Professional foot care
Calluses have the tendency to appear where there is a diffuse pressure point. Corns appear with focus pressure points such as between toes or at the top of them by rubbing against the shoe. Corns and calluses are a normal defense mechanism of the body to protect it and prevent harm to deeper tissue. When they become too thick, they can sometimes be painful and surrounded by red inflamed skin.
Regular care of the skin and nails help diminish the discomfort created by a thick layer of calluses, cracks, corns and long nails. Regular foot care also helps keep healthy feet, good hygiene and prevents further infections or ingrown toenails.
Deformed, Thick and Yellow Nails
Fungal infections are something really common in the general population. Dark, moist and hot environments like closed shoes create the ideal conditions of growth for fungi. Be aware that fungal nails are often misdiagnosed with thick traumatized nails that are fungi free. Fungal nails are thick and can have a different color (black, white, brown, yellow). Your podiatrist will explain to you the different options of treatment for a nail fungus and the last advanced technology: see the treatment described in Laser Laser Therapy.
Athlete’s Foot and Excessive Moisture
Athlete’s foot is a fungus that develops easily in individuals that do more sport, sweat a lot or wear closed steel-toe boots. There are different forms of athlete’s foot: between the toe, a moccasin’s type that covers all the sole of the foot or small itchy red vesicles or blisters.
Plantar Wart
Plantar wart is a contagious virus that can easily be transmitted in public areas such as pool side floors and locker rooms. Wearing sandals is a good way to prevent its transmission. Plantar warts are more commonly seen in children and young adults. Although plantar warts can disappear by themselves, it is recommended treating them to avoid their transmission to other people. Sometimes the wart can increase the pressure point by creating extra calluses and can be associated with pain when walking.
The skin is eight times thicker at the plantar aspect of the foot than in the rest of the body. This is why over the counter medications have a low efficiency rate. The podiatrist will offer you different options of treatments for the wart. Try the new product Cryoprobe to return to your normal activities right away and give your 100% for your hockey/soccer match or dancing tournament! See the treatment for wart Cryoprobe.
Biopsy of Suspicious Lesion
In certain cases, dark or irregular pigmentation requires more analysis. Biopsy services are available at the clinic with the podiatrist.
Trauma
In case of nail trauma, think of consulting your podiatrist as soon as possible! The best is to consult the same day to keep the initial aspect of the nail intact for an optimal long-term outcome.
Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail must be addressed quickly so it doesn’t get more infected. Make an appointment with your podiatrist. A small corner-cut is sometimes sufficient to remove the part of the foreign corner nail and solve the problem. In chronic cases, the surgical option is another option where a thin nail’s border is removed surgically and burned to the matrix, the root of the nail, to solve the problem permanently.
Diabetic Ulcers
Diabetic patients have sometimes less sensibility at the extremities and feet. These people can bump their feet and not even notice it. It can result in trauma, ulcers and infection and can be dangerous for the patient. High pressure points and calluses should not be ignored either and can also result in deep wounds. Pain protects the body against doing more harm. But if this signal is not triggered anymore, it can create problems. A diabetic patient should consult his podiatrist or a specialized foot care professional and diabetic professionals every three months or less depending on his condition to prevent any ulcer or infection.
DR. GUILLAUME B. LEGAULT
Podiatrist
