Podiatry

Staff who may be treating you:

• Colin Papworth
• Alistair Clark

Podiatrists are degree trained and registered with the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (www.feetforlife.org) and Health Professions Council (www.hpc-uk.org). Our podiatrists have all undertaken further training in their specialist field of work. This level of training allows us to carry out more complex treatments than you would find at a chiropodists. The other services that are available at Holywell Healthcare on top of the normal chiropody treatments are; removal of ingrowing toe nails using local anaesthetic, high strength caustic treatments for verrucae and biomechanical assessments and orthotic prescription.

Ingrown Toe Nails

Ingrown toe nails can be a problem if the nail is not properly removed. These usually occur due to the nail not being cut all the way to edge and so a small spike of nail is often left and as the nail continues to grow, grows into the skin surrounding the toe. This will keep growing into the skin until it is removed. This can sometimes be cut out, but if the toe is too painful then a local anaesthetic can be used to numb the toe. If this is a recurring problem it can be due to the nail growing in a way that means that the sides of the nail grow downwards – this is called an involuted nail. If this is the case then the side of the nail that grows into the skin can be cut away and a caustic called phenol can be applied to the nail bed to prevent the nail growing back. This often produces a permanent solution. Although in rare cases the nail can regrow. If you have a recurring problem with nails growing in then book to see Alistair or Colin and they will pleased to advise you on your best treatment options.

Verrucae

Verrucae can be a real problem. If they are not causing any trouble then often the best advice is to leave well alone. The verrucae are a viral infection of the skin and the virus is making the skin make more skin. Often treatment will ‘stir’ up the virus and the area of hard skin often becomes more prominent. Over the counter treatments such as Bazuka are acid based products that break down the skin and eventually cause skin damage at the level of the verrucae and this will destroy the virus. With resistant infections the Bazuka will not be strong enough to cause a breakdown of the skin. This means that as the Bazuka is breaking down the skin the verrucae just keeps making more. In this case we have to use a stronger strength acid. We use 70% salacyclic acid. This will cause a breakdown of the skin and has to be within a dressing that protects the surrounding skin. This needs to be left in place for 4-6 days and a return appointment at the clinic so we can cut away all the dead skin. The treatment is then reapplied until we remove all the verrucae tissue. The skin then has to be left to recover and regrow, hopefully without the verrucae present. This treatment can be uncomfortable and is not always successful.