthcare professional who specializes in this field.

Our podiatrists in Little Chalfont are highly trained and experienced professionals who can help with a wide range of foot and ankle problems. In this blog, we will be discussing all you need to know about podiatry, including what a podiatrist is, the conditions they can treat, and the benefits of seeing a podiatrist.

Whether you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles, or if you’re at risk of developing foot problems, it’s important to understand the role of a podiatrist in maintaining your foot health. So, let’s dive in and discover the world of podiatry together.

What Is Podiatry?

Podiatry is the branch of medicine that is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the feet and lower limbs. A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who specializes in this field. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions of the foot and ankle, such as injuries, deformities, and diseases. Podiatrist can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, including heel pain, bunions, corns and calluses, ingrown toenails, fungal nails, verrucae, flat feet, knee pain, leg length discrepancy, and diabetic foot care. They use a variety of techniques and treatments, including surgery, orthotics, physical therapy and medication.

What Is A Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the feet and lower limbs. They are also known as a chiropodist or a foot doctor. Podiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that affect the feet and lower limbs, including injuries, deformities, and diseases. They use a variety of techniques and treatments, including surgery, orthotics, physical therapy and medication to diagnose, treat and prevent these conditions. They also provide advice and education to patients on how to take care of their feet and lower limbs to prevent future problems. Podiatrists are licensed and regulated.

What Can A Podiatrist Treat?

A podiatrist can treat a wide range of conditions, including:

• Heel pain
• Bunions
• Corns and calluses
• Ingrown toenails
• Fungal nails
• Verrucae
• Flat feet
• Knee pain
• Leg length discrepancy
• Diabetic foot care

Who Can Benefit From Seeing A Podiatrist?

Anyone can benefit from seeing a podiatrist, but some groups of people may find it particularly beneficial. Some examples include:

• People experiencing foot or ankle pain: If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles, a podiatrist can help diagnose the cause of the pain and provide treatment options.
• People with foot conditions: Podiatrist can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that affect the feet, such as bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, and more.
• People with diabetes: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing foot problems, and a podiatrist can provide specialized care and treatment to help prevent complications.
• Athletes and active people: Athletes and active people are at a higher risk of developing sports-related injuries to the feet and ankles, and a podiatrist can provide treatment and advice on how to prevent these injuries.
• Children and older adults: Children and older adults may develop problems with their feet that can make it difficult to move around. A podiatrist can help these groups maintain mobility and independence by treating these issues.
• Pregnant women: Pregnant women can benefit from seeing a podiatrist to address any foot or lower limb discomfort caused by the added weight and stress on the feet and legs during pregnancy.
• People with chronic conditions: People with chronic conditions such as arthritis, obesity, or peripheral arterial disease can benefit from seeing a podiatrist to manage pain, mobility, and prevent complications.

Why Should I See A Podiatrist?

There are many reasons why you might want to see a podiatrist. Here are a few:

• Foot or ankle pain: If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles, a podiatrist can help diagnose the cause of the pain and provide treatment options.
• Foot conditions: Podiatrist can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that affect the feet, such as bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, and more.
• Diabetic foot care: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing foot problems, and a podiatrist can provide specialized care and treatment to help prevent complications.
• Orthotics: Podiatrist can provide custom orthotics, which are special shoe inserts that can help correct problems with the way you walk and alleviate pain.
• Sports injuries: Podiatrist can treat and prevent sports-related injuries to the feet and ankles, and also provide advice on how to maintain foot health while participating in sports activities.
• Geriatric care: As people get older, they may develop problems with their feet that can make it difficult to move around. A podiatrist can help older adults maintain mobility and independence by treating these issues.
• Children care: A podiatrist can also treat children’s foot and ankle problems, and provide advice on how to prevent problems from developing.

Seeing a podiatrist can help you with a wide range of foot and ankle problems, and also help prevent future problems by providing specialized care and education on how to maintain your foot and ankle health.

Podiatrists & Diabetes

A podiatrist can help people with diabetes manage their condition and prevent complications in several ways:

• Diabetic foot examination: Podiatrist can perform regular foot examinations to check for any signs of damage or infection in the feet. They can also advise on how to take care of your feet to prevent problems from developing.
• Wound care: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing foot ulcers and other wounds. A podiatrist can provide wound care and treatment to help heal these wounds and prevent infections.
• Offloading: A podiatrist can recommend and provide offloading devices such as shoe inserts, special shoes, and casts, to take pressure off of areas of the foot that are at risk of developing ulcers.
• Footwear advice: A podiatrist can advise on the appropriate footwear for people with diabetes and also provide custom-made shoes or orthotics to help prevent foot problems.
• Monitoring for neuropathy: Podiatrist can also monitor for neuropathy, which is a condition that can occur in people with diabetes where there is damage to the nerves in the feet. This can lead to a loss of sensation in the feet and an increased risk of injury.

