Common Nail Problems

Thick, yellow and crumbling toenail is a common presentation of a fungal infection. These infections occur when fungi, such as dermatophytes, yeasts, or moulds, invade the nail plate, nail bed, or  surrounding skin. Fungal nail infection, also known as onychomycosis, primarily affect the toenail.

Pathology testing and treatment for fungal nail infections are often required to accurately diagnose the specific cause and choose the best treatment method. Proper toenail cutting, filing and reducing the nail thickness, in combination with topical antifungal treatments can improve the presentation of thick unsightly nails. 

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Some of the most common complaints with an ingrown toenail include redness, swelling, pain, and in some cases, pus coming from the affected toe area. If you suspect that your toenails are suffering from this issue, it’s essential to treat it promptly to prevent toe nail infection and further complications.  If you have pus and redness, please don’t delay and call us immediately for a consultation.

A podiatrist can assess your condition, and offer many painless treatment options for ingrown toenails.

It's important to get Tinea treated before it becomes a serious problem that spreads across your feet, or gets under your toenail and becomes a fungal nail infection.  Tinea can present as any of the following:

• Dry skin on the foot

• Cracked inbetween the toes

• Smelly inbetween the toes

• Blisters on the bottom of the foot/toes

• Red, circular and blistery lesions around the borders of the foot

If tinea is not treated properly and the fungal spores eradicated from socks, shoes etc, it is very likely that the tinea will return.  It’s important to find out the reason you keep getting tinea (it can be something as simple as assessing the health of your toenails) and eliminate this so you don’t get it again.  The fungal spores are very resistant to treatment and if you don’t treat it for the right amount of time then these fungal spores will cause another infection - we can help you find the cause, treat your tinea and make sure it doesn't come back.

There are many different types of warts which can present on the feet.  Some are cauliflower like, some are flat but very large with island warts surrounding it.  Each wart responds differently.

We tailor a treatment plan to suit your lifestyle, activity and pain tolerance. 

At Kerrin Davey podiatry we use the following treatments:

• Salicylic acid (60%)

• Silver nitrate

• Offloading padding

• In severe cases referral to a podiatric surgeon for removal.

So if you have a wart, rest assured we have a treatment to effectively get rid of them!!!

Callus and corns are usually a sign that there is too much pressure and friction going through that area of your foot.  If you have callus on the top of your toes its usually a sign that your shoes are too shallow.  Or you may have callus under the big toe joint, this usually indicates that this joint is not working effectively when you are walking and is being overloaded.

We can remove a corn or callus with sharp debridement using a scalpel but if we don't address the underlying reason why it occurred  in the first place, it is likely to return.  During your visit we will remove the corn or callus using a scalpel which is a painless procedure and we will then determine the cause of your corn and try and address it.