Wednesday, June 5, 2013

I have toenail fungus. Can I ever wear sandals again?


               

You can feel summer approaching and normally you would embrace its warmth and start the hunt for great sandals, except this year you are dreading it. You know you can’t show your toenails in public.  Surely people don’t want to look at your thick, discoloured, ugly nails?  This thought leaves you feeling embarrassed.  You decide the only way to deal with it is to suffer through the heat of summer in your too-hot shoes, or perhaps you decide to wear socks with your sandals.  You close away your toes so no one can see what you are hiding. 

I want you to know that you are not alone.  Toenail fungus affects thousands of people and is the most common foot problem our Chiropodists (foot health experts) treat.  Moira was just like you.  She hid her toes for YEARS because she didn’t think anything could be done to fix them.  She tried everything - medication from her doctor and various home remedies to kill the nasty toenail infection.  Moira had given up hope that anything could be done.  And then she gave it one last effort and came to our clinic.  Our experts explained the cause of toenail fungus and why it is difficult to get rid of.  They also discussed our most successful treatment method, which includes our new LASER technology. Although skeptical, Moira decided that she didn’t have anything to lose.  She really wanted her toenails to look “normal” again.  She was tired of hiding them, and she wanted people to stop staring at her feet (!) when she dared to wear sandals. She wanted to show of her healthy nails.  And guess what?  That is EXACTLY what Moira gets to do this summer.

If you want to get the same great results as Moira, call us now to schedule your toenail fungus assessment.  It’s not too late to buy those great sandals.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Do you have a Plantar Wart?

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If you notice a thick and discolored lesion on your foot, it could be a plantar wart. Plantar warts are caused by a virus that is most commonly found in warm, moist environments like pools and public change rooms, but can be found in carpets and other communal areas. 

The virus causes a hard growth that can be painful to walk on and plantar warts are often confused with corns. Warts on the bottom of your feet can take on several appearances, but most commonly look like cauliflower with tiny black dots. There is usually a layer of callus overlying the wart, making it difficult to see. Warts are often painful (but not always), feeling like a piece of rock in your shoe.  Sometimes a single wart forms, but often it can spread, forming multiple warts clumped together, or several single warts spread over your foot. In our clinics we have seen patients with over one hundred warts on a foot!


  So how do you get rid of a wart? Warts can be very stubborn and difficult to treat. There are many over-the-counter remedies available in the foot care isle of pharmacies.  The problem is that these products are often not strong enough to get rid of most warts.  Our Chiropodists (foot health specialists) use many treatments in our clinics to more completely eliminate warts, including a new state-of-the-art laser. If you think you may have a wart, it is better to come in as soon as possible to be treated, before they spread and get out of control, and to ensure that your wart is being treated in the most complete and effective way.

 

 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

I want to wear sandals but my toenails are thick, yellow, brittle and ugly! What can I do

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For many of us summer means replacing our bulky winter boots for freedom in cute and airy sandals.  However there are many people who are too embarrassed to wear sandals, all because of a nasty little culprit called toenail fungus. The fungus will cause changes in your nails and the nail beds where the nails grow from.  Over time, things will deteriorate if you do not start some form of treatment.

Lasers are starting to become more mainstream for the treatment of fungal nails.  The lasers use specific wavelengths of light to effectively and efficiently destroy the fungus in your nails and nail beds.  The result – you get rid of those ugly, unsightly toenails. This can often be achieved in 2 treatments, depending on the severity of the condition.

During your visit, you may feel a gentle warming or tingling as the laser works, but no real discomfort.   The laser is so sophisticated that it can detect and reach the proper target temperature leading to elimination of the toenail infection.  You walk into the office and you walk out – there is no downtime from your regular activities.  Lasers are proven to be a very safe alternative to oral prescription medication.

Give us a call to start your freedom from wearing socks with sandals!