Skin and Toenail Conditions

Healthy Feet Allow Us to Perform at Work and Play

Exceptional Skin and Toenail Care in Utah

If you are experiencing pain, redness, swelling, discoloration, or a strong foot odor, you likely have a skin condition or toenail issue that requires treatment. These symptoms can be signs of ingrown toenails, foot fungus, dermatitis, or other nail and skin conditions. Symptoms often seem insignificant when they start, like a small growth on the skin or a slight discoloration on the toenail. If these symptoms are ignored, however, the foot or nail condition often becomes more painful and more difficult to treat.

Skin & Nails

Common Skin Conditions and Toenail Problems

Some skin and toenail conditions can’t be treated at home and require professional help from a podiatrist. Whether painful or just aesthetically upsetting, we treat skin and nail issues in children, teens, adults, and the elderly. While we treat all nail and skin conditions of the foot and ankle, there are some conditions we see more often than others.

Ingrown Toenails

Nail and Foot Fungus

Athletes Foot

Plantar Warts

Infected Toenails

Calluses and Corns

Treatment Approach

Our Treatment Approach to Skin Conditions and Toenail Issues

It's important to note that many skin and toenail conditions can be prevented at home. Ingrown toenails for example, while they are a common inherited disorder, are also caused by trauma to the toe, wearing shoes that are too tight, or cutting the nail too short. Many skin conditions of the feet, like nail fungus or athlete's foot, are commonly picked up from moist public areas, such as locker rooms, swimming pools, and public showers. These infections then thrive in moist, warm environments, like sweaty, tight shoes.

Preventing skin and nail conditions is important to ensure the best outcome and vital in avoiding continuous treatment. No matter what you are experiencing with your toenails or the skin on your feet, we can help. We care about your foot care and will work together to get your feet back to their healthy state. We pride ourselves on providing expert foot care and education to our patients.

Common Symptoms of Skin and Toenail Conditions

Skin and nail problems on the feet often start small and become harder to treat if ignored. See us if you notice:

Thick, discolored, or brittle toenails
Pain, redness, or swelling along a nail edge (a sign of an ingrown toenail)
Itching, peeling, cracking, or scaling skin (often athlete’s foot)
Rough growths or warts on the soles or toes
Persistent foot odor, drainage, or a break in the skin

How These Conditions Spread and How to Prevent Them

Many foot skin and nail infections are contagious and thrive in warm, moist places. Fungus and athlete’s foot are commonly picked up in locker rooms, public showers, and around pools, then flourish inside sweaty, tight shoes. You can lower your risk by keeping your feet clean and dry, changing socks daily, wearing sandals in public wet areas, rotating your shoes so they fully dry out, and never sharing nail clippers or files. Trimming toenails straight across helps prevent ingrown nails.

Professional Treatment Options

Some conditions simply can’t be resolved at home. We offer in-office removal for painful or recurring ingrown toenails, oral, topical, and laser therapy for stubborn toenail fungus, professional wart treatment, and safe debridement of thickened nails and calluses. Avoid digging at an ingrown nail or using over-the-counter acid products, which often lead to infection — especially for patients with diabetes or poor circulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does toenail fungus go away on its own?

Rarely. Fungal infections tend to persist and spread without treatment. The earlier therapy begins, the better the outcome.

Is laser treatment effective for toenail fungus?

Laser therapy is a well-tolerated option that targets the fungus with little downtime, and it can be combined with topical or oral treatment for the best results.

Are ingrown toenails preventable?

Often, yes. Trim nails straight across, avoid cutting them too short, and wear shoes with room in the toe box. Recurrent ingrown nails can be corrected with a simple in-office procedure.