As Service Providers, we see all types foot conditions including bruised nails. We’ve answered some common questions below that we receive during pedicures.
Do bruised nails grow out?
Yes, they do grow out. However, if there has been trauma to the matrix of the nail, there may be permanent damage such as ridges. The matrix is where the nail is developed, in other words, a damaged “nail factory” will produce damaged nails.
How long does it take for a bruised nail to grow out?
The answer to that question depends on where the trauma is located on the nail. Typically it takes about a year for the nail to fully replenish itself; that is assuming the bruise is at the base of the nail.
On the other hand if the trauma is midpoint, it is safe to estimate it will take about 6 months to grow out. If the nail trauma is a quarter of the way down, it should out take about 3 months, and so on.
Does a new nail grow under the bruised nail?
No, a new nail does not grow underneath, but it grows behind it. So, if the trauma to the nail is bad enough, then the nail will eventually fall as the new nail starts to push out that damaged nail. Depending on how bad the bruise is, sometimes the nail will just slowly grow out.
Home care tips for bruised nails.
Keeping them clean and dry will prevent your vulnerable feet from developing other conditions, such as athlete’s foot or nail fungus. Avoiding tight shoes will prevent unnecessary pressure and will therefore allow normal blood flow to the feet. We recommend wearing sandals in the summer time, it is safe to cover up the bruise with nail polish.
If it is a pretty bad hematoma (bruise) it is recommended to have it drained by a doctor to alleviate some of the pressure.
Pedicures not only help wit the esthetics of a bruised nail, they also remove any collection of tissue and blood that collects between the nail and the nail bed.
Foot corns are not caused by virus or bacteria. They are caused by pressure between footwear and the bone. In other words, they are strictly due to friction.
The early stages of corns are soft corns. After they build the callous they become a hardened overgrowth of skin.
Foot corn removal
Treatment is simple when addressed promptly. Soft corns can be treated with corn pads to cushion friction areas. On the other hand, hard corns are treated with regular pedicures. Calloused areas are removed with pedicure tools, for example, blades and rasps.
If the corn occurred due to wearing bad shoes during a short period of time, for example, during a vacation, a pedicure is great for foot corn removal. However, if corns are due to bad bone alignment, we recommend wearing cushions regularly.
Have you ever “broken in” a new pair of shoes? You’re not actually breaking in the shoes. Instead, you are inadvertently breaking in your feet! Sometimes a corn will start off as a blister. If you continue to use the problematic shoes after the blister pops, it will build a callous in those tiny spots. The callous buildup becomes a corn.
Our recommendation? Discontinue use of tight footwear to alleviate the pressure if they are the cause. In addition, light buffing in the shower over the corn will help reduce symptoms.
Regular Pedicures
Our pedicare treatments provide all the benefits of a traditional pedicure combined with our treatment approach and signature touch of luxury. Above all, regular pedicures are important to maintain foot health and keep feet looking their best.
A bunion is a bony overgrowth at the metatarsophalangeal joint. Bunions are hereditary, however, some factors are known to cause flareups.
For example, people who wear tight and/or pointed toe shoes, stand for a long time, or do a lot of walking tend to see exacerbated symptoms.
Bunions are a painful condition that feels like a throbbing ache.
Bunion treatment
Bunions will not go away on their own, but the symptoms can be alleviated. Bunion treatment varies by severity. In mild cases, changing your footwear and regular pedicures should do the trick. Massaging the joints and warming them with paraffin alleviates the pain.
Ask your Service Provider for foot care tips. Practicing regular foot care helps improve the esthetic appeal of your feet. It also helps maintain the overall health of your feet.
Other treatments for mild cases include toe separators. Wearing them throughout the day or sleeping with them on will reduce tension. More serious cases require a bunion corrector that will fix the issue, not simply reduce the tension. Bunion correctors are a step before surgery.
Texture scars are also known as “pitted acne scars”.
What causes textural scarring?
