Cleansing a pathologic or injured nail
- Description of the treatment
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At Derm-Al Podiatry, podiatrists collaborate with dermatologists. Dermatologic therapy combined with podiatric treatment is more effective and faster. Podiatric removal of a damaged or infected section of a toenail in the course of dermatologic therapy stimulates penetration of the medical preparations applied, prevents complications and ensures an aesthetic effect.
The most typical cause of damaging a part or the whole nail plate is fungal infection. Fungal infection is contagious. It can be contracted at a swimming pool, sports centre, hotel, etc. If fungal infection is not treated, the whole family is often infected. Particularly vulnerable are persons with obesity, diabetes, anemia, circulatory, hormonal or immunity disorders, and patients who take anticancer drugs, steroids or hormonal drugs. Fungal infection may be induced by improper foot care, e.g. using soaps that do not have the right pH level (weaken the skin’s natural protective barrier), not drying the feet well after washing, or soaking the feet too often and for too long. Initially, fungal infection may develop on one toenail and gradually spread to the other toenails. Sometimes, the condition is accompanied by hyperkeratosis on or under the toenail plate. Such changes often prevent penetration of medical preparations into the toenail, hindering and prolonging the treatment process. Thus, it is important that the toenails are regularly cleansed by podiatrist during the treatment.
Cutting the toenails and cleansing the toenail folds is also recommended for elderly persons with limited mobility who, because of poor vision and reduced physical capacity, have problems taking care of their feet and toenails. For them, it is sometimes difficult to even cut the toenails that are often thick, overgrown and very hard. The podiatrist, using professional tools, may safely and painlessly cut and polish their nails.
Cleansing may also be required in the case of toenail injury, in order to correct any deformations and prevent inflammation and complications. Exposed toenail bed is more vulnerable to pathogenic microorganisms. The podiatrist may reconstruct the toenail plate to protect the toenail, and at the same time make it look natural and aesthetic.
The dermatologist should always be consulted if there is any discolouration of the toenails. Sometimes, a tiny change in toenail colour that looks like an injury may prove to be a serious pigmented mark.
How does infected toenail cleansing work:
The treatment is performed with a professional drill machine and drill bits. The tools are either sterile or disposable. The podiatrist first disinfects the patient’s feet and then examines them and interviews the patient. All information is recorded in the patient’s podiatric file.
The toenail plate is shortened and processes, the infected fragments are removed. Then, cuticles are removed and side folds are carefully cleansed. Toenails weakened by fungal infection tend to grow deeper, which may cause their ingrowing. Finally, the podiatrist applies an appropriate medical preparation, using the required dose and method.
If the nail plate is only partly infected and the patient also takes oral medications, the podiatrist may reconstruct the nail with specialist gels, masses or podiatric acrylics.
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