Nail Treatments & Care

Toenails and Fingernails - regular cutting by a Podiatrist is the best way to keep your nails healthy, prevent nail problems and keep a professional eye on your foot and lower limb health. 

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Fungal nail infections are very common and are best treated as soon as possible. The infection usually starts at the edge of the toenails and spreads to the middle of the nail, causing it to become brittle and start to breakdown. This can cause swelling around the nail bed and get very sore. 

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Thickened nails can cause pain around the nail bed and need to be cut and treated properly. Thickened nails can also be a symptom of a more serious long term condition, so it is important you see a Podiatrist who will be able to assess your condition, treat the nail(s) and advise you on next steps. 

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Involuted and ingrown nails are hard to cut and manage yourself. These nails can be treated and cut properly by your Podiatrist and this will stop the problem from becoming worse and in some cases - needing surgery. Your Podiatrist is an expert at caring for your nails and if seen quickly, can often prevent involuted or ingrown nail problems and prevention is always better than cure!

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Deformed nails are often the result of injury or damage from having long nails in restrictive footwear. It is advised that you see a Podiatrist to cut and manage these nails for you, as it is incredibly difficult to do so on your own. 

Skin Conditions & Wound Care

Corns & Calluses are hard or thick areas of the skin on feet and hands. Usually caused by pressure & rubbing from wearing the wrong size footwear, high heels or not wearing socks with shoes. Corns & Calluses can be very tender and painful, good news is that they are treatable and your Podiatrist can help you with this. 

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Heel Fissures - also known as cracked heels. These are cracks in the skin usually caused by dry or hard skin. They can be painful and at times, lead to infection if left untreated. A Podiatrist can help to reduce the hard skin and advise on proper self-management. 

Athletes Foot is a common fungal infection and can be tough to get rid of. Painfully causing cracks and blisters on feet and in particular, between the toes. There can be complications if you have other conditions such as Diabetes or a Weakened Immune System. Your Podiatrist can treat Athletes Foot and give expert advice to stop these infections from repeatedly coming back. 

Verrucas are caused by a virus and are generally on the soles of your feet. They can be particularly painful and can take a very long time to treat with over the counter medicine. Podiatrists can give you treatment and advice for your verruca. 

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Diabetic & High Risk Conditions

Diabetes - Footcare is one of the most overlooked aspects in Diabetic Patients. It is also one of the main causes for gangrene; resulting in having to have damaged or dead tissue removed, amputation and even loss of life. 

This is because Diabetes can cause: 

• Nerve damage - known as Peripheral Neuropathy.

• Poor circulation - restricting the bodies ability to heal. 

• Stiff joints - causing pain. 

People with Diabetes are also much more prone to infection. It is essential that regular checkups are in place to strictly monitor any foot condition that could cause ulcers, cracks in skin or damaged tissue. These could all lead to infections and must be managed correctly. 

Peripheral Arterial/Vascular Disease - similarly to Diabetes, this condition can cause many complications with your feet and lower limbs. PAD/PVD causes a restriction in blood flow and circulation around your body and in particular - legs and feet. Monitoring and management is vital as this is another cause of ulcers, burning pain and tissue damage. 

Other conditions that are at high risk of developing foot problems include:

• Rheumatoid/Psoriatic Arthritis 

• Patients taking warfarin or similar medications

• Immunosuppressive - compromised immune system

• Cancer

• Neuropathy

• Stroke CVA / TIA 

• Connective tissue disorders

Your Podiatrist can carry out a Footcare Risk Assessment for you, checking the pulses in your feet, checking for nerve damage and assessing your overall foot health. She can then create a care plan to help you manage and/or prevent complications with your feet.     

Foot & Lower Limb Pain

Heel Pain is very common and there are many different conditions that people struggle with, and a Podiatrist can treat your pain and give you expert advice on how to best manage your condition.

Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition that occurs with damage to the Fascia band, which connects the heel to the toes. It is normally caused by injury from extensive running, walking or standing for long periods of time. Your Podiatrist can treat you for this condition as well as provide the correct medical advice you need to manage your Plantar Fasciitis. 

Osteoarthritis can cause a lot of pain as the joints in your feet suffer from wear and tear. There are many ways that your Podiatrist can help you to relieve the pressure and reduce the pain you’re in. This varies depending on each patient, but there are treatments available. You will also benefit from professional advice on footwear & insoles that can aid in easing the pressure and pain in your feet. 

Chilblains are small red, itchy swellings that tend to occur mainly on your toes. They can be very painful and there is risk of them drying out, causing cracks in the skin exposing the foot to infection - which can lead to many different complications. Care can be given by your Podiatrist to reduce this risk and prevent further problems. 

Gout is caused by an imbalance of uric acid in the body and forms small crystals which collect in the joints. It causes inflammation and can be severe and painful. A Podiatrist is able to help alleviate the pain, giving treatments and expert advice for preventing further attacks of gout.  

Mobility Aids & Footwear

Mobility Aids there are many aids that can help relieve and/or prevent further conditions in your lower limbs or feet. Your Podiatrist is an expert when it comes to feet, so the advice and support they can give you is very valuable. With so many products available it can be hard to know what to buy. There is also risk of you buying and using an aid that is for a different condition or purpose to what you need. Having an appointment to go over your foot health and needs is essential. Podiatrists can also show you how to use your new aid properly and guide you on best practise. 

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Footwear plays a massive role in foot health. Wearing the wrong footwear can cause you many problems down the line. Choosing the right footwear for any specific problems you have with your feet can be tricky and sometimes overwhelming. Having a Podiatrist check your foot health, diagnosing specific problems and matching the footwear that is right for you personally, is key. We often overlook our foot health and tend not to think about how important footwear is to us, especially those that are struggling with pain and problems in their feet. A podiatrist can help you with all of this and will happily find the right solution for you. 

GP & other Referrals 

Referrals can be made by a Podiatrist for any further assessments, treatments or procedures you may need. There are many conditions that need further investigation by medical professionals. A Podiatrist is an expert on when it comes to feet, they are the best person to advise and refer you to the right department or professional. GPs have limited knowledge on the feet due to the vast amount of conditions they deal with day in, day out. Also just getting a GP appointment can be lengthy and challenging with the huge number of patients they care for. When it comes to feet, your Podiatrist is always your best, first call. Every single Podiatrist has studied feet for at least 3 years and the knowledge they have is incredible. And if they can't help, or are limited to what they can do with a particular condition, they know just who to send you on to and will arrange the referral for you. If you want to know more about the Qualification and Experience Diane has, please see the About Page here.