Heel fissures are deep cracks in calloused areas of the foot. Callous is an overgrowth of dry dead skin. This is often caused by improper foot care. For instance, not removing callous on a regular basis and allowing it to get abnormally thick. However, there are other causes of fissures. Medications that dry out the skin, bad foot wear, and improper weight distribution can cause excessive callous which can then lead to fissures.
How long does it take to heal a heel fissure?
Fissures do not go away on their own. They need to be shaved down. Heel fissures treatment includes a series of pedicures to safely and effectively remove excess callous.
Careful though…
Sometimes, excessive callous is caused by bad pedicures. If too much callous is removed, the skin will overcompensate and build twice as much callous. Fissures can be taken down by means of either a pedicure blade, drills, and rasps in a spa pedicure.
Garbage to some, gold to others.
Aftercare includes using a foot cream that contains urea. Urea is derived from urine. More specifically, it is a waste product excreted by your kidneys when you urinate. Though this sounds gross, urea helps to soften and eat away the dead skin. While your kidneys may consider it garbage, urea is gold to your sad feet! Urea has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that heal and protect your feet.
Tips: Moisturizing often, regular pedicures, and home care.
After applying foot cream, try to use soft socks, for example, cotton socks. Avoid pantyhose as they can get caught in the fissures. Consequently, this can cause snagging and even bleeding which can lead to infections. Moreover, using a foot paddle or pumice stone in the shower will help maintain foot care.
In general, poor foot hygiene is a cause of nail fungus. It is important to cut the toenails and clean underneath regularly. Keeping them long creates unnecessary pressure.
Properly drying your feet is a must. Wiping your feet on the bath mat after your shower or bath is not enough. A proper drying is necessary, especially for overweight people.
Aside from poor hygiene, there are 3 major categories of nail fungus sources:
Ill-fitted shoes
Tight-fitting shoes create pressure that traumatizes the nail therefore making it vulnerable to infections.
Improper pedicures
What constitutes an improper pedicure? Examples include reusing of disposable tools, poor cleaning protocols, and cross contamination. The risk of cross contamination is high when a Service Provider jumps between two simultaneous pedicures in order to maximize the number of clients served.
People with healthy, unbroken skin won’t regularly have an issue with improper pedicures. However, someone with unhealthy feet may fall prey to a fungus infection.
Shoe humidity
Athletes are most likely to develop fungus infections due to the humidity in their shoes. In addition, they often use locker rooms which are known to provide conditions that make fungi thrive (humidity).
In addition to humidity, runners in particular create extra pressure as their feet pound the pavement. This pressure traumatizes the nail therefore making it vulnerable to infections.
Can nail fungus cure itself?
Nail fungus cannot cure itself. A nail fungus can be compared to a parasite. Unless you remove one of the ideal conditions, fungus will continue to thrive. Ideal conditions include humidity, darkness, warm temperature, and nutrients (for example, dirt or dead skin cells).
What happens when left untreated?
There are many reasons to treat a fungal infection aside from the foot not being esthetically pleasing. Firstly, it will cause embarrassing odour. If left untreated long enough it starts to mutate. The fungus starts growing roots under the nails which bury themselves in the nail bed causing it to “pump” itself up. This pumping manifests as thick nails. Once roots starts growing, the fungus can spread to other nails or other people.
Can I wear nail polish if I have a fungal infection?
We recommend that you not apply colour nail polish on an infected toenail. A clear coat is ok, but colours will create an umbrella effect giving the fungi the darkness it needs to thrive. Its like a bug living under a log.
Another reason to refrain from nail polish is to avoid contamination of your nail polish. Once a bottle of polish has been contaminated it can spread to other fingers and people who use your polish.
Prevention tips
Do not share socks or shoes.
Sock material- not all socks are made of cotton. Some are made of acrylic/nylon material which are more likely to cause feet to sweat.
Do not wear the same shoes 2 days in a row, especially closed-toed shoes made from material that builds moisture.
Do not wear poor quality shoes. Some shoes are made of plastic and the paint on the shoes is also plastic which causes sweaty feet and bacteria.
Clean and dry feet properly.
Do not cut nails so short that it breaks the seal.
Wear sandals in locker rooms.
Nail Fungus Treatment
There are different levels of nail fungus treatment.
Anti-fungal drops
This is something you can do at home. The natural toenail takes one year to replace itself. This is the amount of time it will take to care for your feet with drops.
Advanced pedicure
In an Anti-Fungal Tx, we cut the nail down to a safe point in order to cut and scoop as much fungus out. We then insert soaked therapeutic pads where the fungus was removed. As a result, there is less area for moisture to collect.
Your service provider will provide you with post care to continue to care for your infected nail at home.
An ingrown toenail is caused by an overgrowth of nail along the side of the nail. Consequently, this condition creates pressure which can lead to swelling, a lot of pain, and even infections. The extra nail growth can be caused by many factors. For example, incorrect nail cutting, trauma or injury to the nail, or genetics.
