General

general podiatry

Nail Problems

Ingrown toenails

Toenails that tend to grow inwards and dig into the flesh are known as ingrown toenails. They cause pain, redness and swelling of the surrounding tissues. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can lead to infection.

Causes of ingrown toenails include:

Hereditary
Poor Gait or foot function
Poor fitting footwear
Poor nail cutting technique
Trauma

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are best treated early before they progress to a chronic stage. Treatment is usually fast and effective with immediate relief. The offending nail spike is removed and the area is appropriately dressed. In early cases small infections can often be resolved without the need for antibiotics and a GP visit.

NB. Antibiotics will treat an ingrown toenail infection, however, if the offending nail spike is not removed infection will most likely reoccur.

Chronic ingrown toenails may require more in-depth treatment and may even require minor surgery. At Oakleigh Foot Clinic we can perform a relatively painless, simple and effective Nail Surgery procedure under local anaesthetic that will permanently cure an ingrown toenail.

Fungal Nail Infections

Fungal nail infections occur when a fungus infects the skin under the toenail. This causes the nail plate to take on a discoloured, mottled appearance. The nail may also be thickened and difficult to cut. In later stages, the nail may become flaky and brittle.

Treatment is important to prevent the problem spreading to other nails. Our podiatrists can reduce and clean the nail plus prescribe a topical anti-fungal solution that is easily applied. Chronic cases may require oral medication.

LASER TREATMENT FOR FUNGAL NAILS

Oakleigh Foot Clinic can now treat fungal toenails using the latest medical laser technology. Go to our LASER information page for more information

Skin problems

Corns and calluses

Corns and calluses are painful lesions resulting from pressure and friction. A callus is a thickening of the skin due to pressure. Corns usually form over a bony area of the foot. They form due to excess pressure but are more focal and painful than calluses. Generally they form over the toes, between the toes or on the soles of the feet. A hard centre places pressure on the nerves, resulting in pain.

Causes of corns and calluses can be poorly fitted footwear, poor foot function and excess pronation, claw and hammer toes etc. Don’t take the risk of infection using self-treatment. Our podiatrists can remove corns and calluses safely and easily with little discomfort.

Causes of corns and calluses can be poorly fitted footwear, poor foot function and excess pronation, claw and hammer toes etc. Don’t take the risk of infection using self treatment. Our podiatrists can remove corns and calluses safely and easily with little discomfort.

Warts

A wart (also commonly known as a plantar wart, papilloma and verruca) is a growth on the foot caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. They tend to have a cauliflower or blister appearance and are commonly seen on the feet, especially in children. They can be painful particularly if they are located on a weight-bearing area of the foot.

Warts can spontaneously disappear as the body builds up its own immune defences, however warts that remain can spread to other areas of the foot.

Treatment can range from therapies like Liquid Nitrogen and Acid Treatments. Treatment is most successful if instigated early. Longer standing warts can be very resistant to treatment and require longer treatment periods.

Laser Wart Removal

Laser is a new and very effective way of permanent wart removal. It is quick and painless, a fantastic treatment option for children or those with a low pain threshold. Our podiatrists can advise you on the best form of treatment for you.

Tinea (athletes foot)

Tinea or athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin. It commonly occurs between the toes and on the soles of the feet. The fungus thrives in a dark, moist, warm environments, therefore feet that sweat excessively or are enclosed for long periods in shoes with socks or nylon pantyhose provide the perfect environment for the fungus to spread.

Tinea of the feet can cause scaling, flaking, peeling and itching of the skin. Sometimes cracks and small blisters may appear, leading to redness and inflammation. In bad cases tinea infections may lead to secondary bacterial infections.

Our podiatrists can advise you on the best form of treatment and the best products for prevention for tinea. Early treatment is essential to prevent spreading to other parts of the body and to other family members.

Smelly / perspiring feet

Smelly feet or foot odour results from the interaction between excess bacteria and excess sweat. Bacteria love to thrive in warm moist environments. Therefore, feet that perspire a lot or are continually in an enclosed environment are prone to this problem.

Treatment is usually aimed at reducing the amount of sweat and bacteria on the feet. Our podiatrists can advise you on how best to manage this condition.

Heel fissures / cracked heels

Heel fissures are a common problem where the skin around the heels is dry and cracked. It is sometimes complicated by thick callus around the edge of the heel.

There are many problems that can cause dry skin in the feet and these include hormonal changes, medication, or problems within the skin structure. Dry skin can lead to loss of elasticity of the skin that can then lead to cracks or fissures. If deep, they can be very painful and in severe cases, may lead to infection.

Our podiatrists can help treat this condition by removing any excess callus and advising you on the best foot products for treating dry skin and preventing fissures.

Senior years : Maintaining mobility

Common ailments for many seniors can be effectively treated by a Podiatrist, yet these conditions can often be overlooked due to a lack of awareness about podiatric services. For senior citizens, the value of podiatry is much greater than the removal of corns or calluses.

We offer a wide range of Clinical treatments, including those for:

Arthritis
Diabetes
Foot/hip/knee & ankle pain
Ingrown toenails
Fungal toenails

Through gait analysis, our podiatrists can assess your walking pattern and advise if orthotics are required to improve foot function. We can also advise you on the correct footwear for ageing feet and preventive foot care maintenance, helping keep you mobile and active for longer.

diabetics

Diabetes and your feet

Podiatrists are important health providers in the assessment of the diabetic foot. If you are diabetic, you need to take very good care of your feet every day to prevent serious complications.

Your feet are at risk because diabetes can cause damage to the nerves and the blood supply. We are able to assess for vascular and or neurological changes in the feet and determine the chance of neuropathy and infections. Our Podiatrists educate our patients on correct foot management and preventative diabetic complications.

Doppler ultrasound assessment

The Doppler Ultrasound is used to assess the rate and volume of blood flow to your feet. This is carried out as part of each diabetes foot assessment, and conducted annually for patients with diabetes to monitor changes within your feet. It can also be used to identify blood clots, vessel narrowing, tumours and other abnormalities.

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Or, you can also call at (03) 9078 7287 from 9am to 6pm