Your latest Footcare Tips

During the spring and summer months the skin around the heels can become dehydrated, hard and flaky due to sandal wear.  

Heel fissures, also known as cracked heels, can be a cosmetic problem but can also be painful, bleed and lead to serious medical problems if infection enters the broken skin.

Heel fissures can affect anyone, but risk factors include: living in a dry climate, being overweight, walking barefoot or wearing sandals or open-backed shoes. Diabetes, poor circulation and inactive sweat glands can also be predisposing factors, it is essential in these cases to have podiatric care to prevent further problems. 

Treatment and Prevention

Filing the heels using a foot file ( NOT a harse 'cheese grater type file) before a shower or bath can help to decrease the thick and flaky layer of skin, daily application of a suitable heel balm or foot moisturiser will help prevent dehydration and keep the skin supple and elastic.  Avoid going barefoot or wearing open-backed shoes, sandals or shoes with thin soles. Shoes with good heel shock absorption can help to improve the condition. 

If you are unable to resolve the condition then a visit to your podiatrist can help manage the problem, prevent complications and help the skin around the heels look much healthier!

"I visited the practice after suffering severe heel pain. After just one consultation, assessment, treatment and some very good advice; I am now pain free. I made purchases of shoes, slippers and orthotic insoles, which were all in stock. Altogether I am extremely pleased with the service and attention that I received."

Dave Hill  Harold Hill  Romford

Heel pain is one of the most common conditions which we treat, it is debilitating, distressing and disrupts all areas daily life.

There are many types of heel pain, the most common is plantar fasciitis which is an inflammation of the ligaments under the foot and usually occurs due to stresses and sprain of the ligaments under the foot.

Common underlying causes are a combination of poor mechanical foot function, tight achilles tendons and unsuitable footwear. 

Painkillers and steroid injections can help control pain but do not address underlying causes and the pain can return.

There are many podiatric treatments for heel pain, from our experience the best way of gaining not just short term relief but prevention of recurrences is by finding as many causes as possible and designing a treatment plan aimed at eliminating as many as possible.

If you have heel pain you do not need to accept and put up with it....there is help!

As we age the skin on our feet is prone to drying out.

Applying a good moisturiser is essential as part of your daily routine.

The secret to a good moisturiser is not necessarily the price.

There is not a direct correlation between how expensive a good cream is to its effectiveness.

Read the ingredients.

As a general rule it is best to look out for creams that do not contain alcohol or alcohol derivatives.

Alcohol can hinder the absorption of the cream into your feet.

Good foot creams are those without alcohol so these can be thicker and gooier but they will work best if applied daily.

There are many lotions and potions out there to choose from so if you are confused a Podiatrist will help you choose the right cream for you.

 Do you suffer with dry skin on your feet?

Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise.

Our feet work and walk hard.

On average you walk seven to ten miles a day.

With each step two and a half times your body weight comes down on each foot.

Apply moisturiser to your feet daily.

Dry skin can be unsightly and it can crack open and become infected and painful especially in diabetics and people with poor circulation.

We recommend applying the cream at night.

A good idea is to massage the cream into your feet about an hour before going to bed and putting on a pair of trainer socks which will allow the absorption of the cream into your feet.

However the socks should be taken of before going to bed.

So many creams to choose from.

Next time

The secret to a good moisturiser.

Ladies don’t we just love polished nails or even acrylic, fake or gel nails?

What you should know is that nail varnish or any cosmetic nail causes moisture to be trapped in your own nail and in the long term this can increase the chance of fungus infecting your nails.

This can cause the nails to be thickened, discoloured, or even black.

The fungus infection can also spread to the surrounding skin and for people with diabetes or poor circulation this can cause further complications.

Do not be disheartened there is a way to avoid these problems.

Just be selective as to when you wear your polished or fake nails. After all you don’t wear your best party dress to go to work in or to do the housework in do you?

So try to get as much air to your natural nails as much as you can.

But go ahead and

Make them swanky for those special occasions.

If you would like to find out about our newest LCN wilde Pedique treatment for nails  or you have discoloured nails and require advice then please call .

“Mrs. Patel put a pair of amazing insoles into my shoes and it was instant relief, I walked around the clinic with a smile on my face and without a limp. We discussed a programme of exercises and prognosis of my condition which helped me to deal with it in a positive way.”

Christine Fletcher

This time last year I had the greatest pleasure of opening the new Basildon Chiropody, Podiatry and Footwear Centre.

Even though I had been established in my homely Practice for 22 years it was time for bigger Premises.

The space has made a huge difference.

Read more: One year on for the New Basildon chiropody, Podiatry and Footwear Centre

As soon as the spring arrives we start to see patients who come to our practices wanting to make their feet presentable for sandals, holidays and parties after a long winter of neglect and being stuffed into shoes and boots.

Since good foot care habits can in some cases prevent problems all together, we are always keen to advise on self-help.

As it is coming to that warmer (hopefully!) time of year, this is a great time to give you some top tips on foot care.

Read more: Feet are for life, not just summer!

As we are in the month of springtime, there are glimmers of hope for warmth, sunny days, holidays and ditching the heavy winter coats and boots!

Time to get your feet out, give them an airing and freshen them up for summer time!

We know only too well that feet come in all shapes and sizes…..they are not everyone’s favourite part of the body….but let’s not forget that they are an essential and integral part of the body and not just for stuffing into pretty shoes, forgotten for the rest of the day until you take your shoes off at the end of a hard day’s work!

Feet need good care not only to prevent problems but also so that they look more aesthetically pleasing.

Over the next few weeks we will be posting some useful blogs on caring for your feet and how to make the best of them….best foot forward!

 This week’s blog is for anyone who has UNSIGHTLY TOENAILS?

As podiatrists; we see lots of people in the clinic with nail problems. Disease processes and injury can often lead to unsightly and painful toe nails.

Read more: Spring is Coming!!