Referral to other specialists: If necessary, podiatrist can refer patients to other specialists, such as endocrinologists or vascular surgeons, to manage diabetes and its complications.

Where Can I Find A Podiatrist In Little Chalfont?

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles, or if you’re at risk of developing foot problems, it’s a good idea to visit a podiatrist in Little Chalfont for an examination. At Bucksfoot Clinic, our team of experienced podiatrists are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our patients. We offer a wide range of services to help diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems, and we’re committed to helping our patients achieve optimal foot health.

Book an appointment with us today!

Ingrown toenails have plagued generations, and they still exist as one of the most common type of foot condition. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some pointers about ingrown toenail infection as well as ingrown toenail symptoms. Keep reading to learn more.

What Are Ingrown Toenails?

Let’s start off with some basic knowledge about ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails ares a condition in which the side or a corner of a toenail starts growing into the skin and then the flesh. Anyone can have this condition, but people who have diabetes are more susceptible. Ingrown toenails are treatable at home in most cases, but since they can cause serious complications, medical treatment from a podiatrist is the best option.

What Are The Causes Of Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown toenails are a very common occurrence in both men and women. People with sweaty feet like (for example, teenagers and elderly people) are at a higher risk.
There are several things that can cause ingrown toenails, such as:

• Curved toenails (irregular formation)
• Toenail injury, like a stubbed toe or bruise from dropping something heavy on your foot
• Cutting toenails in an incorrect manner
• Wearing footwear that is too tight
• Poor foot hygiene
• Hereditary ingrown toenails
• Among other causes for ingrown toenails are activities such as:
• Football
• Rugby
• Skating
• Ballet
• Martial arts (kickboxing, etc)

What Are The Symptoms Of Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown toenail symptoms are fairly noticeable in all of its stages. Early on, you might notice symptoms like:

• Pain when any kind of pressure is applied on the toe or the foot in general
• Pus like fluid building up around the toe (especially the corners)
• Skin next the toenail becoming unusually soft, hard or even swollen

In case of an ingrown toenail infection, you may have symptoms such as:

• Overgrown skin around the toenail
• Swollen skin around the toenail which is often red
• Sharp pain around the toenail
• Bleeding and/or oozing pus

Be sure to get medical attention as soon as possible in such cases to avoid further complications.

What Complications Can Ingrown Toenails Cause?

If left unchecked and untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can cause infection in the bone in your toe. An ingrown toenail infection can also cause open sores, loss of blood flow to the infected area, etc. Even the tissue in the affected area can get decayed completely.
For people with diabetes, even a small cut, graze, or an ingrown toenail might quickly become infected due low blood flow and sensitive nerves.
As for people with hereditary ingrown toenails, multiple treatments and recurring pain can be a hassle. Your doctor may recommend that you opt for proper surgical treatment as well.

At-Home Ingrown Toenail Treatment

If there’s only the early-stage ingrown toenail infection, then a few home remedies and treatments can help, such as:

• Soaking your feet in warm water for about 15 minutes, a few times a day (Note: Try to keep your feet and footwear dry in general apart from during treatment.)
• Taking over-the-counter meds, like Tylenol
• Applying antibiotic creams over the affected area

These are your average at-home ingrown toenail remedies. If you notice the symptoms persisting and maybe even getting worse, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Medical Treatment For Ingrown Toenails

The medical treatment for worsening ingrown toenail symptoms or ingrown toenail infection includes two surgical methods:

• Partial Nail Removal: In this surgical method, the doctor numbs the toe and then narrows the toenail from the sides. It is said to be 98% effective in the prevention of future ingrown toenail related issues.
• Total Nail Removal: This surgical method is said to be used when the ingrown nail is caused by thickening. The doctor administers a local pain injection removes the entire nail; this procedure is called matrixectomy, which is basically removing the toenail from the nail matrix under your skin.

After surgery, your doctor will bandage your toe and have you on your way home. You’ll probably need to keep your foot raised for the next day or two until your next visit to the doctor for the bandage removal. Be sure to avoid wearing closed footwear of any kind and wear special footwear instead to let your toe heal properly.
Once your bandage is off, you’ll be given prescription pain meds and daily salt water soaks,
In case of partial nail removal, the toenail might take a few months to grow back. If total nail removal surgery has been performed, then a nail can take up to a year to grow back.

