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Toenail Fungus, Ingrown Toenails & Other Foot Skin Conditions We Treat

Changes in your toenails or the skin of your feet may seem minor at first. However, persistent discoloration, pain, itching, thickened skin, swelling or changes in nail shape can signal a condition that deserves attention.

At Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic, Scott Nelson, DPM evaluates toenail and foot skin conditions at our Garland, TX office, while Hang Nguyen, DPM sees patients at our Wylie, TX location.

Common conditions include fungal toenails, ingrown toenails, plantar warts, corns and calluses, athlete’s foot and other changes affecting the nails or skin.

Because several of these conditions can look similar, an accurate diagnosis is important. For example, a plantar wart can resemble a callus, while nail trauma can sometimes look similar to a fungal toenail.

For information about how Dr. Nelson and Dr. Nguyen treat these toenail and foot skin conditions, visit our Toenail & Foot Skin Treatments page or call (972) 414-9800 to schedule a podiatrist appointment. You can also schedule an appointment online.

Fungal Toenails

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, can cause the nail to become yellow or otherwise discolored, thickened, brittle, crumbly or misshapen.

The infection may begin with a relatively small change in the nail. However, because toenails grow slowly, fungal infections can become difficult to clear once they involve a larger portion of the nail. The same general group of fungi responsible for athlete’s foot can also infect the toenails. In addition, fungal skin and nail infections may sometimes occur together.

Fungal nails are typically seen in people in the latter stages of life. Our bodies lose the ability to fight off the fungal infections that keep being introduced to our feet. Once the infection is present, it is hard to get it to clear up. Seek treatment as soon as your nails start to turn color.

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind – not every thick or discolored nail is fungal. Previous injuries and other nail conditions can produce similar changes. Therefore, your podiatrist may recommend testing when the diagnosis is uncertain.

There are currently three treatment modalities for this condition that are available to people. They include topical medications, oral medications (which can have some serious side effects), and the newest modality which is laser therapy.

At Foot and Ankle Medical Clinic, we use laser treatment. Our laser focuses a concentrated beam of light through the nail to eradicate the fungus living under and in the nail. This procedure is performed in house – right in our office. The laser treatment also requires no anesthesia and it is painless. Most patients require only three treatments before they’re able to enjoy wearing open toed shoes once again!

To learn more, visit our Toenail & Foot Skin Condition Treatment page here. Call (972) 414-9800 to schedule a podiatrist appointment – or click here to request an appointment online.

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail develops when the edge or corner of a toenail presses or grows into the surrounding skin. The big toe is affected most often, although any toenail can become ingrown. An ingrown nail can dig into the skin of the toe and become quite painful. They can also cause infection. If you seek treatment by a podiatrist in the early phase, they are easily treated. Basically, nobody needs to suffer from ingrown toenail pain.

Ingrown toe nail symptoms may include:

Pain along the nail edge
Redness
Swelling
Tenderness
Drainage when infection develops

Improper toenail trimming, wearing tight shoes, foot / toe trauma, and nail shape are just some factors that may contribute to this toe condition.

At Home Prevention: To help prevent ingrown nails, trim toenails straight across rather than cutting deeply into the corners. Leave the length of the toe nails slightly longer than the end of the toe.

Why a Visit to the Podiatrist is Important: If an ingrown toenail becomes very painful and/or infected, our podiatrists can determine whether treatment is needed. In situations where an ingrown toenail repeatedly returns, Dr. Nelson or Dr. Nguyen might opt to remove the ingrown portion of the toenail permanently. Additionally, if an infection in the toe goes untreated, the infection can get seated into the bone causing a condition called osteomyelitis. This is a condition you definitely want to avoid, as it can cause you to lose your toe through surgical amputation.

Clubbed, Thickened or Abnormally Shaped Toenails

Changes in toenail shape can occur for several reasons.

Some people develop unusually thick, curved or widened nails because of nail structure, previous injury or another nail disorder. In other cases, significant nail clubbing may occur along with an underlying medical condition.

Therefore, a noticeable or unexplained change in nail shape deserves evaluation rather than simply assuming that fungus is responsible.

Your podiatrist can examine the nail and determine whether additional testing or evaluation by another medical provider may be appropriate.

