The majority of people do not think about their feet until something goes wrong with them. They are not like our hands which we use constantly, although in fact we do use our feet a lot for standing, walking, and even running for the bus. But we don’t think about them: they are just “there”.
In fact, quite a number of things can happen to our feet, and many of them will need chiropody in London. Or more accurately, podiatry. What used to be called a chiropodist, today is called a podiatrist, but they are one and the same.
One common problem that we often have to treat here at The Harley Street Foot And Nail Clinic is an ingrowing toenail. It can often affect teenagers and young adults, and there is generally no obvious cause, although badly fitting shoes can cause issues. Another thing is the way that you cut your nails. Toenails should always be cut straight across, not rounded as the fingernails are. Of course, there is always the possibility of injury to the nail. Fungal infection is another possible cause.
In some cases, it may be necessary to have nail surgery in London. The toe is made numb by injecting an anaesthetic into it. Then the nail is cut with scissors from front to back just close to the edge that is causing the problem. The cut portion can then be pulled away and an acid called phenol is put on the nail bed where the offending part was cut away. It helps to prevent the nail edge from growing again and repeating the problem. The nail is then dressed.
Nail surgery in London for ingrowing toenails will let the nail grow, but it will be narrower than it was. Some good tips for preventing an ingrowing toenail are to wear cotton socks rather than polyester, and to avoid wearing shoes that are too tight. It also is easier to cut your toenails when they are softer after you have had a bath or a shower.
Foot Fungus
Another common problem that we treat is foot fungus. The nail can become discoloured, turning green, yellow, black, or white, and may become thickened and distorted. It may also become brittle so that it can tear or break. It may be sore when it rubs against socks or shoes.
There are two kinds of fungi that can cause the problem, one of which is the one that causes athletes foot, and the other is one that causes thrush. What happens is that the fungi find their way between the nail and the skin underneath and happily feed off the skin or the keratin in the nail.
Fortunately, if you need chiropody in London for foot fungus, we can provide a laser treatment which will kill off the fungus. This is non-invasive and completely painless. It will need more than one treatment, but most patients will see results in three treatments. The procedure also means that there is no downtime.