Common Conditions

What are fungal nail infections?

A fungal nail infection is an infection of fungus underneath the nail which can appear discoloured, crumbly, thickened or deformed. Our podiatry team will assess your feet, nails, and suitability of treatment.

Podiatrists can give you an accurate diagnosis of a fungal nail by taking a clipping, culturing the sample and formally reporting the results. After our podiatry team take a sample of your nail, you will be contacted within 5 working days by phone or email to discuss your results. Once reported, your podiatrist will discuss the cause of your nail pathology. It is important to remember that not all nail discolouration or nail deformity is fungus. Psoriatic nails, nail trauma and anaemia are some of many other causes of nail changes, which will be comprehensively examined within your appointment.

Signs and symptoms

  • Discoloured nails.
  • Nail deformity.
  • Crumbly nails.
  • Itchy feet.
  • Redness around the nail.
  • Athletes foot.
  • Fungal skin infection.
fungal nail infection

Treatment options

  • Test the nail for fungus.
  • Mechanical debridement.
  • Drilling holes.
  • Lamasil spray.
  • Loceryl.
  • Oral Terbinafine.

How can a Podiatrist help?

When you attend for an initial consultation, our Podiatry team will assess your feet, nails and suitability of treatment.

Once a fungal nail infection has been diagnosed there are three options for treatment:

  1. The podiatrist can mechanically debride or remove some of the fungal nail infection without the use of local anaesthesia. This is a pain free treatment and needs to be repeated every 2 months until regrowth of the nail is viewed or a change in treatment plan is required. Patients are asked to apply Lamasil spray onto their nails 1-2 times per day during treatment.
  2. Drilling holes within the fungal nail infection has been increasingly popular over the last few years. The nail is drilled with a fine 1 mm burr and treatment is repeated every 2 months until regrowth of the nail is viewed or a change in treatment plan is required. Small holes are drilled to penetrate to the nail bed and allow antifungal treatments to be more effective. Lamasil spray is then applied 1-2 times, daily during treatment. This treatment is generally pain free however some discomfort may be felt during drilling. In some instances, local anaesthesia can be used to numb the toe.
  3. If the whole nail is affected and becomes painful, our podiatry team can remove the nail and either allow regrowth of the nail or prevent the nail from re-growing.

Clinic Locations:

Appointments are available at all clinical sites. *On-site diagnostic ultrasound is available at Earlsfield and Maidenhead clinical locations.

 

How to book:

If you are a New Patient, please schedule an Initial Consultation online, click here:  BOOK ONLINE. Existing patients can also schedule a follow-up consultation online: BOOK ONLINE .  Please check your podiatrists Bio here: About us  Alternatively call: 02071646607 to speak to our friendly booking team Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm or Friday 9am-3:30pm.

 

Insurance and Fees:

We accept most major private medical insurance companies including BUPAVitalityWPACignaAVIVA and Simply Health. A full list of our consultation fees including self-pay can be found here: Insurance and Fees. Our Podiatry team are health care professional council registered, meaning they are required to maintain professional standards and continued professional development. As an organisation we have invested in the latest diagnostic technology in order to help our podiatry team, help you. We have onsite diagnostic ultrasound available at Maidenhead and Earlsfield clinics. Pressure analysis available at Maidenhead and Earlsfield clinics with treadmill examinations.