My ingrown toenail!

An ingrown toenail is one of the most painful foot conditions as I have experienced this past week.

There are many ways to prevent ingrown toenails. But sometimes those measures aren’t enough to ward off a problem. Sometimes, a podiatrist has to surgically remove a toenail using a local anesthetic. Picture on the right is after the ingrown procedure that I received.  As you can see the Podiatrist takes as little as possible of the nail so that it looks normal. 

 Although ingrown toenails can sometimes be hereditary, they're most often caused by incorrect nail trimming -- and they become even more painful when they're squeezed by shoes that are too short and tight. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can follow to help prevent ingrown toenails.

The best tip for preventing ingrown toenails is: trim your nails straight across the top -- NOT in a rounded shape. This can cause the skin to grow    around the nail causing it to become ingrown. In addition, avoid wearing shoes or socks that squeeze your toes together.

If you are diabetic or have poor circulation, seek professional attention.  People who are diabetic are at higher risk for problems because many times they have a longer healing time as well as neuropathy which prevents them from feeling any problems. 

Suggestion to prevent a problem:

Switch to longer shoes with a bigger toe box at least 1/2 an inch from tip of your longest toe.

Soak your foot in a solution of 1/4 cup of white vinegar to one gallon warm water for 10 minutes twice a day if infection is present and contact your Podiatrist.

Check your feet daily if you are diabetic to make sure there are no problems with any of the nails or toes on your feet.

 If you believe you have the start of an ingrown toenail, apply an antiseptic or betadine ointment after you have soaked in the vinegar solution. This is especially important, because one of the greatest dangers of ingrown toenails is the possibility of infection. Try to seek Podiatric care as soon as possible if you are in pain and the area is red swollen and draining.

Another great way to prevent ingrown toenails is to come in to see a Podiatric Nail Technician for a professional pedicure or manicure!

Bethany CMA, Licensed Nail Technician

DIABETES AND NAIL FUNGUS! WHY THE LASER IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO!

In order to properly treat toenail fungus, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis. Failing to correctly diagnose the condition can cause a delay in resolving the problem that can be more critical to a person with diabetes than a person whose system can better tolerate the delay.

In a typical toe fungus, discoloration of the toenail is usually a yellowish brown. But the result is not always yellow toenails. If other organisms cause the changes in the toenail, the discoloration may take on a dark green to black appearance. Black toenails can also be caused by trauma, autoimmune disorders, and melanoma. So, color of the toenails may be an indication of the problem, but yellow toenails or black toenails alone are not conclusive.

To diagnose toenail fungus, your medical professional will first examine the toenail for telltale signs of fungus. The next steps may include taking scrapings of the nail for a lab culture, examining toenail scrapings under a microscope, or doing a biopsy.

For a diabetic, toenail fungus is much more than a cosmetic problem. Diabetes complications from fungus infections in the toenails and fingernails can lead to amputations of the entire limbs because of infection.

Treatments for a Diabetic Toenail Fungus

Because of poor blood circulation to the toes and feet in a diabetic, it is hard for a diabetic's body to fend off the microbes that cause toenail fungus infections. As a result, people who suffer from diabetes are a particularly susceptible to toenail fungal infections and their complications. It is very important to treat the infection promptly.

Good skin care is essential for dealing with skin problems and fungal infections in diabetes. You should keep the skin clean and dry, specially the skin folds areas. If your skin is excessively dry, then keep it hydrated and moisturized.

Proper treatment depends on the nature and extent of the fungal infection. If the nail is relatively clear, an antifungal lacquer application such as Formula3 may cure the infection. If the fungal infection is more extensive and includes thick, brittle nails, an oral antifungal agent such as Lamisil can be effective (but do have side effects), either as a single therapy or taken in conjunction with an antifungal lacquer like CNL-8.

But there is hope! Doctors are now offering toenail Laser treatments with no side effects and no needles or invasive surgery! The Lasers along with a topical anti-fungal have been shown to help with that pesky nail fungus. Shining through your toe nail, the laser vaporizes fungi and leaves the surrounding healthy skin undamaged. For this reason, the procedure is painless as well as no recovery time. Laser manufacturers estimate treatments should take 3 minutes per toe. So for people who are diabetic, it is a dream! Call your podiatrist today for a consultation to rid yourself of this fungus… Because remember when your feet hurt, you hurt all over!!

