Services
I offer the following services:
Cutting and filing toenails and fingernails
Ingrown toenails
Thickened toenails
Treatment of corns and callus
Preventing and treating fungal nail infections
Treating verrucae
Neurovascular assessments
Diabetic foot care
Preventative foot care
Advice on foot care
What to expect at your first visit
*Kindly ensure that any nail polish/varnish is removed before any foot health appointment.*
On your first visit your Foot Health Practitioner (FHP) will take you through a full medical history and discuss your needs and any goals which you want to achieve with regards to your feet. A full neurovascular assessment will also be performed to check circulation and sensory reaction on the lower limbs.
Once the assessment has been carried out and any pre-existing conditions identified, the appropriate treatment will then be provided. After the treatment has been given, the FHP will also provide a gentle foot massage using moisturising and hydrating foot care creams. This will help to improve circulation, muscle tension and overall foot mobility. In addition, the patient will be informed on the next steps to take and how to prevent future problems.
Neurovascular assessment
Encompasses a circulatory, sensory and shape assessment. A capillary refill test and a pulses assessment will be carried as well to give a broader idea of the condition of the lower limbs. A neurovascular assessment is always carried out during a diabetic foot assessment.
Calluses
Calluses are thickened and hard areas of skin which are generally not painful. An assessment will determine why the callus has appeared in the first place to help avoid problems in the future. Treatment will be provided to help remove or reduce the callus as well as provide advice and information.
Verrucas
Verrucas are a virus that are fairly common and harmless. They are high contagious and do spread easily. Verrucas are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) passed through human contact often in moist, damp environments. Treatment will help to prepare the verruca to expose the lower layers. There are various treatments available depending on the medical history of the patient but none offer guaranteed results.
Corns
Also known as Heloma Durum, corns are common foot conditions which occur from consistent pressure on areas of the foot. You can have a hard corn (often on the top, bottom or side of the foot), soft corn (often between the toes) or seeded corns (often on the heel or ball of the foot). They can be tender or painful. Treatment will help to enucleate the corn (remove the nucleus – which is the painful part), cover and protect if needed. Advice regarding footwear is often given as this is the most common cause.
Athletes Foot
Athlete’s foot or Tinea Pedis is a common fungal infection which occurs between the toes.
Athlete’s foot often looks like cracked, peeling or blistered areas of the skin which can be red, scaling and can feel itchy or a have burning sensation. If left untreated it can lead to painful fissures and further foot health complications.
Ingrown Toenails
One of the most common foot problems are ingrown toenails. The most common area to get them are on either side of the big toe. Ingrown toenails can be swollen and red. They can become infected if not treated.
Ingrown toenails are caused by incorrectly fitting shoes, excessive flexible tissue around the nail and incorrect cutting of the nail.
Advice will be provided regarding proper nail cutting so that the future growth of the nail does not cause any problems to the patient and if an antibiotic is needed then a GP referral will be necessary.
Diabetic foot care
Those with diabetes can often develop foot complications often resulting in neuropathy (loss of sensation) & ischeamia (reduced circulation). This can lead to risk of developing infections and decreased ability to clear infections. The main role of diabetic foot care is to educate patients, including the importance of routine preventative foot health care and correct footwear.
Cracked Heels
Cracked dry heels or heel fissures are when areas of thickened callus form and split, these can be very painful. Cracked heels can lead to an infection and it is important to seek assistance as soon as possible. Treatment would involve filing the area of dry skin to expose the heels then applying special creams for cracked heels. Advice will also be given to help mitigate any future problems.
Fungal Infection
Like ingrown toenails fungal toe nail infections are common foot problems and often persist without causing pain or discomfort. Infections can cause the nail to become thickened, yellow / brown in colour and if untreated infections can spread to other nails, the surrounding skin and sometime the fingernails. Treatment often involves the application of a topical oil or preparation to the affected area of the skin. The thicker nail is often debrided to remove any nail that is not attached to the nail bed. However, often a visit to a podiatrist in needed as the nail may need to be surgically removed to allow the medication to be directly applied to the nail bed to treat the fungal infection effectively. Oral anti- fungal medication may also be prescribed by a GP.
General Care
You don’t need to have any of the above conditions to visit a foot health practitioner.
For many reason, some people can not reach their feet and therefore they will need help and assistance with their foot care and health.
Treatment involves filing and cutting toe nails, removal of dead skin, prevention and treatment of any of the above conditions on their feet. Advice regarding foot care and foot exercises. It can be an educational experience that gives you the opportunity to ask questions!
