The Foot Care Clinic

24/09/2023

Footwear choices!

114.8K likes, 940 comments. “I don’t think enough people realize this!!”

29/09/2022

01/08/2022

Hi everyone, I've now gone live on Google and I'm asking, please, if you've been to see me and were happy with the service, would you add a review of your experience with me? This will help me grow my business and let people know that I offer a professional and safe environment for them to come to. The link to the page is https://g.page/r/CUnBfk2r0yWTEBM/review
Thanks in advance to all my lovely foot clients! Michelle

08/05/2022

Beware Corn Plasters!!!

Recently I've treated a few people who have suffered burns as a result of corn plasters. Please avoid them. Read below if you're thinking of using them. I've added a photo below. Not very clear but might give you an idea of the damage they can do.

Corn plasters are a medicated treatment marketed for the quick and easy removal and treatment of corns. They are readily available in most shops and chemists. They can be brought relatively cheaply with no advice, guidance or prescription and the only “warning” on the box is that they shouldn’t be used by people who have diabetes or circulatory problems

What are Corns?

Corns are a cone shape of hard skin caused by pressure and friction which could be caused by poor fitting footwear, changes in foot structure which in turn can affect your gait (the way you walk) or bony deformities. They can be particularly painful and limit walking and footwear.

Corn plasters are a strip with a medicated centre which is designed to go over the corn and be left on and dry for a number of days. They are designed to burn the centre of the corn away removing the pain associated. The pink paste you see in a corn plaster is made up of 40% salicylic acid which is designed to burn away the hard skin associated with the corn.

What is wrong with salicylic acid?

Unfortunately, the salicylic acid in Corn plasters cannot distinguish between healthy skin and corn and, as such, can burn the skin quite severely spreading to surrounding healthy skin. The paste in corn plasters spreads to surrounding tissue blistering and burning the skin. The corn and the surrounding skin become white and soggy and more often than not the centre where the corn was remains with the skin beneath becoming fragile and breaking down under the weight of the corn. This leads to wounds, ulcers and infection. This is particularly important to avoid for people with diabetes and circulatory conditions as well as those who are immunocompromised but they can more often than not affect healthy young people too!

A Foot Health Practitioner or Podiatrist can enuculate the corn. This means using a scalpel to remove the cone shape of hard skin (corn). The skin that forms a corn and callus is “dead” and thus has no feeling so this is a painless experience.

Corn pad

Corn pads (pad not plaster!) can also help if you are unable to visit a foot care team. These are a donut shape of foam and they are placed over the corn so the corn sits in the hole. This works to deflect the pressure away from the corn. They will only work whilst they are worn, so it is important in the long term to address the cause of the problem

15/03/2022

Fungal Nails (Onychomycosis)

It is important to read this as ignoring toenail fungus is a mistake. Fungal infection will become chronic and generally doesn’t clear up by itself, nails will crumble, become odorous and prevent you from wearing sandals, going barefoot at the beach or showing your feet in public
A fungal nail infection occurs beneath the surface of the nail plate and can make the nails appear discoloured: yellow, brown or even black. It's a very common condition that can start with a white or yellow spot under the tip of the toenail. The nail can then become very thick, crumbly and porous in texture which may make the nails difficult to cut and cause pain when wearing shoes.

Over time, with advanced infection, the nail may become detached from the nail bed, lose its blood supply and fungal 'debris' may build up between the nail plate and bed. A foul smell usually accompanies a fungal infection.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no 100% effective remedies for fungal nails. Some of the over-the-counter remedies may be effective in mild cases.
The condition is very difficult to treat when it reaches the advanced point and it may be recommended that the nail be cut back as far as is comfortable and the fungal debris cleared away in order to treat the nail bed. The nail may have become detached from the nailbed as the blood supply has ceased to exist making it easy to cut right back. .This can be done by a foot care professional. If the nail is still attached to the nail bed, but thickened and discoloured, your Foot Care Specialist may be able to reduce the thickness with the drill, which may improve appearance and comfort.

