Nail Care.
As we age our nails generally become thicker and harder to cut. Combined with less flexibility to reach the feet and poorer vision, people find it difficult to cut their own nails. A podiatrist plays an important role in attending to general nail care for those who require it. This is also the case for anybody at risk of infection or delayed healing, for example in people with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or any other condition where a nick or a cut may lead to infection and something more serious.
‘At Footwell Podiatry, our experienced podiatrists provide all types of foot care services. If you have diabetes, find it difficult to reach your feet, have trouble with thick nails and skin, or maybe vision problems making it hard to take care of your feet, we have you covered. Make an appointment today’ !
Corns and Callus.
A callus is an area of hard skin on the foot, usually under the forefoot and around the heel area, although callus can occur anywhere on the foot where there is abnormal pressure or friction. As you’re reading this you are shedding thousands and thousands of dead skin cells – this is normal! But in areas of pressure or friction, the skin cells accumulate to form a natural protective layer. If the abnormal pressure or friction is not removed, the extra skin cells become thicker and thicker (Callus) eventually causing pain and trauma to the underlying good skin. When the Callus becomes too thick, it forms a central core and pushes deeper into the tissue. This is called a Corn and are usually very painful.
The build-up of hard skin is generally more prevalent as we age and as our skin becomes less elastic and more prone to damage. Overwhelmingly though, Callus and Corns are caused by two things- structural/ biomechanical foot problems, and poor footwear choices. All foot types have unique plantar (underneath the foot) foot pressures causing predictable callus and corn patterns.
Poor footwear choices (like high heels/pointed toe boxes) themselves create the pressure and friction in various areas of the foot to cause Callus and Corns. A combination of foot deformity/foot types, and poor footwear choices is a perfect recipe for hard skin build up and pain!
If the cause is purely footwear, then changing to an appropriate shoe to meet the foot type, foot shape, or use of the shoe, will generally fix the problem. If the patient will not change their footwear then a regular visit to the podiatrist (usually 6 weekly) will keep the Callus in check and prevent a painful Corn from developing. This quick and painless procedure involves the podiatrist debriding (shaving off the callus with a scalpel) and enucleating (coring out) any Corns.
Custom made orthotics are also an effective and long term solution for treating Corns on the underside of the foot, particularly under the ball of the foot and on the apex of the toes. Orthotics can be designed to significantly decrease focal ground pressures under certain areas of the foot and therefore prevent Callus build up. If worn most days, orthotics will decrease or even eliminate the need for regular Callus/Corn debridement.
