Common Skin, Nail and Foot Conditions
How can we help you?
We treat a range of conditions – here are some of the common conditions that our Podiatrists see at our Battle clinic:
- Ingrowing toenails and nail removal surgery
- Fungal nail treatment
- Corns/callus – including custom-made orthotics to offload pressure if needed
- Bursa / Bursitis
- Toe problems – including Hammer toe and Mallet toe
- Bunions
- Verruca treatment – we’ve invested in revolutionary new technology to tackle verrucae
Corns and Callus
Corns and calluses develop from repeated friction, rubbing or irritation and pressure on the skin. The most common cause is shoes that don’t fit properly. With a little bit of attention and care, most cases of corns or calluses can be prevented.
What are corns and calluses?
Corns and calluses are a buildup of hard, thick areas of skin. Although these hardened areas of skin can form anywhere on your body, you’ll usually see them on your feet, hands or fingers.
Corns
Corns tend to be small and round. You are most likely to see corns on the tops or sides of your toes. There are several types of corns:
Hard corns: These are small, hard dense areas of skin usually within a larger area of thickened skin. Hard corns usually form on the top of toes – areas where there is bone pressure against the skin.
Soft corns: These corns are whitish/grey and have a softer, rubbery texture. Soft corns appear between the toes.
Seed corns: These corns are small and usually form on the bottom of feet.
Calluses
Calluses are hard and thick patches of skin. Compared with corns, calluses are larger and have a more irregular (more spread out) shape. You are most likely to see calluses on the bottom of your foot on the bony areas that carry your weight – your heel, big toe, the ball of your foot and along the side of your foot. Some degree of callus formation on the bottom of your foot is normal.
Calluses are also often seen on hands. For instance, calluses form where there is repeated friction or rubbing– like on the tips of fingers of guitar players or the hands of gymnasts or weightlifters.
Who is more likely to get corns or calluses?
You are more likely to develop corns or calluses if:
- You already have medical conditions that change the normal alignment of the bones in your feet. For example, arthritis in your feet, bunions, bone spurs or hammertoes.
- You undertake regular exercise.
- You walk without socks.
- You wear shoes that are too narrow for your foot.
- You smoke cigarettes.
Bursa / Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a closed, fluid-filled sac that works as a cushion and gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. The major bursae (this is the plural of bursa) are located next to the tendons near the large joints, such as in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Bursitis is usually a temporary condition. It may limit motion, but generally does not cause deformity. Bursitis can happen in any bursa in the body, but there are some common types of bursitis, including:
- Posterior Achilles tendon bursitis. This type of bursitis, also called Haglund deformity, is in the bursa located between the skin of the heel and the Achilles tendon. This attaches the calf muscles to the heel. It is aggravated by a type of walking that presses the soft heel tissue into the hard back support of a shoe.
- Hip bursitis. Also called trochanteric bursitis, hip bursitis is often the result of injury, overuse, spinal abnormalities, arthritis, or surgery. This type of bursitis is more common in women and middle-aged and older people.
- Knee bursitis. Bursitis in the knee is also called goosefoot bursitis or Pes Anserine bursitis. The Pes Anserine bursa is located between the shin bone and the three tendons of the hamstring muscles, on the inside of the knee. This type of bursitis may be caused by lack of stretching before exercise, tight hamstring muscles, being overweight, arthritis, or out-turning of the knee or lower leg.
- Kneecap bursitis. Also called prepatellar bursitis, this type of bursitis is common in people who are on their knees a lot, such as carpet layers and plumbers.
What causes bursitis?
The most common causes of bursitis are injury or overuse. Infection may also cause it. Bursitis is also associated with other problems. These include arthritis, gout, tendonitis, diabetes, and thyroid disease. At the clinic we can provide exercises and review ones Gait to analyse and diagnose the cause of the formation of bursitis.Toe problems
Hammer toe and Mallet toe
Hammertoe and mallet toe are foot deformities that occur due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons or ligaments that normally hold the toe straight. The type of shoes you wear, foot structure, trauma and certain disease processes can contribute to the development of these deformities.
A hammer toe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint of a toe. Mallet toe affects the joint nearest the toenail. Hammer toe and mallet toe usually occur in your second, third and fourth toes.
Relieving the pain and pressure of hammertoe and mallet toe may involve changing your footwear and wearing shoe inserts. If you have a more severe case of hammer toe or mallet toe, you might need surgery to get relief.
