Fungal nail infections are common. Unlike an ingrown toenail, they're harmless, but they can drastically alter the way toenails look.  

It's caused by micro fungi particles that invade deep nail layers. If your nail is split or cracked, then it's party time for the particles. ​
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In its early stages, it's easy to treat. 

​But if it establishes itself, a fungal nail infection is stubborn and resilient to remove.  

Yellow and brown. I'm referring to fungal nails, that most hated of infections.

Compared to the humble foot corn, a fungal toenail infection is a royal PITA to cure. 

(It's on par with plantar warts) 

So, does Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal work? Well, technically, no because nothing in Kerasal kills nail fungus. ​

But, I still think it's effective, and here's why.

In shoes that squeeze, does every step pinch your pinkie toe?

Have you got hard skin there that hurts when you press down on it?

Do you get instant relief when you're free of footwear? 

Sorry to break it to you, but you may be the owner of a corn on your pinky-toe. ​The little digit is prone to pick up them up.

They throb, oh do they throb, but they aren't too hard to get rid of — and keep away. 

Prison documentaries show us that humans are ingenious. 

​(Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.) 

But dental floss for ingrown toenails? How would thin waxed string pluck out a shark's tooth of a nail?

What about tooth floss for fungal nails?

What magical properties have Oral B bestowed on menthol-tinged string that I didn't know about?

Is it with or without the little violin handle? Are you meant to use the cool or fresh mint floss?
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So many questions — I just had to try it. 

Sometimes an ingrown toenail needs more than salt water and Savlon. Sometimes a shard of nail has sliced through your skin.

Soon, you have swollen big toe that jars if you look at a shoe, let alone wear it. ​

At this point, you need ingrown toenail surgery. ​

But how much does ingrown toenail surgery cost in the UK? How can you get it cheaper?

You just got up after a nap and now you can't walk. It's funny how life can change in an instant. 

So what's happened?
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Just like toddlers, your plantar fascia is irritated after a relaxing rest. ​​When your weary foot hit the floor, it woke up stiff — and screamed. 
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For a lot of you, this is your first brutal intro to plantar fasciitis. 
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But here's a trade secret: Podiatrists breath a sigh of relief when you hobble into clinic with heel pain.

Why? Because plantar fasciitis is an easy condition to cure. 

Now, call me an old stick in the mud, but I've never worn shellac gel.

But as a Podiatrist, I do know about foot pain and corns.

I see plenty of white chalky spots on toenails after removing polish.

(This is almost always after I've drilled away day-glo shellac)

I also witness the ensuing toenail fungus.

So, what are these white dots and spots? Are they serious? (No) 

​Are they a sign of something far more stubborn coming down the pipeline? (Possibly, yes)

Athlete's foot has accomplished an impressive feat.

​It's radiated from a rare condition to one lurking in almost every slipper. The fungus now infects 1 in 5 of the world's population. 

Anyone can get the itchy rash, from swimmers to care home residents. 

At the start, the symptoms are mild. ​

Most won't know about the fungal takeover — one of its secrets of success.

And if it reaches your nails, well then you do have a problem. ​

This foot pain chart focuses on bottom of your foot ache.

After all, your sole is the veneer between your delicate body and the cold, cruel ground. 

(And is, without doubt, the foot part I treat the most)

Loaded with bones, nerves and flesh; there's a lot to go wrong. ​​

So from stretched heel tendons to fat angry toe nerves, these conditions are the ones that I see often.​

Got toothache pain in your lower leg?

Or is it more like one of those fat pet rats, gnawing your shin bone like a corn cob?

It's probably shin splints — the scourge of (new) runners. 

Also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, it's triggered by doing too much, too soon.

Now, there are other causes of that dull, heavy throb. But shin splints is by far the most common.  

I love curing corns. It gives instant agony relief.

Someone who hobbled along 20 minutes ago — suddenly walks with a spring in their step.

But why are corns so painful?

I get asked this a lot, and I understand why. ​

Well, you requested, I delivered. ​Here's why corns hurt so much

(And what you can do about it)​

Ah, pinky-toe pain. 

It can be from something mundane like chafing, to the more exotic e.g. an accessory toenail. 

Hard corns happen here, too. 

But there's another, more hateful, explanation. One that'll force you to switch your Fendi's for flip-flops.

​(Or how about toilet roll 'tween your toes or slippers 24/7? I've seen both).

I am, of course, referring to the infamous soft corn aka heloma molle. 

​And if you ID one early, you can save an expensive visit to the Podiatrist.  ​​

Smoker's corns are notoriously difficult to treat. ​Surgeons often refuse to operate on these neurovascular corns. 

There's next to no medical literature why they're so different (to normal corns.)

​There's debate in the Podiatry world about whether they actually exist (they do). 

​​They cause exquisite pain, bleed — and come back much faster than normal. ​

If I had a dollar (or pound) every time I hear: 

"I think I've got a wart on my foot, but it may be a corn". 
"I've filed this bit of skin on my foot for months, and it's not going".

A corn vs wart can be tough to tell, one of the many types of each causes sole of your foot pain.

And a positive ID is crucial to get rid of it — for ever.    

​So how do you know?

Here are five quick ways to tell the difference (or at least lead you in the right direction!)

The most painful corns are between toes. ​

​​With soft corns between toes, there's no escape. They face pressure from two sides from squeezing tight footwear. 

The good news is that soft corns, like all foot corns, respond great to changes you can make.

The life of a Podiatrist isn't all glitz and glamor. It's not all wrecked shellac nails and Taylor Swift's bunions.  

Foot corns are my bread and butter — and a huge source of bottom of foot pain. 

Now, these pictures of corns are what I see every day. 

​I also get asked a ton: What does a corn look like after it's removed?

(You know when you take a stone out of your foot after hiking? Like that)

​​So to satisfy demand that I didn't know existed, here are some foot corn images. ​

I've also added some before and after pictures of corns on feet.

A toe hangnail you get as regular as utility bills. 

An accessory toenail that regenerates no matter how many times you rip it out. 

You cut it back, it grows back. You yank it out and its spiky little head rears again.

This vexatious little nail flourishes on the outside of your little toe. ​​Most aren't sure what they are (including quite a lot of Podiatrists). ​

How do you get rid of this PITA split pinky toenail? And what the hell is a Lister Corn?

Do you always get bad cracked heels in the winter?

Or have pale grey splits only appeared during this cold snap? 

Ragged dry skin that catches your socks isn't just a warm-weather thing. ​The crisp frosty mornings can coincide with piercing heel pain and thick yellow callus. 

Though often painful and unsightly, this condition is easily treated.

Ah, seed corns, those picky little plugs of ingrown skin.

Now being a Podiatrist is never dull. One minute, I'm looking at fungal shellac nails.

The next I'm straining to see the evil sesame's aka seed corns.

Seed corns are caused by dry friction — and often appear as a cluster. They can be tough to tell from plantar warts. 

Now for some, they're an occasional nuisance. But for others, seed corns equal a stab pain every step.

​(Oh btw, they can also be the beginning of big, badder corns). ​

​But now for the good news: compared to other corns, the seed variety are way easier to home cure. ​​​

This means with a bit of patience you can save a fortune going to see a podiatrist.​