GENERAL PODIATRY/ CHIROPODY
Nail Care
Always cut your nail straight across, following the natural contour of your nail. Do not cut down the sides as this may cause ingrowing toenails.
Use an emery board to gently file the edges of your nails.
Ensure footwear fits correctly. Poor fitting footwear can cause an increase in pressure on your nails and pressure points on your skin causing issues such as corns, callus and blisters.
A dab of olive oil/ cuticle oil using a cotton bud or your fingertip around your nails and cuticle can help them stay soft and prevent the build up of dry, hard skin.
Never cut back your cuticles as they act as a barrier to prevent bacteria entering your nail beds.
What is a callus?
Callus is a hardened area of skin caused by repeated/constant pressure and/or friction on an area.
What is a corn?
A corn is a hardened area of skin that has a distinct, often hard, core like centre which hurts when pressed/ pressure is applied. They can develop anywhere on your feet where there is a direct increase in pressure.
How do I get corns and callus?
An increase in pressure or friction on the skin
Shoes that are too tight or too high-heeled or too loose
Seams in a shoe or sock that rub against the skin
Foot/ toe deformities
Exercise such as jogging/ walking if you have any underlying biomechanical issues
Age. The fatty tissue in our skin reduces as we age, meaning less padding and a higher risk of developing calluses, especially on the ball of the foot
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.