Toenail fungus is a stubborn and often hard to treat infection of the toenails. Laser treatment is a possible remedy that has helped many people to cure toenail fungus. It is a safe treatment, and may have to be repeated several times for serious infections. It is administered through pulses of energy that produce heat, which penetrates to the nail bed. The tissue becomes decomposed, and this destroys the fungus and surrounding nail. This is generally effective in preventing new fungal growth. There is often a high improvement rate after several weeks, and a culture is taken to prove the infection is gone. After the affected foot is cleaned with a sterile solution, the laser is pointed at the nails to be treated. There are some people who experience side effects, including bleeding and mild pain. If you are afflicted with toenail fungus, please consult with a podiatrist who can determine if laser treatment is right for you.

Laser treatment can be an effective way to get rid of toenail fungus. If you have any questions about laser treatment, consult with one of our podiatrists from Brondon Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment for fungal nails.

What Are Toenail Fungal Infections?

Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail, is a relatively common and non-serious condition. Around 10 percent of U.S. citizens are afflicted with fungal nails. Common forms of fungus that infect the nail include dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds.

Symptoms of Toenail Fungal Infections Include:

• Nail thickening
• Brittleness of the nail
• Discoloration of the nail

Diagnosis for Fungal Nails

Fungal infections are diagnosed by fungal culture and microscopy. This will rule out any other conditions such as nail trauma, psoriasis, lichen planus, and onychogryphosis.

What Is Laser Treatment?

Laser treatment is a non-invasive, safe, quick, and painless procedure that uses the heat from a laser to kill fungus in the nail. Each infected nail is targeted with a laser for several minutes. The treatment is usually utilized several different times over a select period. During this time, a podiatrist will keep an eye on the infection.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Centerville, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

It is normal for the feet to flatten and become wider as the aging process occurs. As the fatty padding gradually wears down, the joints and bones of the feet are more susceptible to basic wear and tear. Range of motion and balance may be negatively affected, and injuries can happen more frequently. Foot care for the elderly can start with washing and drying the feet thoroughly every day, and this may be helpful in preventing bacterial, fungal , and viral infections. This is generally followed by applying a good moisturizer on the feet, which may help to prevent cracked heels from developing. Many people wear cotton socks after this, and this can help to lock in the moisture. When the toenails are properly trimmed, conditions that can include ingrown toenails may be avoided. Many elderly people are confined to a bed or chair for the majority of the day, and bedsores on the heels may develop as a result of this. This can be remedied by raising the heels in the air, which is known as “floating the heels’.  There are additional ways that can help elderly patients take proper care of their feet, and it is suggested that you speak with a podiatrist to learn about these methods.

Proper foot care is something many older adults forget to consider. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact one of our podiatrists from Brondon Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

The Elderly and Their Feet

As we age we start to notice many changes in our body, but the elder population may not notice them right away. Medical conditions may prevent the elderly to take notice of their foot health right away. Poor vision is a lead contributor to not taking action for the elderly.

Common Conditions 

• Neuropathy – can reduce feeling in the feet and can hide many life-threatening medical conditions.
• Reduced flexibility – prevents the ability of proper toenail trimming, and foot cleaning. If left untreated, it may lead to further medical issues.
• Foot sores – amongst the older population can be serious before they are discovered. Some of the problematic conditions they may face are:
• Gouging toenails affecting nearby toe
• Shoes that don’t fit properly
• Pressure sores
• Loss of circulation in legs & feet
• Edema & swelling of feet and ankles

Susceptible Infections

Diabetes and poor circulation can cause general loss of sensitivity over the years, turning a simple cut into a serious issue.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Centerville, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Professional chefs spend many hours a week on their feet cooking. Their days often involve a continuous day of standing, walking, bending, lifting, and turning at odd angles. Being on one’s feet so much will eventually take a toll. It might start with sore feet at the end of the day but often gradually starts to involve other parts of the body as everything is interconnected. It is important for anyone in this profession, and any other job that requires long hours of standing, to take proper care of their feet. If not, one will be in constant pain, productivity will be impacted, and the passion for cooking will take a back seat to aches and pains. A cook can delay or diminish foot pain by doing some simple things, including wearing shoes that fit well, are supportive, and have proper cushioning. Other tips are lifting properly and not more than can be handled, and wearing white socks, because colored socks have dye that can seep into pores when one sweats. Sitting (at least when eating) to take some of the pressure off the feet, as well as staying active and stretching when not working to keep limber may also help. Do as much as you can to take care of your feet if you are working on your feet all day. If you cannot get on top of the pain yourself, see a podiatrist for additional tips and treatment.

While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Brondon Foot and Ankle. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Working on Your Feet

Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.

Positive Changes

Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.

Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.

Eliminate Pain

Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.

Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen. 

With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.

If you have any questions please contact our office located in Centerville, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Ingrown toenails can occur in individuals of all ages when the side of the nail digs into the skin. This condition is most prevalent in one’s big toe and will cause pain, discomfort, and redness where the ingrown nail meets the skin. Although the causes of ingrown toenails are varied, this condition frequently occurs due to improper nail care. If a toenail is cut too short, for example, the skin on the side of the nail can grow over top of the nail, eventually making it ingrown. Ingrown toenails can also develop when a toenail completely falls off following a serious foot injury or when the nail is severely ripped or misshapen. Some ingrown toenails—notably, milder ones—do not require immediate medical attention. However, making yourself aware of ingrown toenails is important to maintaining healthy feet because this condition can quickly become dangerous. Ingrown toenails may sometimes become infected, producing pus, swelling, warmness, and even unpleasant odors where the ingrown nail meets the skin. Letting such an infection go untreated may exacerbate the condition and the pain felt in the toenail. Upon receiving proper medical attention, your ingrown nail may be cared for by draining pus or removing sections of the ingrown nail. It is suggested you consult with your podiatrist if you feel an ingrown toenail is getting serious.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Brondon Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Centerville, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.