How Do I Prevent Ingrown Toenails?

Prevention is better than cure. Here are a few ways to prevent ingrown toenails:

• Trim your toenails straight across and make sure the corners do not curve inwards
• Wear proper fitting footwear
• Avoid cutting your toenails too short

If you already have genetically curved toenails, you may need surgery to prevent ingrown toenails.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for best treatments for your ingrown toenail, then you need not look further. Bucksfoot Clinic has got you covered. Book an appointment with us today!

If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “what’s a corn?” or wondering how to treat a corn, this blog is for you.

In this blog we’ll highlight all the important details you need to know about corns and how to treat corns. Keep reading to learn more.

What’s A Corn?

Corns are buildups of hardened areas of skin. They can form anywhere, but tend to show up on feet, hands, and fingers the most. They are usually round and relatively small, and you’ll most likely see them develop on the sides and tops of your toes. There are three distinct types of corns:

• Hard Corns: These are hard and dense, and usually form on the top of your toes, where your bones exert pressure on your skin. They usually reside within a bigger part of thickened skin.
• Soft Corns: Usually whitish grey in colour, with a slightly softer and rubbery texture, soft corns show up between your toes.
• Seed Corns: As the name suggests, seed corns are quite small. They normally form at the bottom of your feet.

Corns usually develop due to constant rubbing, friction, pressure, and irritation against the skin. This is why you will most likely see them appear on the bony part of your feet. This hardening layer is actually your body’s defence to protect the softer skin underneath from the pressure.

How Can I Tell If I Have A Corn?

Now that you know what a corn is, you’ll be easily able to identify it. You can identify a corn on your foot if:

1. You have a hard bump on your skin, which is surrounded by a dry patch of skin
2. You have a tender and raised lump on your skin, that is painful to pressure

Corns are often confused with calluses and verrucas (more on that later!). The main difference between corns and calluses is that corns are painful, while calluses are normally not painful. Corns have a central core that acts as a pressure point, which is the sensitive part the corn is protecting. So, when pressure is applied, corns tend to hurt.

Am I Susceptible To Corns?

You’re more likely to develop a corn if:

• You have a medical condition that changes the alignment of the bones in your feet. Ex. arthritis, hammertoes, bunions, bone spurs.
• You don’t wear socks
• Your shoes are too narrow for your feet

If you check yes on any of the above, you run the risk of developing corns on your feet.

Are They Painful?

You’re probably wondering if corns are painful. The answer is both yes and no. When you first develop a corn, it won’t cause you pain at all. But, as the corn further develops and the skin thickens more, it can start causing pain. The areas of your skin that are raised will become sensitive to pressure and tender to touch compared to the unaffected skin surrounding it. Corns can even get infected, and that can lead to significant amounts of pain. This is why it’s always best to see a podiatrist so they can give you corn treatment for your feet so that the issue doesn’t get worse.

How Can I Prevent Corns?

As with all things, prevention is always better than cure. Feet are often overlooked, but they’re very integral to your overall health since they make the most contact with the ground. In order to prevent corns from developing on your feet, you should keep the following in mind:

• Always wear shoes that fit you well and are comfortable. Your shoes must support your feet but also be cushioned and have shock absorbing soles. Your feet should never feel cramped in your shoes, and there must always be ample space for your toes so they aren;t rubbing against the shoes or eachother.
• Try to avoid narrow toed and high heeled shoes as far as you can.
• Use insoles that are cushioned.
• Wear socks with your shoes.
• Inspect your feet regularly and practice proper foot care and hygiene.
• Always keep your toenails trimmed.
• Try not to walk barefoot.
• Try keeping your feet as dry as you can. Use foot powder if you’re prone to sweaty feet

How To Treat A Corn

If you’re past the stage of prevention and now need to know how to treat a corn…You’ll be happy to know that there are a few considerably painless methods a podiatrist will use to treat your corn. Here they are:

• Trimming: Your podiatrist will most likely remove your corn by trimming it down using a tool. You can try doing this at home by soaking your feet for around 20 minutes in order to make the skin soft. Then, go ahead and gently scrape away at the rough skin using a pumice stone.
• Chemical: This type of corn treatment for foot is similar to trimming, but uses chemical products instead to slowly dissolve the affected skin. A common product used is salicylic acid, which dissolves keratin (what dead skin is made of).
• Toe Protection / Footpads: Though not really a form of treatment, it’s worth mentioning. Using footpads can help ease the discomfort significantly. You can also use toe splints to prevent your toes from creating friction with each other.

