General Foot Care

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Removal of corns and calluses

Corns and calluses are a common presentation at our practice. Calluses usually involve the thickening of skin over a large area of the foot, whereas a corn is a smaller and usually more painful lesion that is caused by direct pressure over a bony prominence. Both of these issues are simply a natural protective response from your skin but can be quite troublesome. Removal of corns and calluses is usually very simple and painless, however both issues can be recurrent. Once we have removed the corn or callus we will typically look at ways of preventing their formation in the future. This may involve improving the general condition of your skin by identifying any potential underlying skin conditions or offloading the area by recognising the cause of pressure on the skin. This may have something to do with your foot shape or footwear.

We strongly recommend that you do not use over-the-counter corn pads or plasters for these issues as they will often result in worsening the problem.

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General nail care

At Lakes Podiatry we offer general nail care which is routine treatment for those who have difficulty managing their nails. You may have difficulty reaching your feet or your nails may be thickened or an irregular shape, making it difficult for you to trim them. We have a range of instruments to make your nails tidier and more comfortable, and with regular treatment we can prevent your nails from becoming a problem in the future.

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Ingrown toenails (see also Surgical Options)

Ingrown toenails are another common presentation at our clinic. An ingrown toenail involves one or both sides of a nail creating pressure in the sulcus. This usually results in pain and can cause infection. An ingrown nail may be the result of a naturally wide or excessively curved nail shape or the result of a nail shape that has been altered through trauma. Conservative treatment of an ingrown toenail involves gently trimming away the area of nail that is pressurising the toe and shaping it in a way that will minimise the chance of reoccurrence. At times ingrown toenails can be quite recurrent and difficult to manage conservatively, in which case we can perform a simple surgical procedure that will permanently resolve the issue for you. This procedure involves removing a small segment of the nail from the side and then stopping the offending edge of nail from regrowing. Some people prefer to have an occasional visit to the podiatrist to shape their nail and prevent it from becoming ingrown, whereas others choose to look at a more permanent solution so they don’t need to worry about it.

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Ingrown toenails (see also Surgical Options)

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Fungal and bacterial infections

Fungal infections are a common presentation in the feet that can affect both the skin and nails. Generally a fungal infection can be diagnosed clinically, however we do have in-clinic testing kits and we can send samples for testing in a laboratory if we need confirmation. You may have found dealing with a fungal infection in the skin or nails very frustrating or recurrent. We can help you through the best management of these infections and also the future prevention to improve your overall success rate. We often find that you are either using an incorrect product for your particular infection or perhaps you are not using it in the correct manner. These infections can be quite difficult to resolve so it is important that you are using the best treatment options to maximise the chance of success.

Bacterial infections of the skin usually occur for those who are wearing shoes for prolonged periods, or may be involved in regular sporting activities. Typically the skin will appear white with a number of small holes or pits in the skin. This condition is called pitted keratolysis and is quite different from a fungal foot infection or what is commonly known as Athlete’s foot. It is important that we differentiate between a fungal and bacterial infection as the management of these two issues is unique. Treatment involves resolving the infection and then measures to prevent this infection from occurring in the future.

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Wart treatments (see also Surgical Options)

Warts or verrucas are an infection in the skin caused by the human papilloma virus. The resulting lesions can have numerous appearances and sometimes can be painful depending on their location. Normally these infections have been picked up in a communal area and some individuals do seem to be more susceptible than others. Treatment of verrucas can be quite challenging but we do have a wide range of treatment options available depending on the presentation of the verrucas and your personal preference. These treatment options include a number of topical applications, removal of the verruca through a minor surgical procedure, or use of the Faulkner’s needing technique which has proven to be quite successful.

If you would like to discuss any of these treatment options please get in touch with the clinic and we can advise you on the most appropriate treatment for your needs.

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Blister management

Blisters are a painful reaction in the skin as a result of friction. Usually a blister is the result of an abnormal level of friction on a part of your foot that it not accustomed to. This may be the result of new or ill-fitting footwear or going for a much longer than you usually would and not allowing your skin time to adapt to this. Some people will find their skin is more prone to blistering and they will usually need to have some measures in place to prevent blisters from developing. For others, it will just be an occasional occurrence and a case of identifying what has caused the blister.

We can give you advice on managing blisters when they occur and assessing footwear to see if there are any issues that may be contributing. Assessing your skin and advice on improving the overall condition of your skin can reduce the likelihood of you developing blisters. We can also advise you on the best products to use for preventative management of blisters for an upcoming tramp or sporting event.

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Footwear advice

Footwear is often under-estimated as a major contributor to foot and lower limb pain. This could be the result of ill-fitting footwear, inappropriate footwear for a particular activity, or sometimes is just the subtle characteristics of a certain pair of shoes that does not suit an individual’s foot type. We can help to guide you through this difficult selection process and help you find a pair of shoes that look and feel the way you want them to.