Symptoms
Hammertoe and mallet toe feature an abnormal bend in the joints of one or more of your toes. Moving the affected toe may be difficult or painful. Corns and calluses can result from the toe rubbing against the inside of your shoes.
Causes
Hammertoe and mallet toe have been linked to:
- Certain shoes. High-heeled shoes or footwear that’s too tight in the toe box can crowd your toes into a space in which they can’t lie flat. This curled toe position might eventually persist even when you’re barefoot.
- Trauma. An injury in which you stub, jam or break a toe can make it more likely for that digit to develop hammertoe or mallet toe.
- Abnormal balance of the toe muscles. The imbalance leads to instability, which can cause the toe to contract.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of hammertoe and mallet toe include:
- Age. The risk of hammertoe and mallet toe increases with age.
- Sex. Women are much more likely to develop hammertoe or mallet toe than are men.
- Toe length. If your second toe is longer than your big toe, it’s at higher risk of hammertoe or mallet toe.
- Certain diseases. Arthritis and diabetes might make you more prone to developing foot deformities. Heredity might also play a role.
Complications
At first, a hammertoe or mallet toe might maintain its flexibility. But eventually, the tendons of the toe can contract and tighten, causing your toe to become permanently bent. Your shoes can rub against the raised portion of the toe or toes, causing painful corns or calluses.
Prevention
You can avoid many foot, heel and ankle problems with shoes that fit properly. Here’s what to look for when buying shoes:
- Adequate toe room. Avoid shoes with pointed toes.
- Low heels. Avoiding high heels will help you avoid back problems.
- Adjustability. Laced or strapped shoes are roomier and adjustable
These additional tips can help you buy the right shoes:
- Buy shoes at the end of the day. Your feet swell throughout the day.
- Check your size. As you age, your shoe size might change — especially the width.
- Measure both feet and buy for the larger foot.
- Buy shoes that fit. Be sure shoes are comfortable before you buy them. If necessary, a shoe repair store might be able to stretch shoes in tight spots, but it’s better to buy them to fit.
Bunions
A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place. This causes the tip of your big toe to get pulled toward the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out. The skin over the bunion might be red and sore.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a bunion include:
- A bulging bump on the outside of the base of your big toe
- Swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint
- Corns or calluses — these often develop where the first and second toes rub against each other
- Ongoing pain or pain that comes and goes
- Limited movement of your big toe.
Causes
There are many theories about how bunions develop, but the exact cause is unknown. Factors likely include:
- Inherited foot type
- Foot stress or injuries
- Deformities present at birth
Complications
Possible complications of bunions include:
- Bursitis. This painful condition occurs when the small fluid-filled pads that cushion the bones near your joints become inflamed.
- Hammertoe. An abnormal bend that occurs in the middle joint of a toe, usually the toe next to your big toe, can cause pain and pressure.
- Metatarsalgia. This condition causes pain and swelling in the ball of your foot.
Here at the clinic we can manage bunions with advice, exercises but more often than not custom orthotics to offload the pressures exerted upon the bunion therefore preventing any further deviation and any other complications occurring in the near future.
Why choose us as your Podiatrist?
We want you to feel confident in choosing us to be your Podiatrist.
Along with our client testimonials, here are a few reasons why we hope you can feel that way:
- We utilise the latest technology and treatments
- Accurately treat both common and rare conditions
- Orthotic Centre of Excellence
- Musculo-Skeletal Pain Specialists (including gait analysis and clinical biomechanics assessments)
- 25 years experience working with GB’s elite athletes and recreational sports enthusiasts
- HCPC registered – work with children and adults
Find out more about us.
Paid my first visit today and was put immediately at ease. The treatment was comfortable and painless and now I feel like I am walking on air!
More Podiatrist Services
As well as the various skin, nail and foot complaints that we help you overcome, we also assist with:
- Musculo-skeletal pain in your back, hips and lower limbs
- Sports injuries
- Podiatry for children
- Diabetes foot care
- Acupuncture for soft tissue release
Please do contact us if you have any questions for our Podiatrist team to answer – we’re happy to help.
Our clinic is in a quiet spot off the high street in Battle, within an easy driving distance of Bexhill, Northiam, Hastings and Heathfield in East Sussex.