Skin & Nail Problems

Nail fungus or onychomycosis is very stubborn to treat. Early on, the presentation may be mild discoloration and often goes unnoticed. Many over the counter medications are not effective. Nail fungus can cause significant changes to the nail making them difficult to care for, cause pain and be at risk for bacterial infections or wounds. There may be prescription medications or procedure options so come in and be evaluated.

Call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ames at (515) 444-2390  or email info@fas-ames.com to make an appointment!

Ingrown nails are very common! They occur when the skin digs into the skin around the nail. It can create pain, swelling, drainage and if left untreated they can become infected.  They can occur for many reasons including injury, how the nail was trimmed, genetics or tight shoes putting pressure on the area around the toenail. If you do not have signs of infection and do not have decreased blood flow or neuropathy, you may be able to treat this at home with soaking in Epsom salts, modifying shoe gear to decrease pressure. It is important not to take on “bathroom surgery.” More often than not, it actually makes the ingrown nail worse and increases infection risk. If your home treatment is not helping within a week or if you are noticing worsening redness, drainage, and pain-let the experts help you feel resolve this pesky ingrown nail!

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Call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ames at (515) 444-2390  or email info@fas-ames.com to make an appointment!

Athletes foot is caused by fungus and is commonly seen between the toes. You may find that you have recurrent issues with this! Changing the type of socks you wear, controlling the amount of sweat collecting around your feet and alternating shoes each day can reduce the recurrence. There are over the counter and prescription treatment options for athletes’ foot. If you have tried treating over the counter and it is not going away, it is time to get it checked out.  

Call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ames at (515) 444-2390  or email info@fas-ames.com to make an appointment!

Warts can be painful and stubborn to get rid. They can appear anywhere on the body but plantar warts are on the feet. They are frequently mistaken for a callus but can be distinguished from a callus by the black dots that are present. The dots are small blood vessels. Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and lives in a warm and moist environment.  It just takes a small opening (that may not be visible) in the skin for the virus to be able to cause the lesion that is visible and create pain. There are over the counter treatment options but if not responding (or if you aren’t sure it is a wart) come in to have it examined and get treatment options. Good precautions to take to try to prevent getting a wart- do not walk barefoot in gym showers, around pool areas and locker rooms. Do not wear other people’s shoes and treat the warts if you have one.

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Call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ames at (515) 444-2390  or email info@fas-ames.com to make an appointment!

Corns and calluses are typically caused by friction or pressure on the bottoms of the feet, tops or between the toes. They can be very painful and feel like you are stepping on something with every step. They are frequently mistaken for warts. A lot of times the structure of your foot or how your foot functions can contribute to the reason they develop. This is often part of the treatment options as well. It can be ok to use a pumice stone to file down the callus. If you have diabetes, decreased sensation, or decreased blood flow then the area is at risk for becoming an ulceration that could lead to infection. Salicylic acid corn pads may also cause wounds that can be difficult to heal. Call us if you suffer from painful callus’ and want to see if there are more options.

Call the Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ames at (515) 444-2390  or email info@fas-ames.com to make an appointment!