A recommended at-home treatment is as follows:

• Soak the corn in warm water, for 5-10 minutes till the skin softens
• File the corn with a pumice stone. First, dip the stone in warm water then use it very gently against your corn. Make sure to use it in circular motions or sideways motions. This will remove the dead skin
• Don’t file it too much and take off too much skin, this can lead to bleeding and infections
• Use moisturizer/lotion on the area daily. Preferably one with salicylic acid, urea, or ammonium lactate.
• Use a piece of moleskin as padding. Cut the moleskin into two half-moon shapes and place it around the corn. To prevent your corn from constant shoe-contact, use a doughnut-shaped adhesive pad to protect it.
• Always wear shoes that fit you right.
• Keep your toenails trimmed.

Conclusion

If you’re dealing with a corn or callus that is hard to manage, don’t hesitate to contact us! Here at Bucksfoot Clinic, we offer the best solution to all your foot-related problems.

The corner or side of a toenail grows into the tender flesh, a condition known as an ingrown toenail. As a result, there is discomfort, swollen, irritated skin, and occasionally an infection. The big toe is the one that is typically affected by ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails are frequently treatable by yourself. Your healthcare practitioner can help you reduce your discomfort and prevent ingrown toenail issues if the pain is severe or spreading.

You are more likely to experience ingrown toenail issues if you have diabetes or another condition that reduces the blood supply to your feet.

Symptoms

Ingrown toenail show the following symptoms:

• Pain or tenderness
• Inflamed skin
• Swelling
• Infection

Causes

The causes of an ingrown toenails are:

• Wearing shoes which are tight and cramp the toenails
• Cutting toenails extra short and uneven
• Injuring your toenail
• Having extra curved toenails
• Nail infections
• Certain medical conditions

What Makes You Susceptible To Ingrown Toenails?

• Being a teenager causes feet to perspire more, softening the nail and skin.
• Cutting nails excessively short
• Being less able to take care of your nails
• Wearing footwear that limits your toes
• Engaging in motions that put your toes at danger of harm, such as sprinting and kicking
• Having a disease that reduces blood flow, such as diabetes

Can Ingrown Toenails Cause Complications?

If you have diabetes, which can result in inadequate blood flow and damaged nerves in the foot, complications can be particularly severe. Therefore, a minor foot injury such as a cut, scrape, corn, callus, or ingrown toenail may not heal appropriately and end up getting infected.

Prevention

Straight across nail trims are best. Never shape your nails to resemble the front of your toe. Ask the person giving you a pedicure to cut your nails straight across. Visit a podiatrist periodically to have your nails cut if you suffer from a condition that prevents enough blood flow to your feet and you are unable to trim your nails.
The pressure from your shoes on your toes may cause a nail to grow into the tissue if you cut your toenails too short.

Put on shoes that are comfortable. A nail may grow into nearby tissue if your shoes are excessively tight or press against your toes. You might not be able to tell whether your shoes are excessively tight if you have nerve damage in your feet.
Put on safety footwear. Wear protective shoes, such as steel-toed shoes, if your activities put you at danger of toe injuries.
Examine your feet. Check your feet every day for indications of ingrown toenails or other foot issues if you have diabetes.

Who Treats Ingrown Toenails?

If you’ve ever wondered who treats ingrown toenails, here’s your answer – we do! Podiatrists are the best people to see when it comes to any issue related to your feet, including ingrown toenails. We can treat your ingrown toenail before it turns into a nasty infection and save you a lot of stress, and money in the future.

How To Treat An Ingrown Toenail

• lift the nail just a little bit. Your doctor may gently remove the edge of the ingrowing nail for a mild ingrown nail and place cotton, dental floss, or a splint underneath. This helps the nail develop over the skin’s edge and separates it from the skin above, usually taking two to twelve weeks. You’ll have to wet the toe and change the material every day at home. Additionally, your doctor can advise using a corticosteroid cream after soaking.
• Taping the nail. This method involves applying tape to the ingrown nail and pulling the skin away from it.
• using a gutter splint as support under the nail. Your doctor will numb the toe and insert a small tube with a slit underneath the embedded nail using this technique. Up until the nail has grown above the skin’s edge, this splint remains in place. This technique also lessens the discomfort caused by an ingrown nail.
• removing the tissue and nail. Your doctor could advise removing a part of the nail and the underlying tissue if you experience the issue on the same toe repeatedly (nail bed). This technique might stop the nail’s growth in that area. Your doctor will use a chemical, a laser, or other techniques to numb the toe.

Conclusion

Here at Bucksfoot Clinic we have a reputation for results. With a little assistance and guidance from our years of experience, we can assure you a speedy recovery from your discomfort.