How podiatrists treat common toenail conditions

In addition to providing general foot care, podiatrists also offer a number of specialist treatment options for specific conditions which affect the toenails. Here is a brief explanation of the treatments they often use to address these type of issues.

Ingrown toenails

The term 'ingrown toenail' is used to describe a nail whose sides have grown into the flesh surrounding the nail bed. This painful condition usually affects the big toe and can be caused by a person cutting their nails incorrectly or by wearing ill-fitting shoes. The symptoms include pain, which is often made worse by pressure being placed on the toenail, as well as swollen red skin around the affected nail (resulting from infection).

There are a number of approaches a podiatrist might take to treating this condition. If it is in the early stages and has begun to curl but has not yet pierced and penetrated the skin, they may cut away the curling section of the toenail and then file down the remaining nail to ensure that it does not continue to grow in the same direction (i.e. towards the flesh).

If the toenail has already pierced the flesh, a local anaesthetic will be applied before the portion of the offending nail is dislodged. If an infection has developed, the podiatrist may also recommend that the patient takes a course of antibiotics. Additionally, if the condition is thought to have been caused by improper cutting of the nail, the podiatrist might show the patient the correct cutting technique to prevent the condition from reoccurring.

Fungal toenail infections

Fungal toenail infections are very common; the warmth and moisture in this area of the body make it the ideal breeding ground for fungi. Symptoms of this condition include brittle, thickened or flaking toenails and a yellowing of the nail bed.

If a patient has a mild fungal infection, their podiatrist may provide them with a topical treatment, such as an antifungal spray or nail paint. Alternatively, they may advise them to take a course of prescribed oral antifungal tablets. These medications can be effective, but they often take several months to produce results.

As such, in cases where the infection is quite severe or where the patient wants faster results, their podiatrist may perform cold laser fungal nail treatments. Cold laser uses photo-chemistry to kill off the fungal spores. Most people find that their infections are resolved in just a few short rounds of treatment.