Assessment
A full history and a thorough examination of the skin, nails, circulation and, where relevant, your gait. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a plan agreed with you, not handed to you.
Nail Care
Fungal Nail Treatment
Fungal nail treatment in Canary Wharf, London starts with our HCPC-registered podiatrists confirming whether a thick or discoloured nail is genuinely fungal before recommending treatment, because many nail changes that look fungal are caused by something else entirely.
The short answer
What this treatment is
Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) turns nails yellow, thick, brittle and crumbly, but trauma and psoriasis can look identical. Our evidence-based approach confirms the diagnosis first, often with a nail sample, then sets out realistic options: nail reduction, topical or oral antifungals, and laser only as a modest adjunct. Cure is never guaranteed.
What does a podiatrist do at your first appointment?
Your initial consultation covers a full history and a thorough examination of the skin, nails, circulation and, where relevant, the way you walk. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis with you.
Where it is safe to do so, treatment starts the same day, and you leave understanding the plan and the options in front of you.
Fungal nail treatment can help to:
Confirm whether your nail is genuinely fungal
Yellow, thick, brittle or crumbling nails can be caused by trauma or psoriasis, not fungus. We confirm the diagnosis first, often with a nail sample for a rapid fungal test or laboratory culture, so you are not treated for an infection you may not have.
Reduce painful, thickened nails
Where a nail has thickened, we reduce and thin it to relieve pressure and discomfort. Debridement of the infected nail also removes fungal material and helps any topical treatment reach the nail bed underneath.
Weigh up topical and oral antifungals
We talk you through the realistic options: antifungal lacquers, sprays, powders and creams for milder cases, or oral antifungal medication, which is more effective but needs blood tests to monitor the liver and is arranged with your GP where suitable.
Consider laser only as a modest adjunct
Laser and PACT photodynamic therapy are sometimes offered alongside nail reduction and antifungals, but the evidence for them is limited and of low certainty. We will not present laser as a proven or guaranteed cure.
Lower the chance of it coming back
Fungal nails often recur. We give footwear and hygiene advice, drying carefully between the toes, airing and alternating shoes, treating any athlete's foot and using your own nail tools, to reduce the chance of reinfection as the healthy nail grows in.
Christine is the feet whisperer, she is marvellous! I should have gone to her before I actually did. If you have any issues with your feet, do not hesitate — book an appointment to see her. Highly recommended!
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Had been in pain for many weeks. As soon as I went to Canary Wharf Podiatry I was taken care of excellently and sorted out, by the kindest staff. This was my best ever medical experience. Thank you so much!
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Had a great experience with Hinson the podiatrist — extremely patient and thorough in explaining the different treatment options. I really appreciated how professional and reassuring he was throughout the appointment.
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Christine was very gentle and took the time to answer all of our questions. She explained everything clearly and educated us with so much patience. We will definitely be coming back.
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Fungal nail treatment fees and insurance
You can self-refer and book online, with no GP referral needed. Many patients claim treatment back through private health insurance: cover varies by policy, and some insurers ask for a GP or consultant referral first, so please check your plan before booking.
- Self-referral: book directly online, no GP letter needed
- Detailed invoices and procedure information provided for insurance claims
- Claimable with insurers such as WPA, Aviva and Vitality, subject to your policy
- One transparent price list across both London clinics
Your journey
with us
Everything starts with an accurate diagnosis. We find what is really causing the problem, treat it, and help you keep it from coming back, so you can stand, walk and train on comfortable feet.
Treatment
The care your foot problem actually needs, from painless skin and nail work to nail surgery under local anaesthetic, using sterile technique. Where a procedure carries real risk, we talk you through it and take consent first.
Advanced care
Where it helps, we draw on on-site MRI and X-ray, custom orthotics made in our own lab, and treatments such as laser and shockwave, so the right tool is matched to the right problem rather than a one-size-fits-all fix.
Maintenance
We address the underlying cause, footwear, pressure or load, so the problem is less likely to return, and offer routine reviews and medical pedicures so your feet are looked after before there is a problem, not only once there is one.
"I wish I had known about you sooner." We hear it constantly. Feet are easy to ignore until they hurt, so we treat podiatry the way a dentist treats teeth: a regular check and a little maintenance keeps small problems from becoming big ones.
- Two London clinics: Canary Wharf, inside LycaHealth at 1 Westferry Circus, and City Dock in Wapping.
- Rated 5.0 on Google, with an HCPC-registered team and evidence-based care led by an Oxford-trained Clinical Director.
- Founded in 2021 and grown almost entirely by word of mouth across two London clinics.
What our podiatrists and chiropodists treat
- Nail surgery for painful, recurrent ingrown toenails
- Skin and nail conditions: verrucae, corns, callus and fungal nails
- Evidence-based fungal nail treatment, including laser
- Biomechanics and custom orthotics made in our own lab
- Musculoskeletal and heel pain, with shockwave therapy
- On-site MRI and X-ray for same-day diagnosis
- Medical pedicures and routine foot-care maintenance
- Prescribing podiatrists: medication started promptly when it is needed
2 Locations
Fungal nail treatment across our two London clinics
- Canary Wharf 1 Westferry Circus, London E14 4HD View location →
- City Dock 142 Vaughan Way, London E1W 2AF View location →
Written and medically reviewed byChristine Yau, Lead Podiatrist & Clinical Director · HCPC-registered · MSc (Oxon) · National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE CKS); Royal College of Podiatry; Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
FAQ
FAQs
How do I know if my nail is actually fungal?
You often cannot tell by looking. Thickening, discolouration and crumbling can also come from trauma, psoriasis or ageing. Our podiatrists frequently take a nail sample for a rapid fungal test or laboratory microscopy and culture, because NICE recommends confirming the diagnosis before treatment. Treating a non-fungal nail with antifungals will not work.
How long does fungal nail treatment take to work?
It is slow. A toenail takes roughly nine to twelve months to grow out, so a healthy nail appears only as new growth replaces the infected part. There is no quick fix. We judge progress by clear new nail at the base, not by an overnight change in appearance.
Will treatment definitely cure my fungal nail?
No. We cannot promise a cure. Even with confirmed diagnosis and appropriate treatment, some infections do not clear and recurrence is common. Outcomes are better when the diagnosis is confirmed first. We will be clear about your likely chance of success rather than overstate what any treatment can achieve.
Does laser treatment for fungal nails work?
The evidence for laser and PACT photodynamic therapy is limited and of low certainty. They may be used as an adjunct alongside nail reduction and antifungals, but they are not a guaranteed cure. We will explain the uncertainty plainly so you can decide, rather than presenting laser as a proven solution.
Can I treat a fungal nail myself if I have diabetes?
No. If you have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease or neuropathy, do not self-treat nail or skin problems and avoid over-the-counter remedies, which can be dangerous for you. See a podiatrist instead. Seek same-day medical care for spreading redness, swelling, pus, increasing pain or a foot ulcer.
Related Treatments
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in Canary Wharf.
Canary Wharf Podiatry • 1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD
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