PLANTAR FASCIITIS! IS THE LASER THE WAY TO GO?

 If you have heel pain in the morning or after sitting a long time, then you probably have plantar fasciitis and/or heel spurs. Plantar fasciitis is the result of bone or nerve irritation from too much tension, inflammation, or scar tissue in the fascia - the ligament on the bottom of the foot. The pain often increases with more walking and standing. The pain is usually where the fascia attaches to the heel, but it can be over the entire bottom area of the foot. A heel spur is a growth of bone from the heel that is often associated with plantar fasciitis pain because the bone sticking out from the heel spur is rubbing on the plantar fasciitis and causing irritation.

 Laser Treatment

Laser treatment for plantar fasciitis or "photobiomodulation" is the use of specific wavelength of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. The effects include but not limited to improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation, decreased swelling and vasodilation. Laser therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by physical therapists, nurses, and doctors as far back as the 1970s. Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, laser therapy is being used extensively in the United States.

Physician Consult

People with chronic plantar fasciitis should consult with their physician about whether laser therapy might help. The doctor will be able to have a better assessment of the plantar fascia after he/she takes x-rays and does a full physical of your legs and feet, as well as observes your gait.

Procedure

The procedure involves focusing a light beam on the foot to stimulate cellular reactions believed to reduce inflammation and pain while also speeding up recovery. Laser therapy is proven to biostimulate tissue repair and growth. The laser accelerates wound healing and decreases inflammation, pain and scar tissue formation as well as producing singlet oxygen, which destroys fungus. When it comes to pain management and fungus destruction Class 4 laser therapy provides dramatic results, is non-addictive and virtually free of side effects.

Proposed Mechanism

Laser therapy is believed to counteract plantar fasciitis by stopping the cycle of inflammation. Chronically inflamed tissues block nutrient and oxygen flow to the surrounding muscles and joints. The aim of treatment is to deliver focused laser energy directly to injured cells to repair and heal the tissues in order to fight the inflammation and restore oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood flow…

If you or someone you know has problems with Plantar Fasciitis or heel pain, Contact your Podiatrist today to find out if Laser therapy is right for you!! Because remember,  when your feet hurt, you hurt all over!!

YES OR NO TO LASER FOR FUNGUS NAILS?

Fungal infection of the toenail (onychomycosis) is a difficult to treat condition. The infection causes discolored, bumpy, ugly toe nails that can be hard to cut. The treatment is challenging because the beasties live in the nail bed (the part that we can’t see, beneath the skin). This is an extremely common problem, shared by up to 10% of the US population. If you are over 40, the number rises to 25% in that age group; and if you are over 60, sufferers from toe nail fungus can be as high as an estimated 50%! Up until very recently, treating toe nail fungus has been challenging due to the hardy nature of the fungus that resides under your nail.

 Topical therapies are largely ineffective because they don’t penetrate into the nail bed. The standard treatment is oral anti-fungal medications. The oral medication makes it to the nail bed by traveling through the blood stream, but the down side is the medications have to be taken for 3-9 months. The success rates range from 30-90% depending on the severity of the infection and the medication. High-dose fluconazole (450 mg) taken one a week for 12 weeks seems to have the best success rate (90% cure). Some treatment regimens require blood monitoring and all anti-fungal medications have drug interactions to consider.

Topical medications or lacquers are largely ineffective and designed to mostly prevent the spread or worsening of the condition. Oral medications are estimated to be about 50% successful, but those drugs are not tolerated well by many patients and risk of liver damage is an overriding concern. The latest and most effective treatment for the removal of toe nail fungus is laser therapy. Within this category, the HyperBlue diode laser has produced promising and successful results and is FDA-approved for the treatment of toe nail fungus.

So, given the option of taking a prescription medication for months (that might not work in the long run) and the prospect of blood monitoring and potential medication interactions, it’s no wonder people are intrigued by the idea of a laser.

