How to Maintain Good Foot Health

Look at the tops and bottoms of both feet and between the toes. Notice cuts, scratches, bruises, blisters, wounds, painful areas, colour change, swelling or anything that is new for you.

If bending is difficult, use a mirror, place your feet safely on a chair, or ask someone you trust to help. Regular checks are especially important if eyesight, sensation, circulation, mobility or diabetes makes small problems harder to spot.

Wash your feet every day with soap and water. A shower, bath or clean bowl can all work as long as you can do it safely and avoid slips.

Clean around the toenails gently rather than digging under them. Avoid soaking feet for long periods; prolonged soaking can soften skin and make it more vulnerable. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel, including between every toe.

Damp skin between toes can become white, fragile and more prone to soreness or smell. After washing, take time to dry between the toes rather than quickly pulling socks back on.

If sweaty feet are a regular problem, breathable socks, alternating shoes and allowing footwear to dry between wears may help. If skin is cracked, itchy, weeping or sore, ask a pharmacist, GP or podiatrist for advice rather than self-treating repeatedly.

Dry skin and heel callus often improve with consistent moisturising. A urea-based foot cream may be useful for some people, but the right strength depends on your skin and health needs, so ask a pharmacist or clinician if you are unsure.

Apply cream to the tops and bottoms of the feet, then wait for it to absorb before walking because feet may be slippery. Avoid putting moisturiser between the toes, where extra moisture can encourage maceration.

Trim toenails in good light when you can see and reach comfortably. Use clean nail clippers or nail scissors, take small amounts at a time and smooth sharp edges with a file.

As a general guide, many toenails need attention every 6 to 12 weeks, but growth rates vary. Do not cut nails very short, tear them, pick them, cut down the sides or cut a V-shape into the nail. If cutting is difficult, gentle filing in one direction can be safer than forcing clippers through thick nails.

Small areas of hard skin can sometimes be gently filed with a foot file or pumice when the skin is dry. Keep the pressure light and stop if the skin becomes sore.

Do not use blades, razors or aggressive corn knives at home. Hard skin can return when pressure or friction continues, so footwear, pressure points and regular moisturising matter as much as occasional filing.

Shoes should support the foot, leave enough room for the toes and avoid rubbing. Check inside shoes for seams, stones, rough patches or worn areas that could irritate skin.

Socks should be clean, dry and comfortable. If a particular pair of shoes repeatedly causes blisters, pressure marks, corns or nail pain, changing footwear may be part of maintaining foot health.

Seek appropriate medical or podiatry advice for wounds, spreading redness, heat, swelling, discharge, increasing pain, sudden colour or temperature change, new numbness, severe pain or diabetic foot concerns.

A routine Foot Health Practitioner appointment may help with nail care, hard skin, callus, suitable corn care, cracked heel maintenance and practical advice. If your concern appears outside routine scope, Foot+ will advise you to contact the right professional service.