TOENAIL & SKIN CONDITIONS

INGROWN TOENAILS

At Amarillo Foot Specialists many of our patients fear coming in for treatment of an infected ingrown toenail. They come in with excruciating pain and we get to send them home feeling a whole lot better.

An ingrown toenail is a common occurrence where the edge of the toenail grows into the toe. The result is pain, swelling redness and sometimes even infection can occur. This usually happens on your big toe, but can happen on any of your toes. It can happen on one or both sides of the toe nail.

Those of you who have experienced an ingrown toenail before know how painful they can be. If the pain in your toe wasn’t enough of a discomfort, ingrown nails have a tendency to become infected. This is when seeking help from a podiatrist is absolutely essential. This is especially important for those with diabetes or poor circulation. Seeing our foot specialists may be the best decision you can make if you want to keep a simple problem from turning into a serious issue.

Treatment for ingrown toenails is performed by gently numbing the toe, and then removing the offending corner of the nail. If you have chronic ingrown toenails, our Podiatrists can remove the root in the office to permanently prevent re-growth of the ingrown portion of the nail.

If you have an ingrown toenail, don't be afraid to book an appointment. Your treatment will be gentle and virtually painless, and we'll get you back to your normal activities right away.

FUNGAL TOENAILS

Do you have thick, yellow, discolored toenails? Are you embarrassed to wear your open-toed shoes in public?

You may have toenail fungus, a condition also known as onychomycosis.

Nail fungus is when fungi infect one or more of your nails. It may start as a yellow or white area at the tip of the toe nail. The nails may become yellow or become thickened. The nail may become dull, flaky and painful.

Most fungi like to live in warm, moist environments, such as swimming pools and showers. Shoes are another prime place form fungi to live because it is a dark moist warm environment. The body is more prone to fungal infection in the toes due to diminished blood flow to toes as compared to the fingers, which makes it harder for the body to detect and fight the infection.

At Amarillo Foot Specialists we will evaluate your feet, check for any other issues such as Athlete’s foot or circulation issues. Our Podiatrists may take a culture of the nails to determine what type of fungus you have and how best to treat you. Our Foot Specialists will then discuss with you the best way to treat your nails.Our Podiatrists may prescribe an anti-fungal medication.

If you're tired of looking at those unsightly toenails, please make an appointment with Amarillo Foot Specialists for a complete evaluation and treatment plan.

FOOT WARTS (PLANTAR WARTS)

At Amarillo Foot Specialists, our Podiatrists offer many wart removal treatment options. Foot Warts (Plantar Warts) are a common foot condition that we treat in our practice. If you have one or more growths on the bottom of your foot that may or may not be painful, chances are it's a plantar wart.

Plantar Warts are caused by a virus. You may notice little black dots in the wart. People sometimes think these dots are splinters. They are actually the blood vessels that nourish the wart. You can get viral warts anywhere you walk barefoot, such as the local pool, karate studio, dance studio, locker room or even from a pedicure salon.

There are several treatments for plantar warts, the type of treatment received depends upon the patient's needs. Plantar warts can spread easily. If you think you have one or more plantar warts, schedule an appointment with Amarillo Foot Specialists immediately to have them removed before they multiply.

ATHLETE'S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)

What is Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)? Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection affecting the web of skin between the toes and the soles of the foot. Symptoms typically include burning, pain, itching and scaling.

Athlete's foot is highly contagious. People pick up these fungal infections when walking barefoot on contaminated floors and object. Athlete's Foot can even be passed from person to person.

Although Athlete's foot can be treated with anti-fungal medications, you should always try to keep your feet dry, wear cotton socks and "breathable shoes".

Our Podiatrists offer various treatments for Athlete's foot. If you think you have athlete's feet, schedule an appointment with Amarillo Foot Specialists.

FOOT OR ANKLE SKIN CANCER

THINK IT'S SKIN CANCER?

Have you noticed a growth or a discoloration on your foot or ankle? Has this growth changed shape or color recently?

In either case you should come in for an evaluation to let us determine if these conditions warrant treatment. Foot or ankle Melanoma (cancer (malignant tumor)) are often missed or diagnosed too late. We see these conditions every day in our practice and we are equipped to diagnose and treat these conditions quickly and effectively.

Don't put yourself at risk by ignoring these signs. Schedule a consultation with Amarillo Foot Specialists so that our Foot Doctors can safeguard you against the cancers and complications that could develop.