Fungal nail infections, also called Onychomycosis

Nails can be quite an important feature of feet for some people, and often you can feel insecure if they do not look quite right. Fungal nails are one of the most common conditions we see and treat at Jones Health.

There are several factors that can cause fungal toenails and this can include -
- Elderly population due to decreased blood flow
- Excessive sweating
- History of fungal infections on nail and/or skin (such as Athlete’s Foot)
- Weakened immune system, diabetes or poor circulation
- Not wearing footwear around public areas such as gym showers or swimming pools
- Poor sanitisation

You may have a fungal infection if you notice your nails are starting to look discoloured or thickened. Other symptoms can also include white or yellow-brown discolouration, brittle, crumbly or jagged nails, distorted shape or perhaps a foul odour.

Our podiatrists help treat the fungal infection and provide you with treatment options best suited for you and your lifestyle.

Ingrown toenails, also called Onychocryptosis

Ingrown toenails are a common, but quite unpleasant condition often seen in the big toenails but can also occur in your little toes. They can be quite painful and cause swelling, redness and discomfort, affecting your day to day activities. Ingrown toenails occur by recurrent pressure on the edge of the nail resulting in the inward growth of the nail in the surrounding nail folds.

Factors that can cause the side of your nail digging into the side of your skin include -
- Damaged toenails
- Various shaped or naturally curved toenails
- Poor fitting footwear
- Incorrect toenail cutting
- Poor foot hygiene
- Abnormal gait and demanding sporting activities
- Fungal nail infections
- Underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, poor circulation or decreased immune system

Symptoms can include -
- Pain and tenderness along the side of your nail
- Redness and swelling
- Inflammation and bulging
- Pus
- Odour

Here at Jones Health, ingrown toenails are dealt with great care. Whether it is conservative treatment by clearing the side of the nails and cutting the nail properly, or an ingrown toenail surgery, we can ensure you will leave the clinic feeling relieved that your toenails are no longer painful.

Athlete’s foot, also called Tinea Pedis

Furthermore to fungal infections of the nails, your skin can also be red, inflamed, flaky and itchy. If that is the case, you may have Athlete’s Foot, or Tinea Pedis.

Risk factors for athlete’s foot include -
- Wearing damp or wet socks
- Poor foot hygiene
- Shared rugs, sheets, socks or clothes with someone who has a fungal infection
- Excessive sweating
- Improper drying in between feet and toes
- Not wearing footwear around public areas such as gym showers or swimming pools
- Poor sanitisation

Further to the symptoms listed above, you may also experience a scaly rash that can cause stinging or burning. Our podiatrists assess the condition, determine the cause, provide treatment and advise prevention.

Cracked heels

Cracked heels are one of the most common conditions we treat at Jones Health. Some people are generally prone to dry, cracked skin whereas some acquire this condition over time. They occur more prominently in summer when you tend to wear open toed shoes or jandals more.

Causes for cracked heels include -
- Work where one has to stand for long hours
- Walking barefoot or with ill supported footwear such as jandals
- Taking long, hot showers
- Not moisturising your skin
- Dry skin due to climate
- Ill-fitted footwear

Cracked heels are generally quite easy to spot. However, there may be other symptoms you can experience alongside cracked heels which may require podiatrist treatment. This can include -
- Flaky skin
- Bleeding, painful cracks
- Itchiness
- Infected lesions
- Red and inflamed heels
- Difficulty walking or weight bearing due to the pressure on your heels

When you see us, we will remove all the dead skin, reduce the cracks and treat your dry heels until they are baby soft! We will also discuss further treatment options to maintain optimum foot health and prevention of the condition. You’ll be showing off your soft heels to everyone!

Corns and calluses

If there is enough friction and pressure to an area of your foot, you can develop hard patches or flakes of skin that can get painful. Calluses, or thick, toughened skin, are often harmful but with enough pressure, can become quite painful and develop into a corn!

Symptoms of corns or calluses include -
- Raised or hardened bumps
- Thick rough areas of skin
- Waxy texture
- Sharp, stinging feeling
- Shard of glass sensation or feeling like there is a pebble in your shoe
- Pain or tenderness under the skin

We remove the corn and calluses gently, carefully and painlessly so you can complete your daily tasks with minimal discomfort. If your corns are calluses are caused by abnormal gait, increased pressure or ill-fitting footwear, we can also guide you and provide you with treatment options to maintain your symptoms better.

Warts and Verrucae

Verrucae, or plantar warts are flat lesions on the soles of your feet that arise from the HPV virus. They can be passed though skin to skin contact or indirect contact of contaminated objects such as towels or shoes. The most common surfaces for verruca to spread are public swimming pools and communal shower areas.
Symptoms of plantar warts include -
- Small white lesion
- Having a black dot or dots in the centre. These are blood vessels
- Flat and not raised from the surface of the skin
- Appearing on the soles of feet or high pressure areas
- Painful when squeezing the lesion or when weight bearing

Our treatment options to treat verrucae are safe and often painless. Depending on the lesion, size and other determining factors, our podiatrist will examine the lesion and decide whether conservative treatment of the verruca is best for you, or whether it requires dry needling or verruca excision.