When Do You Need to Visit a Podiatrist?

The podiatrist takes care of your feet. This is a narrow profile specialist who treats diseases such as ingrown toenails, fungal infections, and skin diseases of the feet. A podiatrist also treats pathologies that may occur as a result of injuries, surgical interventions, orthopedic disorders, endocrine, dermatological, and vascular diseases.

It’s a mistake to believe that surgeons and dermatologists are responsible for solving the problem of nail fungus or an ingrown nail. In case of such disease, you should contact a podiatric doctor. Such specialists can be found in specialized clinics or cosmetology centers.

What Can a Podiatrist Help You With?

The specialist treats almost all diseases that occur in the area of ​​the feet and nails. This may include:

• Onychomycosis (nail fungus)

• Ingrown toenails.

• Installing corrective plates, tamponade, staples when the nail peels off.

• Correction of deformed shape of the nail plate.

• Hyperkeratosis, corns, calluses, and fissures.

• Treatment and care procedures for diabetic foot syndrome.

Nail fungus treatment

Fungal infections of the nail plate are among the most common problems that are addressed to a podiatrist. In this case, the specialist performs a set of procedures, after which the affected area is treated with antimycotic agents.

Today, podiatrists use cosmetology laser equipment for treating fungus. Laser treatment is more effective, as it allows painlessly carrying out the deepest, high-quality cleaning of the plate affected by the fungal infection. During treatment, the doctor prescribes complex therapy individually for each patient.

Ingrown toenail

Ingrown toenails are one of the most common problems that a podiatrist addresses. When there is an infection and swelling, the doctor first performs a special therapeutic compress. After removing the inflammation, the podiatrist recommends the best way for each individual case to get rid of the problem of an ingrown toenail.

Such procedures include: cutting the ingrown angle, installing a special roller, titanium thread or a staple-plate for correction (straightening). The most painless and non-traumatic is the radio wave removal of deformed corners. In some cases, laser cauterization may be more effective for sanitizing the affected tissue.

In situations when the disease is neglected, the doctor has to perform a resection, that is, the complete removal of the nail. After removal, the podologist makes prosthetics with a special gel to replace the temporarily removed plate until it grows back.

Does a Podiatrist Do Medical Pedicure?

With the problem of cracked heels, corns, thickening of the skin of the feet, a medical manicure procedure is recommended. It is also carried out with deformation of the nails and excessive sweating of the feet.

Medical pedicure procedure includes:

• disinfection;

• softening with an occlusive dressing composed of keratolytic preparations;

• processing of feet by cutters;

• polishing and shaping nails;

• light massage after applying a healing cream (chosen by a doctor individually).

Aesthetic gel polish is not included in the medical manicure protocol. If there are no contraindications, then a medical pedicure can be supplemented by applying gel polish. If you walk a lot, wear heels or tight shoes, play sports, visit a podiatrist once a month and your feet will be fine. Medical pedicure is necessary at any age.

The procedure of medical pedicure is performed by qualified specialists in the cosmetic centers. A podiatrist may help you with a medical problem but will not perform the procedure of full medical pedicure. However, they might recommend you to go through one. For this, google medical pedicure specialists in your area and make an appointment in a cosmetic center that provides this kind of service.