Pitting is caused by enlarged pores that once held a large cystic acne lesion. Cystic acne is different than whiteheads. Whiteheads are blockages in the pores whereas cystic acne lesions are attached to the skin. They feed on the skin’s nutrients. As the lesion grows it creates a pocket deep in the skin. Eventually, through the skin’s natural process, the lesion comes to the surface. Once the lesion is at the surface it can be extracted, however the empty sac is left behind.
“January 2022”“June 2022”“January 2023”Cystic acne comes to the surface over time.
Extracting through facials
Successful and complete removal of the sac is important. Failure to remove all contents from the sac leaves the surrounding tissue exposed to infections. The service we recommend for extractions is our Pore facial.
Do pitted acne scars go away?
Yes, texture scars go away over time with your skin’s daily shedding process. However, you have to “do the time” as they say and may have to wait years before seeing smooth skin. This depends on the frequency and number of lesions, your age, and other factors.
“June 2023”“January 2024” “June 2024”As your skin sheds, new layers are revealed.
Chemical (a.k.a. acid) peels expedite the shedding process. They speed up the wait time between shedding thereby getting you to that smooth layer much sooner than the natural process.
On the other hand, photofacials accelerate the healing process by building extra collagen and plumping the skin. They add volume to damaged skin.
How long after my last breakout should I start treatment?
We recommend having your skin under control before starting treatment. A dermatologist can help to manage acne before starting repair treatments. We define “under control” as acne that has been decreasing over the course of 6 months, and in remission for another 3-6 months.
In the meantime, exfoliation helps to maximize skin shedding, however, selecting the right exfoliant is important. Mechanical exfoliants may be too abrasive for sensitive skin types or skin with large pores. For these skin types we recommend the Phyto Calm Enzyme Mask.
Free of fragrance and dyes, this formula has been clinically tested for skin not well suited for manual exfoliation.
Closed comodones are called whiteheads. They are a backlog of secretions trying to make their way out of our bodies. At this stage, they do not have dirt or pollution, only waste products from within. Once these comodones open, they become blackheads. They are the result of the stuff making its way out and coming in contact with external surroundings.
Pore Size and Blackhead Prevention
If your pores are bigger than normal your struggle with prevention may be more of a challenge. However, blackheads can be reduced with proper care.
Washing your face with a professional cleanser is important to keep the pores as clean as possible. Go for a foaming cleanser, or gel cleanser–these will help wash away debris trapped underneath the oil buildup.
Prevent increasing pore size by avoiding mechanical exfoliants and opt for a chemical alternative.
Understanding your skin type will help you select products that make and keep your skin balanced.
Is it safe to remove blackheads at home?
In some cases, blackhead removal at home is safe. However, we recommend seeking professional help to prevent scarring or spreading.
Can pore size be reduced?
We can treat enlarged pores caused by external factors, for example, heat exposure, misuse of products, excess of dead skin, lack of hydration, etc. Above all, our treatments are safely delivered by skin experts.
Whiteheads and milia are not the same thing. Think of a whitehead as as an “oil pocket” containing oil buildup and debris. Whiteheads occur because the oil pocket is causing a blockage as things are entering and leaving the skin. As that blockage moves closer to the surface of the skin, the whitehead opens. When opened it becomes a blackhead due to exposure to oxygen.
A whitehead is a closed comedone, that is to say, a blocked pore.
On the other hand, milia are nodules (abnormal growths) that have formed in a sack. Think of milia as little “placentas” attached to the skin. These “placentas” are feeding and pulling nutrients from the skin. Extraction of milia involves the physical removal of the sac fully intact, whereas whitehead extractions involve emptying the pore.
Because milia is caused by internal factors, their treatment requires medical care. At Dérmica, we can help alleviate symptoms of conditions that show on the skin.
Milia are micro-cysts filled with keratin.
Don’t try popping at home!
We know milia are tempting to extract, but we highly recommend against popping your own milia. Successful and complete removal of the sac is important. Failure to remove all contents from the sac leaves the surrounding tissue exposed to infections. The service we recommend for the removal of milia is our Pore facial.
Is my eye cream to blame for my milia?
The presence of milia is caused on an internal level. If milia would be caused by topical factors, it would create a blockage problem, like whiteheads do.
