Fungal skin is an infection of the skin caused by dermatophytes fungi and can occur in any part of the body. Fungal skin infections of the foot, widely referred to as “athlete’s foot” or “foot rot“, are medically termed tinea pedis and are a very common skin condition of the foot. Patients with tinea pedis will often complain of itch, dry flaky skin or even tiny blisters on the affected areas.
Corns and calluses are areas of thickened and hard skin (hyperkeratosis) on the body that forms due to pressure and friction. It is most commonly found on the palms of our hands or the soles of our feet. Calluses are generally painless until it becomes very thick where it starts to cause damage to the underlying tissue. Corns, however, are usually painful when pressure is applied and are often misdiagnosed as plantar warts.
It is a myth that corns have “roots” and will resolve when the “roots” are removed. Corns do not have roots and the only effective way to resolve corns is by reducing the amount of friction and pressure over the area.
Fungal nails, also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, are a fungal infection of the nails. Fungal nails are often characterized by discoloured, crumbly, thickened, and brittle nails, and sometimes malodorous. The fungal infection can sometimes spread to the surrounding skin or may have originated in the skin, like the athlete’s foot, and spread to the nails.
Plantar warts or verruca plantaris is a viral infection of the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is commonly known as foot warts and develops on the underside (plantar) of the foot and creates an area of hard, thickened skin. Patients often complain of pain when pressure is applied to the affected areas. Plantar warts are often misdiagnosed as calluses or corns due to their similarity in appearance.
An ingrown toenail is a common nail condition of the feet that occurs when the nail is cut into the sides of the skin of the toe. It is often caused by the way the toenail is cut or the natural curve of the nail. Some of the common treatments include partial or total ingrown nail removal which will be done under local anaesthesia.
An ingrown toenail can cause serious pain when wearing shoes or walking. The condition usually starts when a nail grows into the skin of the toe, causing a small wound. In the beginning, the condition is rarely painful. However, if left untreated, the skin break will not heal and an infection can happen. The result is a red, hot, and swollen toe, often seen with pus discharging from the sides.
It is vital to understand that taking antibiotics or applying antiseptic ointment will not cure an infected ingrown toenail because the nail spike is still sitting in the flesh. These medications can only contain the infection.
