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Verrucae are plantar warts that often occur on the soles of  feet or around the toes. They are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is highly contagious through direct person to person contact. Although harmless verrucae can be painful if they develop on a weight bearing part of the foot. In addition, callus can form over the surface increasing your discomfort. Some strains of the virus spread very quickly and can look unsightly. Your podiatrist will discuss these treatment options with you and suggest a management plan to provide you with the best care. At your initial appointment a full assessment will be carried out to ensures the podiatrist has a good understanding of your medical history (including any medications).  A range of acid based treatments (stronger than…

An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail has grown into the skin at the sides of the nail. This can cause the area to become painful, weep, bleed or exude pus. Several factors can cause ingrown toenails, such as injury to the nail (including loss of the nail through sport or injury), incorrect nail cutting, or tight-fitting shoes. In many cases the shape of the toenail may itself be the main cause and the condition can run in families. NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT In many cases a single visit to the podiatrist may alleviate the condition. Treatment will involve removing the offending piece of nail and applying a sterile dressing if needed. If the toe is very painful then a local anaesthetic can be given prior to treatment to completely numb the toe. If…

Fungal infection of the nail – known as onychomycosis – is the most difficult of the superficial fungal infections to treat. The active infection is usually in the skin beneath the nail (nail bed), rather than the nail itself, and so getting anti-fungal treatment to this area in sufficient concentration is very difficult. This is because most treatments available are topical agents (nail paints, ointments, and sprays), which are unable to penetrate the nail plate and reach the infected area. The Lacuna Method offers an effective solution. What is the Lacuna Method? The Lacuna Method is only available from suitably qualified individuals. Several rows of tiny holes are drilled through the nail plate to the nail bed – the number of holes depends on the size of the nail being…

If you are a new patient to our clinics, please be sure to book an INITIAL ASSESSMENT APPOINTMENT At your initial appointment a thorough assessment of your feet will be conducted.  This will included vascular assessment (including Doppler ultrasound), neurological assessment and dermatological assessment. This ensures the podiatrist has a good understanding of your medical history (including any medications) and details of your foot/lower limb concerns. During this appointment any routine podiatry/chiropody treatments can be performed. ROUTINE PODIATRY/CHIROPODY FOOT CARE Routine podiatry/chiropody foot treatments are preventative measures against more serious foot problems. At your appointment, nails will be reduced as appropriate and treatment options for nail problems (e.g. thickened, discoloured or ingrown toenails) will be discussed with you. Corns or callus (hard skin) will be gently removed. We will also advise…