Treatment of forefoot problems
- Description of the treatment
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At Derm-Al Podiatry, we offer full pedicure or, if need be, the treatment of selected foot areas.
Forefoot conditions are usually caused by bone and joint deformations that develop with age or are caused by innate foot defects, or other diseases (e.g. RA). It is also affected by the quality of shoes, the type of work you do, physical, body weight and its distribution when walking. If you neglect this specific area, it will not only look bad but also cause pain and discomfort.
Forefoot conditions include hyperkeratosis, calluses, corns, cracks, abrasions or blisters. Hyperkeratosis is thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, mainly on the soles and toes, but also on toenails (thickening of toenails). Calluses are large, yellowish spots of thick skin, harder than the surrounding skin and they usually develop on protruding bones. They are often mistaken for corns, but unlike corns, calluses do not have a core.
The best prophylactic measure is regular podiatric treatment of the whole feet. However, it is possible to have treatment dedicated only to the forefoot condition.
How does the treatment 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. The purpose of the interview is to find out about the patient’s expectations and which areas of the forefeet are the most problematic. The patient is also asked about any other conditions they might have (diabetes, chronic venous insufficiency, etc.) and the medications they take. This knowledge is necessary for the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Next, the treatment plan is discussed with the patient. All information is recorded in the patient’s podiatric file.
The treatment usually begins with shortening the nails and working on the nail plate, removing cuticles, cleansing nail folds, evening the edges and, if need be, reducing the thickness of the nail plate. Next, using specialist softening preparations and depending on individual needs, horny skin and calluses are removed from the soles and toes.
The treatment takes about 30-45 minutes. Finally, the feet are once again disinfected and appropriate skin care cream is applied. The patient is instructed what to do to prolong the effect of the treatment. The procedure is painless and the effect is visible after just one treatment. However, the number of required procedures and check-ups depends on the advancement of the condition.
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