There are several home treatments that have traditionally been used, but have no scientific evidence to back them up. What they may offer is, for example, in the case of tea tree oil, a slight bleaching effect, which may give the effect of curing, but as it does not contain any fungicidal properties, a cure is highly unlikely.
Amorolfine based paint-on nail lacquer available over the counter appears to be one of the more effective antifungal agents for targeting mild fungal nail infections (but please speak to your pharmacist for recommendations). However, because the infection is actually under the nail plate, it may be difficult for the lacquer to reach the site of the infection if the nail is very thick and the infection is advanced.

One of the most effective prescribed antifungal medications for fungal nails is a tablet called Terbinafine. This is taken orally for 3-6 months depending on the severity of the infection. GPs are reluctant to prescribe this tablet though as it can have a detrimental effect on the liver. A scraping of the nail is sent to the lab for confirmation of the presence of fungal infection (other conditions can have a similar appearance). Blood tests (Liver Function Tests) prior to treatment are essential.
Underlying conditions and patient characteristics, such as Athlete's Foot, age, and obesity contribute to risk, whereas comorbidities, such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, cancer and psoriasis, can increase susceptibility to the disease.

If you need to make an appointment for professional care or advice, please contact me on 0872481092 or greystonesfootcareclinic@gmail.com

01/02/2022

Hi, some of you have been asking me to explain verrucae, what they are and what can be done about them. Below is an information piece. I hope it comes in useful to those that are interested.

Verrucae (Plantar/Viral Warts)

Verrucae are caused by an infection in the top or outer layer of the skin (epidermis) with a virus called the ‘human papilloma virus’ (HPV). There are many different strains of this virus, and plantar warts are usually due to just a few of these strains. Infection makes the skin over-grow and thicken, leading to a benign wart.
The HPV virus may lay dormant in the body for a long time. Stress and change of circumstances are suspected to have an impact on its activities with regards to warts, so although verrucae are highly contagious, an outbreak may also be triggered for no apparent reason.

Verrucae can appear anywhere on the soles of the feet and the toes. They can range in size from a few mm to a couple of cm. They can be painless, or they can be pretty uncomfortable if present on weight bearing areas of the foot. This is usually as a result of callus build-up on top of the verruca/wart. The black dots are old bleeds caused by tiny burst blood capillaries.

Up to 65% of plantar warts resolve by themselves without any treatment within two years of appearing. Plantar warts that are not causing any adverse symptoms such as pain can be left alone.

Some verrucae can be very stubborn. Treatment does not always work and may be time-consuming and expensive.

Some treatments can be painful, especially when liquid nitrogen/Cryotherapy/Laser therapy is used, and can occasionally cause a blister which, on the sole, can be very uncomfortable.

A foot care professional will recommend the right course of treatment to continue at home. Compliance is key. Maintaining the correct regime for a prolonged time is essential. If callus build up on top of the verruca occurs, then paring by a foot health professional may be neccessary to allow treatment to pe*****te, and reach the verruca.

If occlusion therapy is recommended, then Zinc Oxide tape can be purchased over the counter at the chemist. Duct tape was used in the past but this is not recommended now due to skin allergies and damage. ZO occlusion tape is a safe therapy used for children, pregnant/breast feeding women and vulnerable patients. The tape is applied over the verruca, depriving it of light and air. This will stay in place for six days, remove, soak the foot in warm water and the accumulated hard skin over the verruca is filed down to expose the verruca. Reapply the ZO tape the next morning and repeat. This should take approx two months of continuous application. If the skin covering the verruca becomes hard and thickened, then an appointment with the FHP may be necessary to par with a scalpel.

An alternative treatment offered by the foot health professional might be the application of salicylic acid. There are varying strengths that can be used. A mild acid is available over the counter for home use. Care is required when applying an acid at home as it may burn good skin. The acid is applied in small amounts directly on to the verruca and left to dry once or twice a day. Avoid healthy skin. There is no need for a dressing. Treatment with salicylic acid will take up to, and maybe beyond 12 weeks. Salicylic acid peels the skin away in layers, which removes the wart over time. The acid also irritates the wart area, which encourages the immune system to respond to the virus.
The skin may turn slightly red or dark, which is a normal reaction. People should stop using the product if it causes pain, bleeding, or blisters. If this happens, speak to yor foot care professional for advice and alternative treatment options.

