ONYCHOMYCOSIS / FUNGAL NAILS / CORNS / CALLUSES
Definition: Thicken toenail resulting from the invasion of the toenail by different fungal elements.
Fungus is an opportunistic organism due to several factors, including trauma, aging, decreased blood flow, circulatory disorders, smoking, diabetes, and other situations that would cause a decrease in the immediate blood flow to the area. The fungus is able to penetrate the toenail and begin to cause thickening and discoloration. End results often include highly incurvated toenails with pain and discomfort from pressure or chronic infected ingrown toenails.
Therapy often includes topical applications to get ride of fungus. Other more radical forms of therapy include oral medications and/or surgical removal of part or the entire toenail.
Definition: Corns and calluses are thickening of the skin over any bony prominence. The corn and/or callus is a symptom caused by excess pressure over one single area. The body forms thicker skin over an area of trauma to protect the area from pressure. Unfortunately, the thicker the lesion becomes the more painful it is. In diabetics this is particularly troublesome as thickened corns and calluses often overlie areas of ulceration and superficial gangrene. Therapy consists of debriding the lesion and teaching patients methods of effectively decreasing pressure as well as debriding the lesions and assuring they do not return.
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