Your toenails consist of multiple layers of protein keratin, which provides protection to the nails on your toes and fingers. While you may enhance your nails every so often with the use of pedicures and nail polish, it is important to keep them regularly clean, dry and trimmed. Although your nails are usually smooth and consistent in color, there are many nail diseases that can occur.
Family Foot Care can treat many of the common toenail conditions with in-office surgeries or at state approved surgical centers. The specialists at this practice can alleviate several deformities including: Ingrown toenail, incurvated nail, fungus nail, thick nail (Hypertrophied), and injury to a toenail.
Probably the most common issue when it comes to your toenails, is an ingrown or incurvated nail. These conditions occur when a portion of the nail presses into the flesh and causes pain, redness and possible infection. Without the proper treatment, increased swelling of the skin along the border of the nail may occur.
The surgery required for an ingrown toenail is generally performed under a local anesthesia or with topical anesthetic agents. Before your surgery a preoperative X-ray may be taken to ensure that there is no bone spur or infection of the bone present. Temporary relief can be achieved by a removal of a portion of the nail border, but a permanent solution requires removing the offending portion of the nail and nail root.
Nail deformities can sometimes be associated with a small bone spur at the top of the toe under the nail, causing a good amount of discomfort. Irritation of the skin can occur between the bone and the nail, resulting in a painful corn or callus. In these circumstances, the most effective form of treatment entails removing the nail along with the bone spur.
Each of these conditions can be caused by a nail fungus, nail injury on an inherited condition. While many fungus conditions can be treated with new oral antifungal agents, sometimes surgery is necessary when pain is persistent. Removing the nail and destroying the nail root involves the use of a special high frequency laser. Chemical cauterization is also another form of treatment to remove one or both sides of the toenail.
There are many treatments to consider when treating a foot condition. Family Foot Care helps their patients by determining the most effective solution whether that be oral or topical medication and as a last resort, surgery.