Foot Warts & Plantar Warts

Plantar warts develop on the bottom of the foot and result from infection with certain types of human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Because they occur on weight-bearing surfaces, plantar warts can become uncomfortable while standing or walking.

They may also resemble corns or calluses, particularly when thick skin develops over the wart.

Children and teenagers commonly develop plantar warts, although adults can get them as well.

Before repeatedly treating a questionable area at home, consider having one of our podiatrists exam it. Call us at (972) 414-9800 to schedule an exam with Dr. Nelson at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Garland or Dr. Nguyen at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Wylie so that they can diagnose what it is.

Corns & Calluses

Corns and calluses are layers of thickened, compacted skin & dead skin cells that develop as protective layers in response to repeated pressure or friction. Sometimes these areas can burn or become painful.

Corns commonly form around the toes, while calluses frequently occur on the soles of the feet.

There are several different infections that can act like a corn or callus. Warts are an example of this. To be certain, please see a podiatrist to confirm what it is.

Corns and Calluses may develop because of:

Shoes that rub
Hammertoes or other toe deformities
Pressure against a bony prominence
Repeated friction
Areas that bear excessive pressure while walking

Although the thickened skin itself may be the obvious problem, recurring corns and calluses can sometimes point to an underlying pressure or structural issue. Avoid cutting or shaving them yourself, particularly if you have diabetes, poor circulation or decreased sensation in your feet.

Home remedies such as the topical acids that are available over the counter are generally not recommended, especially if you are a diabetic.

For painful calluses, some people find relief by applying moleskin over the callus areas. However, for corns, the medicated corn pads should be used with caution and only after you have visited with a podiatrist.

Have a podiatrist examine your corns or calluses by calling (972) 414-9800. That phone number will reach both of our doctors at both of our clinic locations – Dr. Nelson at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Garland or Dr. Nguyen at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Wylie .

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the skin. Is it most commonly caused by a fungus called Trichophyton rubrum. It often begins between the toes or along the bottom of the foot, but it can quickly spread to other areas of the body.

It commonly attacks the feet because the warm and damp environment inside your shoes contributes to the growth of fungal organisms. It’s infrequent, but sometimes what you are dealing with is a yeast infection mimicking Athlete’s foot.

Prevention At Home: You can help prevent athlete’s foot by washing your feet daily with soap and warm water. Take time to carefully pat your feet dry – especially between the toes. Another thing you can do is to change your shoes on a regular basis. Routinely alternate the shoes that you wear, rather than wearing the same pair day after day. For damp shoes, allow 24 hours for the shoes to dry before wearing again. If you think your feet may get wet, take an extra pair of socks and shoes when you leave the house.

However, as mentioned above, Athlete’s foot is not the only infection – fungal or otherwise – to afflict your feet. The best idea is to be evaluated by a doctor – specifically a podiatrist. Come and see us at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic – call (972) 414-9800 or click here to make a podiatrist appointment online.

Some symptoms of Athlete’s Foot are:

Itching
Burning
Peeling
Dry or scaly skin
Cracking
Redness
Blisters in some cases
Inflammation

Fungi tend to thrive in warm, damp environments. Therefore, sweaty shoes, wet socks, communal showers and locker rooms are popular hangout spots for them.

However, not every itchy or scaly rash is athlete’s foot. Other skin conditions can sometimes look similar, which is another reason to seek evaluation when symptoms persist. Read more about

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

Consider scheduling an appointment if you notice:

A toenail that becomes thick, yellow, brittle or distorted
A painful or infected ingrown toenail
A nail problem that repeatedly returns
A painful growth on the bottom of the foot
Persistent itching, peeling or cracking
Corns or calluses that continue to hurt
Drainage, redness or swelling
A sudden or unexplained change in nail appearance
A condition that has not improved with appropriate home care

People with diabetes, neuropathy or circulation problems should be especially careful about self-treating cuts, calluses, ingrown nails or other foot problems.

To see one of our podiatrists call (972) 414-9800. That phone number will reach both of our doctors at both of our clinics – Dr. Nelson in Garland, TX at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic or Dr. Nguyen at Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic of Wylie,TX .