Skin Conditions FAQs

What’s the best way to treat a wart?

There are many different ways to treat a wart, but it is important to know that not all are equally effective. While some individuals may swear by home remedies, the best way to treat a wart is simply to let professionals like those here at Eagle-Summit Foot & Ankle take care of it for you.

The reason behind this is that most alternative methods can be not only ineffective but also potentially dangerous. To start with, attempting to remove a wart by cutting it off is not a good idea. “Home surgery” creates unnecessary risk for infection.

Over-the-counter wart removal kits are not quite as dangerous as cutting the viral growth, but they often use salicylic acid that can damage the heathy skin around the wart. It is easy to find many other remedies with a quick internet search, but these often have questionable results.

Several treatment options are available through our office. After examining your feet to determine the size, number, and extent of your warts, we will make a recommendation for the best treatment for you.

If you or a loved one develops a plantar wart or other viral growth on a lower limb, contact us by calling (970) 949-0500 for our Avon, CO office or (970) 668-4565 for our Frisco office, or use our online form to schedule an appointment at either location.

Why is my toenail yellow?

A common reason why a toenail turns yellow is toenail fungus. This nail infection is caused by dermatophytes that feed on the hard keratin and cause the nail to turn white or yellow, thick, brittle, and crumbly. Fungal nails are difficult to treat, so it is important to seek our help as soon as you notice a problem. Good hygiene, wearing breathable socks and shoes, and using protective footwear in damp, public places can help prevent this infection from taking hold.

Another reason is mere aging. All body tissues begin to degenerate at some point in later life, and yellowing toenails can be one symptom. They can also occur if you repeatedly apply dark red, orange, or yellow polish to them (a clear base coat may help prevent this).

There is even a condition called “yellow nail syndrome” which can accompany certain medical problems such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic sinusitis, and others.

With all these possibilities, you might need professional help to sort out the cause of your yellow nails. You can find it in Brian Maurer, DPM of Eagle-Summit Foot & Ankle in Colorado. Call our Avon office at (970) 949-0500 and our Frisco location at (970) 668-4565 to schedule an appointment.

Do I have frostbite?

Odds are good that you do not. More likely, if your toes are not black, you have a milder cold injury such as Chilblains, Raynaud’s syndrome, or Pernio. These issues still need to be treated effectively to prevent worsening conditions, but they are non-freezing tissue injuries, unlike frostbite which is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues.

My toes are black after being stranded outside. What can I do?

Once the toes are black and dry, this is what we refer to as frostbite. Because frostbite kills the tissue, these toes most often need amputation to prevent worsening infection in the remainder of the foot. Medications that can open blood vessels can help reduce the spread of freezing injury, however, the toes are very susceptible to cold and do often need to be amputated. Thankfully, this does not usually decrease balance or lead to significant gait or activity problems long term.