With any “new” medical therapy (really, with any therapy) it’s best to go to an expert. For toenail fungus that’s typically a family physician, a dermatologist or a podiatrist (foot doctor). That way you can get a correct diagnosis and hear about all your options before proceeding with the laser treatment. So call your doctor today because remember when your feet hurt, you hurt all over!

SHOW OFF YOUR TOES!

It’s almost that time of year, to switch from your wool socks to some flip flops… Summer is almost here! However for some 23 million Americans with toenail fungus, showing off their toes is a different story. 

Many people with nail fungus tend to ignore it in the winter, while their feet hide in boots. With warmer weather upon us and sandal season around the corner, a remedy for unsightly nail fungus in now available!

The Hyperblue diode laser offers states of the art laser treatment that is more effective than topical and oral treatments. The laser does not have any side effects and never interferes with medications that you may be taking.  The laser is used by a licensed podiatrist with extensive training treating nail fungus and other diseases of the nail.  The most important aspect of laser treatment for toenail fungus is the fact that the toenail and skin surrounding the toe are unharmed. There is no pain whatsoever and the toenail and skin are left undamaged after treatment.

The HyperBlue diode laser is one of the most sophisticated FDA-approved lasers on the market.  It eradicates the fungus with heat, a specific wavelength of the laser beam and shockwaves, which is done quickly and painless. Of course with anything there is always after care with any procedure that you have and the laser is no different. It is recommended that you use a topical treatment in conjunction with the laser to help prevent reoccurrence.  That includes at home treatment as well as a follow up appointment to make sure everything is doing well with the treatments. 

If you have any problems with your nails don’t hesistate to call your podiatrist for a consultation for the nail laser. And remember when your feet hurt, you hurt all over!

Fungus? What the laser can do for you!

A growing number of doctors are offering an expensive laser procedure that say zaps away a common fungus that causes ugly, discolored nails. Published data on laser treatment for nail fungus is scant, but early results suggest it is a reasonable option for people who don't want the side effects of oral medications.

 What is nail fungus you ask? It is sometimes hard to distinguish toenail fungus from other kinds of diseases that involves the foot. Discoloration doesn’t necessarily mean that you are infected by fungus. Because of this, it is necessary to  know the signs of toenail fungus. Early detection is vital for successful treatment. If your nails are becoming discolored, then you might be infected.  It is followed by thickening of nail, dryness of the skin surrounding the area, and brittleness of the nail.  But discoloration is not always caused by fungus. It can be caused by other factors including, trauma and sometimes nail polish which can cause a yellowing of the nail.  Your podiatrist is usually able to immediately recognize the signs and symptoms of fungus.

  If the condition turns into something severe, you might end up losing your nail. There is also the risk of the infection spreading in your other nails so it is best treat it right away. The big toenail is commonly affected by the signs of toenail fungus. In the advance stage of the fungus, the toenail falls off.

Signs of toenail fungus are often confused with athlete’s foot. Although the root cause is the same,  they are different from each other in a lot of ways. Be careful because you might misdiagnose your condition. Applying the wrong treatment can make things worse. It's best to trim away the infected area so you will prevent the infection from spreading

Remember that nail fungus is sometimes undetected so it wise to take preventive measures to help you avoid this problem. Make sure to properly inspect your toes and feet. This can decrease your chances of having a severe fungal infection. Be aware of the signs of a fungus infection.

One thing that you can do is to seek the best treatment for toenail fungus. The newest treatment available is the Laser. The laser beam helps to promote new and healthy nail growth. Patients may receive up to 3 treatments to the affected area(s).  The nail does not instantly become clear at the time of the procedure, but will grow in CLEAR and HEALTHY. The success rate of using the laser, in conjunction with a topical antifungal, as a treatment of onychomycosis is approximately 80%. The procedure takes less than a half hour and, while results aren't immediate, the toenail will grow out normally in nine to 12 months, in most cases.

If you or someone you know has a problem with nail fungus, call your podiatrist today because remember, when your feet hurt, you hurt all over!!