First, confirm it's actually a fungal infection
Not every discoloured or thickened nail is fungal. Trauma, psoriasis, and old damage can look almost identical — and treating the wrong thing for months is exactly why over-the-counter products so often disappoint. Aaron examines the nail properly and, where it's useful, can take a sample to confirm the diagnosis before you commit to a treatment plan. That single step saves a lot of wasted time and money.
A treatment plan built around your nails
Once we know what we're dealing with, we agree a realistic plan. That usually starts with reducing the thickened, infected nail so any treatment can actually reach the nail bed — over-the-counter lacquers fail partly because they can't penetrate a thick nail. Depending on how much of the nail is affected, the plan may combine professional nail reduction, topical treatment, footwear and hygiene changes to stop reinfection, and clear guidance on when oral medication from your GP is worth considering. We're honest about timescales: nails grow slowly, so improvement is measured in months, not days.
Why see a podiatrist rather than a beauty clinic
Fungal nails are a clinical problem, not a cosmetic one. A podiatrist can tell fungal infection apart from other nail conditions, reduce the nail safely, spot related issues (like athlete's foot driving reinfection), and give you an honest picture of what treatment can and can't achieve. Patients come to us in Shepperton from Sunbury-on-Thames, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge and Chertsey for exactly that clarity.