If people use a pumice stone or emery board to file the wart, do not let anyone else use the same item as sharing equipment may help spread the virus.

People should not use salicylic acid or other home treatments if they have diabetes or any circulation or immunity conditions. If people with diabetes try to remove a wart on their feet, it could damage their nerves. There is an alternative therapy. Please speak to your pharmacist.

Salicylic acid may not work for everyone. Different factors can affect the success of wart treatment, such as the thickness of the wart, its location on the body, and individual immune systems.

If you need to make an appointment for professional care or advice, please contact me on 0872481092 or greystonesfootcareclinic@gmail.com

26/12/2021

Our feet as seen by shoe designers 😳

19/12/2021

Thank you to everyone that liked and shared my page last week. The winner of the gift voucher for a foot appointment is.... Sue Monaghan! Can she please get in contact with me so I can give her the prize? 👏👏👏

14/12/2021

Some winter tips! 👣

The days are shorter, nights are longer and it’s cold! Winter is here which means our
feet are often hidden away in socks and shoes. Winter is sometimes a difficult time
for your feet. Being enclosed all the time means you may have some unnoticed
problems.

Remove wet socks and shoes quickly!

Snow, ice, and rain can make it difficult to avoid wet shoes when you’re venturing outside in the winter. The unavoidable dampness can lead to bacterial and fungal infections as well as a musty smell. It’s important to let your shoes dry out before reusing them. You can speed up the process by removing the liner and allowing it to
dry separately. Turn the boot/shoe upside down to allow the toe box to dry out and reduce the likelihood of an infection developing there. Wool or cotton socks are better for winter than synthetic fabrics, as they are more absorbent. They will help keep your feet warm and dry, as well as prevent the spread of infection. Make sure you change socks daily. Wearing two pairs of socks can be more effective, offering your feet more protection, but it is important not to wear socks that are too tight, as doing so could cut off circulation to your feet. Avoid socks
with a thick seam at the toes as this can lead to discomfort and a build up of hard skin.

Pedicures 💅

Nail polish and varnish can trap germs inside your nails, which can lead to infection, discolouration, weak nails, and more. They need to breathe! As your feet will be spending more time in socks and shoes than they would in the summer, your
toenails have far less access to air in the winter. Give your nails a break from nail polish during the cold winter months and keep your nails healthy for next summer.

Cut your toenails carefully – try not to cut them too short. Always leave a line of white! It’s easy to introduce an infection into the skin if you cut them too short and expose the nail bed – this can lead to a nasty ingrown toenail or even fungal nail infection. Also avoid digging or scraping down the sides of the nail to remove any loose skin or sock fluff too.

Cold feet 🥶

Keep your feet warm. It's common to experience chilblains at this time of the year. A chilblain is usually found on a bony part of your foot (on the tops or ends of your toes). They can be red or purple in colour and are usually sore. They are caused by warming up your feet quickly after they have been cold for a while. Please warm your feet gently (not in hot water or sticking them on a radiator!)

Skin

The cold weather can also play havoc with your skin. If you suffer with dry flaky skin make sure you moisturise regularly – I suggest using a 10% or 25% urea containing foot cream – Flexitol, Dermatonics Once or CCS are great and available from most chemists. Areas between the toes can become soaked with your own perspiration and the skin can turn white, rip and become sore. This can sometimes be confused
with athlete’s foot. Wiping surgical spirits (or even aftershave or perfume – it’s the alcohol content that helps here) between the toes regularly. This keeps the skin drier and prevents it ripping apart. If it stings when you wipe the spirit it could mean you have a tear in the skin. Don’t continue using the surgical spirits if this happens. Bathe
your foot in warm salty water for a few days, then try the spirits again.

Party 💃

Not that we’re going to quite as many this year! This advice is mainly for
ladies… High heels and pointy toes are never good for feet. Wear them in
moderation and follow the 20-80 rule – 20% in bad shoes and 80% in good shoes – trainers and comfortable shoes with a wide toe box. If your high heels hurt as soon
as you put them on, don’t ignore the pain… change them!

07/12/2021

If anybody would like to purchase a gift voucher for a friend or loved one please pm me. These can be for a standard foot maintenance treatment or a medical pedicure.