Services

 

We are fungal nail laser treatment specialists

We have the latest  in technology for treating nail fungal infections

Are you tried of applying creams, tinctures, paints to your fungal infected nails with no real results?

Fungal nail/onychomycosis: Fungal nail disease  affects up to 14% of the population. Fungi that feed on keratin, a structural protein  within your nails, often causes this condition. The disease may result in pain, is contagious and can result in a negative self image.

Laser treatment is a safe, and effective treatment with no side effects. During the laser treatment, the laser will be slowly directed across the nail bed. The laser beam will generate heat beneath the nail and within the underlying fungal colony. You will feel a warm, but comfortable sensation during the procedure. As the laser has no effect on healthy tissue, there are no side effects.

Your podiatrist will dicuss your individual need for having additional treatments, and will also advise you on the proper care of your nails to minimize the risk of recurrence. 

- the procedure is safe

- no anesthesia is required

- there are no side effects

- there is no visible harm to the treated nail or adjacent skin

- socks and shoes can be worn immediately after the procedure

- nail polish can be applied after treatment

- there is no 'recovery' period after the procedure

- you are able to walk comfortably out of the clinic following the procedure

- your podiatrist will recommend a post treatment sanitisation program to prevent any cross infection.

Before we commence laser treatment we do an initial assessment to assess your nail condition. In this initial consultation the podiatrist will explain to you the cost of the procedure, as well as your individual need for the treatment and how successful the treatment will be. Unfortunatly we often cannot do the initial consultation and your first laser treatment on the same day as it is very important for the podiatrist to asses your nails before commencing any form of treatment. We then prepare your nails a couple days before the laser treatment if you decide to book in with us. The  laser treatment will take 45min to an hour to complete and there is a likely need for review consultations every 6-8 weeks thereafter.

Smelly feet/bromodosis

Smelly feet can affect men, women, and children. We have 250, 000 sweat glands in our feet which can produce more than half a litre of sweat in one day.

When the perspiration is unable to evaporate it creates an ideal environment for bacteria or fungus to thrive in. The by  products of the bacteria or fungus is what causes the feet to smell.

Here are some causes of smelly feet:

• Hyperhidrosis (excess sweating)
• Heat
• Emotional stress
• Synthetic fibres
• Shoes
• Covered feet
• Athletes foot
• Infrequent bathing 

Treatment

We need to identify the cause then we can tailor a treatment regime for you. We have a range of foot care products such as the steri-shoe and many other products to help manage the condition.

Athletes foot/Tinea Pedis

Is a fungal infection that can affect the web spaces of your feet, or the soles of your feet. It is highly contagious and can be picked up from surfaces (usually communal areas) or objects. It can appear  red, scaly, blistery, and can sometimes cause the skin to split. In most cases it is very itchy.

Treatment requires a proper diagnosis and identifying the cause. It can be treated with  appropriate footwear and creams. Our podiatrist can help with and a management plan to prevent reoccurance.

In growing toenails/ Onychocryptosis

Predominantly affects the big toe, however, it can affect the lesser toes. Usually painful to touch, red, swollen, can have pus, and proud flesh engulfing the sides of the nails.

The cause can be due damage or trauma inflicted on the nail, the natural curvature of the nail (involuted nail), hereditary, I'll fitting footwear, or poor nail cutting technique resulting in a formation of a nail spicule.

The treatment involves removing the nail spicule by trimming the nail followed with advise on how to prevent reoccurance. If the problem is chronic we can remove the affected section of the nail permanently by performing nail surgery. This is performed at the clinic under a local anesthetic.

Dry skin/calluses/Corns

Pressure placed on particular areas of the foot can cause the body to respond by thickening the surface of the skin. These hard patches of skin are called calluses are part of the body's defense system to protect the underlying tissues.

If pressure becomes concentrated in a small area, a hard corn may develop. Sometimes both corn and calluses can result in acute pain, swelling and redness.

Calluses and corns affect more people than any other foot problem. Some people are more prone to getting corns and calluses such as the elderly or people who spend a lot of time on their feet most days. What's important to remember is that they are generally symptoms of other problems so it's very important to see a podiatrist and not try and treat them yourself.

Plantar warts/papillomas/verrucas

Plantar warts are caused by an infection of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) . This virus is usually not dangerous but can cause pain and discomfort in the feet. They can grow in all areas of your feet not necessarily pressure areas. Being a virus, plantar warts are contagious and can be picked up when walking bare feet in showers, gym change rooms, or communal swimming pools.

Treatment commonly  involves the use of Salicylic Acid or Liquid Nitrogen (Cyrotherapy) depending  on the size of the wart and the number of warts present. There are also another forms of treatment that can be discussed with our podiatrist who will be able to assess what treatment is best suited for you.

Cracked heels

This is a common skin problem that can also be referred to as heel fissures. When the skin around the edges of the heel is dry, it can cause the skin to split. It can be quite painful and if the skin is opened it can making you  prone to infections.

