Foot Conditions

Itchy Feet

Itchy feet are a common complaint. The good news is that the condition is usually readily treatable. Symptoms include intense itching around the toes or arch of the foot. The itching is typically worse when the feet are warm.

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Bunions

If your big toe points inwards and the joint looks more prominent than normal, you may have a "bunion" or more correctly described "hallux valgus". Many people don't notice that they are developing a bunion until the condition is quite advanced which can make treatment more complicated.

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Corns

Corns are painful areas of thickened skin which occur over areas of high intermittent pressure. They almost always occur on the toes or over the skin to the sole of the foot.

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Verrucae

Verrucae are common lesions caused by a virus which invades the skin. They are often contracted from communal areas such as swimming pools, changing rooms and terraces where the skin is exposed.

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Skin Care

The average person walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles so it should come as no surprise that the skin on our feet is subject to a fair amount of mechanical stress. Add to this hosiery, footwear and environmental factors, it is no surprise that the skin on our feet can be prone to injury and disease. Foot Health Practitioners are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of skin conditions including: - Corns / callus - Dry skin - Heel fissures - Hyperidrosis - Dermatitis - Verrucae & warts

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Fungal Nails

Whilst we like to think of our skin as being super clean, healthy skin has bacteria and fungal which actually protect us from dangerous organisms. With the right conditions (warm, damp and dark), the fungus can multiply and become an infection. When a nail is damaged, it is vulnerable to invasion by fungal organisms resulting in nail infection. The most common cause of thickened and unsightly nails is infection with "fungus", "onychomycosis". Initially the nail may simple show signs of a slight change in texture and colour but over time the normal healthy appearance of the nail plate becomes totally destroyed, leading to thickened and very unsightly nails.

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Dry Skin

Dry skin is common and can be affected by weather, the environment we work in as well as — but it may be a lifelong condition. Signs and symptoms of dry skin depend on your age, your health, where you live, time spent outdoors and the cause of the problem. Dry skin is likely to cause one or more of the following: - A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming - Skin that feels and looks rough - Itching (pruritus) - Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling - Fine lines or cracks - Deep cracks that may bleed

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Hammer Toes

Toe deformities are very common and increase in frequency in older age groups.

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Nail Damage

Toenails can become damaged as a result of both disease or injury. All too often this leads to an unsightly nail which worsens in appearance over time. Many patients with unsightly nails become embarrassed to display their feet in public and avoid wearing open toed footwear or walking poolside with the toes on display. Until recently the options for treatment were limited to grinding down the thickened nail or even removing the nail altogether. Thankfully FHP's trained in nail reconstruction can often help restore the appearance of nails.

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Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are also known as keratoderma. They are an extremely common skin problem and can be very painful. In severe cases the skin can take on a thick yellow or brown crusty-looking appearance. For most people it can be more of a cosmetic issue but some, the cracks deepen into the living layer of the skin. When this occurs the cracks can become painful and easily infected. Cracked heels are caused when the skin becomes so dry and brittle that under the pressure of our weight, it simply splits apart. If you see signs of dryness or cracks, it’s best to act sooner, rather than later. Your foot specialist will be able to help you get on top of the problem by gentle removing excess skin around the heels. This will greatly improve the appearance of the heels and help protective creams penetrate more effectively.

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