Can an ingrown toenail heal itself?
With proper nail care, cutting, and trimming, an ingrown toenail can grow out by itself. However, in certain cases, the ingrown nail will continue to come back.
For instance, ingrown toenails due to the way the shoe forms pressure on the foot will return as long as the specific shoes are in use.
In cases where its hereditary or due to the shape of the foot, ingrown toenails may have to be surgically removed or sometimes the whole toenail is surgically removed.
What happens of an ingrown toenail is left untreated?
If it’s a mild condition ingrown toenails can be treated with proper foot care and nail care.
On the other hand, they can turn into an infection which can turn sepsis. In other words, the infection makes its ways to your bloodstream and can become severe.
How do we fix ingrown toenails?
In mild cases, your service provider will clean the area and file down the sides, properly trim and monitor growth.
DIY and tips to prevent ingrown toenails
do not cut nails down too short
wear properly fitted shoes
above all, practice regular foot care including cleaning around the nails or regular pedicures
How can I get rid of ingrown hairs and bumps on my face and scalp?
Let’ start by understanding the cause of these bumps on the scalp…
Razor bumps are often caused by close shaving and barbering techniques. The shaved areas of the skin endure micro-trauma over the protrusion of the hair follicle. The damage is often due to dull blades, excessive pressure, repeated passes, and/or shaving against the grain.
Our skin’s natural response to trauma is to repair and rebuild the damaged tissue, causing a blockage over the opening of the follicle. This blockage prevents the hair strand from breaking through to the surface of the skin. The hair strand will continue to grow and coil back into the skin causing it to swell.
What treatment is recommended for getting rid of these bumps?
Our preferred method to treat scalp folliculitis is with salicylic acid peels or ‘Acne Treatment”. Known for its exfoliating and anti-inflammatory benefits, Salicylic Acid is an effective solution for this and other skin conditions.
What to expect during your treatment…
Salicylic acid is applied to the area for 2-8 minutes and can be layered to intensify the treatment. The acid penetrates deep into follicles where it loosens and softens the oils and buildup. This allows for the hair to become dislodged as the skin begins to shed the excess layers above the follicle opening.
The treatment takes 30-45 minutes and may require manual extraction of the trapped hair. The chemical peel process is repeated 3-4 weeks apart until desired results are achieved, on average 4-6 sessions are required for maximum results.
What should I be doing at home?
Products containing Salicylic Acid are great for at-home treatment. Regular use of these products will continue the treatment process and boost results.
TIPS
Proper home care is key for maximizing results and preventing future breakouts. Here are some tips to follow:
Keep the area dry and clean.
Avoid wearing headgear for extended periods.
Do not shave down to the skin with razors.
Use electric trimmers with a guard to avoid close shave.
Exfoliate skin regularly.
Avoid picking at live skin.
While the visibly bumpy appearance on the skin is the most common concern, other far more concerning issues can arise from these bumps on the scalp. These skin flare-ups can cause scarring, permanent hair loss, bacterial and fungal infections. In severe cases, your skincare specialist may suggest a visit with your doctor for testing or diagnosis before commencing treatment.
Our role is to help improve the general health of your skin through professional care, products, and care recommendations. Call to book your complimentary phone consult with one of our skincare specialists!
How does IPL compare to other methods of ingrown hair removal?
Ingrown Hair Removal
IPL is one of the most effective ways of treating ingrown hairs because it not only removes the source of the condition but also helps alleviate some of the scarring left behind.
Here is how it compares:
Waxing
Waxing gives temporary removal and can thin the hair. Thinning the hair may result in more ingrown as the hair becomes too soft to break through the skin. It is not recommended to wax male facial hair due to risk of infection.
Tweezing
Provides temporary relief and can be time consuming. Picking out ingrown can leave scarring and infections.
Shaving
Often the cause of the condition and can cause major irritation over bumps.
Exfoliating
Clears the skin making of dead skin but does not remove the source of the problem or provide major benefit.
So now that you have the details, let us help you get rid of stubborn ingrown hairs and start clearing your skin with IPL Hair Removal. We guarantee you will be amazed with the results after just one treatment!
We are happy to add a new product to our online skincare store- Glo Therapeutics Clear Skin Body Spray.
This body acne spray visibly treats breakouts and congestion on the body by targeting acne-causing bacteria.
Synergistic ingredients balance excess oil, protect the skin’s moisture barrier and help clear skin.
HOW DOES THIS PRODUCT WORK? Disodium EDTA helps bind free radicals and impurities. Sodium Chlorite breaks apart sebum and bacteria while preventing regrowth of bacteria for extended periods of time. Salicylic Acid stimulates exfoliation in the skin, clearing pores and promoting new cell growth. Salicylic acid also reduces inflammation and smooths your skin’s surface. Mentha Spicata (Spearmint) Oil acts as an antibacterial and antioxidant ingredient to help prevent future body breakouts.
Ideal for use on the back and chest. Available for pick up or delivery.
Visit our Online Store to shop for professional Skincare products.
