GENERAL PODIATRY/ CHIROPODY
Nail Care
Looking after your toenails is an important part of maintaining healthy feet and preventing common problems such as ingrowing toenails.
• Always cut your nails straight across, following their natural shape. Avoid cutting down the sides, as this can increase the risk of ingrowing toenails.
• Use an emery board to gently smooth and shape the edges of your nails.
• Make sure your footwear fits correctly. Tight or poorly fitting shoes can place extra pressure on your nails and skin, which may lead to problems such as corns, callus and blisters.
• Applying a small amount of olive oil or cuticle oil around your nails and cuticles can help keep the skin soft and hydrated, reducing the build-up of dry, hard skin.
• Avoid cutting back your cuticles. They provide a natural protective barrier that helps prevent bacteria and infection from entering the nail bed.
Taking a few minutes to care for your nails regularly can help keep your feet comfortable, healthy and looking their best.
What is a callus?
Callus is an area of thickened, hardened skin that develops in response to repeated pressure and/or friction. It is the body's natural way of protecting the skin from excessive stress.
Callus commonly forms on weight-bearing areas of the feet, such as the heels and balls of the feet, and can be caused by factors including poorly fitting footwear, foot deformities, changes in gait, or increased activity levels.
Although callus is usually harmless, excessive build-up can become uncomfortable, painful, and may lead to cracking if left untreated.
What is a corn?
A corn is a small area of hardened skin that develops a distinct, often hard centre or "core". This core can press into the deeper tissues of the foot, making the corn painful when pressure is applied, such as when standing, walking or wearing certain types of footwear.
Corns can develop anywhere on the feet where there is increased pressure or friction, but they are most commonly found on the tops and sides of the toes, between the toes, and on the soles of the feet.
Although corns are the body's natural response to repeated pressure, they can become uncomfortable and may affect your daily activities if left untreated.
How do I get corns and callus?
Common causes include:
• Increased pressure or friction on the skin
• Footwear that is too tight, too loose, or has high heels, causing certain areas of the foot to rub excessively
• Seams in shoes or socks that repeatedly rub against the skin
• Foot or toe deformities, such as bunions, hammertoes, or claw toes
• Activities such as walking, running, or jogging, particularly if you have underlying biomechanical or gait-related issues
• Ageing, as the natural fatty padding beneath the skin gradually reduces over time. This can leave the feet less protected and increase the likelihood of developing callus, especially on the ball of the foot
Identifying and addressing the underlying cause is key to preventing corns and callus from returning. Properly fitting footwear, regular foot care, and professional advice can all help keep your feet healthy and comfortable.
How can a podiatrist help me?
If you suffer with hard skin and corns on your feet, the safest way to treat this is via your local HCPC registered podiatrist. A fully qualified podiatrist has a Bachelor of Science degree which takes 3 years to complete. In this time, your podiatrist will have completed over a thousand clinical hours, in order to safely treat all your foot care issues.
They must undertake regular updated training to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.
Podiatrists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat an array of foot issues.
With regards to hard skin and corns, a podiatrist will do a full visual inspection of your feet each time you visit. They will try to establish why you are getting the corns and hard skin, and advise ways you can prevent them recurring based on you own individual need. They will use sterile instruments to remove the hard skin and corns as required.
We do not recommend using any sharp implements on you feet yourself at home. Instead, we recommend filing your dry, hard skin with an emery board when your skin is dry, and apply a moisturiser daily to keep your skin soft.