Some of the common causes of cracked heels are:

- opened back shoes

- going bare feet

- prolonged standing

- Diabetes as it can cause the skin to dry out

- Dermatitis skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis

You can self treat cracked heels with regular application of cream and filing down of the hard skin with a pumice stone or a paper back  paddle file. However, if the calluses are too thick or fissures are too deep or opened you should seek professional treatment by a podiatrist.

Heel pain/ arch pain

Heel pain is very common and can be quite painful and debilitating.

Some of the common causes of heel pain are:

• Heel spurs
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Achilles Tendonosis
• Heel bursitis
• Arthritis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome

An assessment is required to determine the cause of the heel pain. Our Podiatrist is qualified to order X-rays and ultra sounds to help with the diagnosis. Heel pain can be due to a foot postural problem/bio-mechanical problem, dropped arches, or an overuse and repetitive trauma.

There are several ways of treating heel pain, which usually involves a stretching regime, orthoses, paddings, and footwear education.

For best recovery results, have your heel pain diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent chronic heel pain.  Book an appointment today.

Knee pain

knees  are the most complex joints in our body. It  bears most of our body weight, has a wide range of movement,  and acts as a stabiliser when walking. Knees pain is very common. Some of the causes of knee pain are:

-Patello Femoral Syndrome PFS (sharp pain or grinding pain when standing up from sitting or climbing stairs) -Bursitis -Baker's Cyst (pain behind the knee) -Arthritis -Chrondromalacia Patella (effects mostly ages 15-35) -Ligament damage through injury or trauma

Treatment can be rest, icing, and anti-inflammatories. Strengthening exercises to help stabilise and align the knees. Orthoses can also be of help to re align the knees if feet roll excessively in or out, which can be assessed by our podiatrist. Education on good suitable footwear for certain activities is also important.

For more information about knee pain please contact us.  

Shin splints

Shin splints are usually described as a dull ache in the front of the legs or on the sides of the lower leg (Tibial bone) due to over straining the lower leg muscles. Shin splints can occur after an increase in  physical activity. Flat feet can also cause an over strain of muscles as the feet roll inwards. Shin splints can be relieved by resting the muscles.

Treatment for shin splints can involve stretches and muscular strengthening, changes in footwear and orthotics to correct the positioning of the feet to reduce the strain of the lower leg muscles.

For more information feel free to contact our clinic.

Achilles tendonosis

Achilles Tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed and painful as a result of being strained. This can cause pain, swelling or stiffness at the back of the heel or calf muscle where the tendon is.

Treatment can include limiting activities such as running which aggravate the condition, applying  ice packs to reduce inflammation, and taking anti-inflammatory painkillers. Our podiatrist may also recommend the use of orthotics to reduce pressure on the tendon. In extreme cases, surgery may be required, however this is generally only recommended after all other treatment options have been tried.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact our clinic

Children's feet

Children's feet differ from adults because they are not fully formed yet.  In fact at 6 months the foot is still most cartilage, the last bone doesn't begin to form until about 3 years old.

As children begin walking they develop at different stages, which is entirely normal. When a child begins to first walk shoes are not necessary inside, it's a good idea also to allow babies to go barefoot to let the foot grow normally and promote the action of toes.

Sometimes children will walk with their feet pointed outward, or inward or on their toes. In most cases the child will out grow these styles of walking however if the pattern persists, or if you have concerns you should take your child to see a podiatrist.

Arch development will begin to stabilise around six or seven years of age.

Children's feet grow rapidly and it's important to do regular size checks to ensure shoes are fitted correctly.

It is also advisable to make a check up with a podiatrist if you notice:

- uneven shoe wear

- any skin rashes, hard skin lumps or bumps on your child's feet

- your child constantly tripping or falling.

Diabetic feet

It is very important to have regular check ups with your podiatrist if you diabetic Your feet are supplied with blood to keep them healthy. They also have lots of nerves as a warning system. For example, if you have a stone in your shoe, nerves will send a message to your brain.

However if diabetes is poorly controlled for a long period of time, this may lead to:

- nerve damage which reduces feeling in the feet and/or -poor circulation.

Nerve damage may mean that you no longer notice the stone in your shoe, due to loss of feeling in your feet. This could then lead to injury you can't feel and possible infection.

If you have poor circulation, any injuries or infections to your feet (ie cuts, scratches) will take longer to heal. This is due to less blood flowing into your feet. If you have poor circulation you will need to take extra care to protect your feet from injury.

Orthotics/orthoses

Orthoses' are shoe inserts designed to support, align, or improve the function of the foot. There are many different types, and people of all ages with all variety of foot problems need them.

If you find yourself being limited by your lower limb condition in both your mobility and independence you may benefit from orthoses.

When choosing orthoses a compressive assessment will be done to ensure that your lifestyle, biomechanics (how your body  moves) and occupation are all considered. In providing consistent postural control you may require either;

- cushioning orthoses, which cushion and pad shock absorption during walking.

- pressure relief, which redistributes pressure on problem areas of the foot

- moulded or prefabricated orthoses

- functional foot, which offers all the above features as well as postural realignment.

Laser nail treatments (here are some headings and tittles we can use I'll leave it to you to use at your discretion)

We sell the Steri shoe here!