Gout, does it only occur on elderly?

Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe.

Gout — a complex form of arthritis — can affect anyone. Men are more likely to get gout, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause.

An acute attack of gout can wake you up in the middle of the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the sheet on it may seem intolerable.

Fortunately, it is treatable, and there are ways to reduce the risk that gout will recur.

Gout of Big Toe

Common Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of gout are almost always acute, occurring suddenly — often at night — and without warning. They include:

  • Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the large joint of your big toe, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins.
  • Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
  • Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender and red.

How is it diagnosed?

Involves inserting a needle into the affected joint and drawing a sample of the fluid that lubricates the joint (called synovial fluid). The fluid is then analyzed under a microscope to determine if uric acid crystals are present and if a blood test (uric acid) is required.

Treatment

  • Oral Medications
  • Control diets
  • Injections

When do you need to see Doctor?

If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, call us our 24HR hotline at (65) 64712691 for an appointment. Gout that goes untreated can lead to worsening pain and joint damage.

Toenail Fungus, is it serious?

Nail fungus is also known as Onchyomycosis. Toenail Funges is a fungal infection in one or more of your nails. An infection with nail fungus may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges — an unsightly and potentially painful problem.

An infection with nail fungus may be difficult to treat, and it may recur. But medications are available to help clear up nail fungus.

What are the symptoms of Toenail Fungus?

  • nail to thicken and become yellow
  • nail look dark and often crumpled
  • starts out looking like a white or yellow spot on the toenail or fingernail.
  • the nail fungus works its way underneath the nail down to the nail bed gradually
  • nail will become yellow looking and more ridged
  • nail start to crumble or flake off around the edges

What are the causes of Toenail Fungus?

  • poor blood circulation when gets older.
  • exposed to environments that have fungal growths as getting older.
  • nails get thicker and grow more slowly as ageing, which adds to the potential for contracting nail fungus
  • Accidentally damaging your nail, by slamming it in a door or hitting it with something.
  • Perspiring heavily

What are the treatments for Toenail Fungus?

  • Oral anti-fungal medications
  • Surgery may be recommended for severe case

What are the preventions for Toenail Fungus?

  • As nail fungus breeds in dark, damp, places, keeping your hands and feet dry as much as possible is a good idea. Expose your hands and feet to light and clean fresh air as often as you can.
  • Keep a spare pair of socks available so that if you get your current ones wet, you can change them out for a dry pair. Change your socks and shoes after exercising or if your feet sweat a great deal.
  • Never wear overly tight shoes
  • Wear sandals or flip flops when spending time in public places that are wet, such as public pools, locker rooms or public showers.
  • Keep your nails neatly trimmed
  • Consider bringing your own tools when you go for a manicure or pedicure. This may seem awkward, but it does ensure that the tools being used on your body are sterilized.
  • Alternately, confirm that your salon actually sterilizes its instruments and practices good hygiene.
  • Ask your nail technician to please clean the basin with bleach before putting your hands or feet into it.

NOTE: Once a nail fungal infection begins, it can persist indefinitely if not treated. See Dr Kevin Yip at the first sign of nail fungus, which is often a tiny white or yellow spot under the tip of your nail so he can discuss with you what are the treatments option that available. Call us at (65) 6471 2691 – 24HR Hotline now.

Ingrown Toe Nail, what is it?

What is Ingrown Toe Nail?

An ingrown toe nail is a common and painful condition of the toe in which sharp corner of the toenail digs into the skin at the end side or side of the toe. The result is pain, redness, swelling and sometimes an infection. Pain and inflammation at the spot where the nail curls into the skin occurs first. The inflamed area then starts to grow extra tissue or drain yellowish fluid. An ingrown toenail usually affects your big toe.

What Are The Causes of Ingrown Toe Nail?

  • Tight fitting shoes or high heels
    The toes to be compressed together and pressurized the nail to grow abnormally.
  • Improper trimming
  • Disorders includes fungal infections

How to Prevent Ingrown Toe Nail?

  • Careful clipping
    Toenails should be clipped straight across and taking care to keep the end longer than the skin edge. This prevents the corners from digging into the skin. Toenails should NOT be rounded or cut too short.
  • Wearing well-fitting shoes

Treatments for Ingrown Toe Nail

  • Mild ingrown toe nail
    Warm daily soaks, topical antibiotics, and gently pushing back the piece of overgrown skin away from the nail.
  • Severe case of ingrown toe nail
    Oral antibiotics or/and minor in-office procedure

Ingrown Toe Nail

A nodule can sometimes be seen as a result of chronic inflammation in ingrown toe nail

Pus is visible underneath the nail The nail is seen to be growing into the skin

If the pain is SEVERE or SPREADING, please call us NOW for more information or an appointment at our 24HR Hotline (+65) 6471 2691

If you have other medical conditions that cause poor blood circulation to your feet like Diabetes, you’re at greater risk of complications from an ingrown toenail. Please DO NOT DELAY and advisable to seek medical attention immediately!

Lipoma, Tumor (Lump)

LIPOMA is a tumor (lump) under the benign skin consists of fat. Lipomas are usually found in the elderly (40-60 years), but can also be found in children. Because it is a fatty, it can appear anywhere on the body. The most frequent type is located more to the surface of the skin (superficial). They are usually located in the head, neck, shoulders, torso, back, or arms. Another type is located deeper in the skin such as muscle, nerve, joint, or tendon.

Lipoma

Clinical Symptoms

Lipoma is soft to the touch, can be driven, and no pain. Growth is very slow and rarely become malignant. They are typically small, but can grow to reach more than 6 cm in diameter.

Treatment for Lipoma

Basically it is not necessary to take any action, unless it evolves into painful and disturbing movement. Usually a person undergoing surgery for cosmetic reasons. The surgery is minor surgery, namely by slashing overlying skin and remove the existing lipoma. However, the results of operations of existing injuries will suit incision length. To get a more minimal operating results, to do liposuction. Now developed techniques using ultrasound waves to fat can destroy. The thing to remember is if the lipoma that was not lifted entirely, it is still possible to grow again in the future.

Cause

Not always when we have parents or ancestors who reserve the lipoma is, then we will have it as well. But there is a syndrome called hereditary multiple lipomatosis, someone who has more than one lipoma on her body. Being overweight does not cause lipomas.

Cellulitis, Skin infection

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and underlying tissues that can affect any area of the body but it’s most common on exposed body parts, such as the face, arms, or lower legs.

Cellulitis at Leg

What are the symptoms of Cellulitis?

  • Cellulitis, which is not contagious, usually begins as a small, inflamed area of pain, swelling, warmth, and redness on the skin
  • As this red area begins to spread, the patient may begin to feel sick and develop a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats
  • Swollen lymph nodes (commonly called swollen glands) are sometimes found near the area of infected skin

What are the causes of Cellulitis?

Staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria are the most common causes of cellulitis.

Normal skin has many types of bacteria living on it. When there is a break in the skin, these bacteria can cause a skin infection. Skin in the infected area will become red, hot, irritated, and painful.

Treatments for Cellulitis

  • Oral Anti-biotic
  • IV Antibiotic
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Pain relief medications

NOTE: It is very important to get treatment right away for cellulitis. If it is not treated, the bacteria can spread quickly through the body and cause sepsis, an extreme response by the body’s defense system. This can be deadly. Call us now at (65) 6471 2691 for an appointment – 24HR to get it checked.