Caring for your toenails may seem like an insignificant thing, but these small parts of your body can cause big problems. Without the proper care, toes can quickly become sources of pain, infection, and potentially serious health problems. Keeping your toenails professionally trimmed on a regular basis will help in keeping your feet healthy and minimise potential problems. Management of thicken nails is included in this treatment. This regular toe care treatment is ideal for clients not being able to cut their toenails due to lack of mobility and poor vision. Caring for your toenails is an important part of keeping your feet healthy. Read More.

An ingrown toenail is a common problem where the nail grows into the toe. The most common symptom is pain flowed by inflammation in the surrounding nail area. The key is to act quick has there are things you can do to ease the pain and address the ingrown toenail. However, not everyone identifies an ingrown toenail correctly. Sometimes a curly nail which has a lot of dirt or fluff underneath it or a corn or callas down the side of the nail can cause a throbbing pain as opposed to the sharp pain you get with an ingrown toenail. Whatever the problem is important to get it treated. Treatment of an ingrown toenail is dependent on the severity of the condition and if an infection is present. Acting quick with an ingrown toenail is important because all that may be required is to remove the offending nail spike which can bring immediate relief.

Many of us are affected by fungal nail infections. While they are a common foot health issue, they can lead to discomfort and make you feel uncomfortable about having your feet uncovered. Fungal nail is a type of infection caused by dermatophytes or yeast. Some of us are more susceptible to fungal nails than others. Over time fungi can progress into the whole nail causing thickening, cracked, discolour, distortion of the nail, separate from the nail bed, and possibly emit a foul odour. The assessment of an affected fungal nail includes a full examination of the affected nail/s and both feet. There are several treatments for fungal nails which are dependent upon the extent of the infection and the individual will depend what is most suitable for you.

The most common cause of thickened toenails is trauma; this could be a single traumatic event such as ‘stubbing the toe’ or dropping a heavy object upon it. Alternatively thickened toe nails may be a result of repetitive trauma, from a sporting activities or ill-fitting footwear. Other causes could be fungal nails, aging, certain skin conditions or poor circulation. A thickened toenail will appear thick, and in most cases discoloured. I may feel bruised or tender due to the pressure. Thicken toenails can be uncomfortable and unsightly. They are difficult to trim and can make finding accommodative footwear problematic. An assessment and treatment for thickened toenails will provide the benefit of improved appearance and reduced pressure on the nail bed.

Having dry, rough, or cracked skin on the feet is common and affects both women and men of all ages. The feet have fewer oil glands than other areas of the body and with their daily wear and tear they can become dry and split. Dry skin is skin that lacks moisture, which causes the skin to peel or crack as it becomes less supple and often appears on the heels and sides of the feet and between the toes. It may make the affected area feel itchy, tight, and even painful. Everyone is different and the treatment and advise on how best to treat for hydrating and softening the dry skin affecting your feet will be specific to you.

A callus is an extended area of thickened skin often found on the soles of the feet or the sides and surfaces of the toes were pressure occurs. It is the body’s reaction and protective measure to pressure or friction and can appear anywhere that the skin rubs against a bone, a shoe or the ground. A callus on the sole of the foot is often likened to ‘walking on a stone’ and can be very painful. Calluses can be treated by debriding the skin to reduce the callus and using rich emollient preparations to maintain suppleness and prevent skin drying out.

A corn is pinpoint thickening of hard skin, they occur on areas of increased pressure on the foot and are often very painful, like a small stone or piece of glass in the foot and appears as a circular lump of hard skin. There are a variety of corns but the ethology of all true corns is the same, however each corn requires difference of technique for its treatment and removal. Treatment of a corn will begin with a full assessment to decide upon the most suitable treatment for you to ensure the best outcome.

Verruca can be described as warts on the feet caused by a viral infection. They often cause no problem at all to the feet and are a common infection, although in some cases they can cause discomfort and need to be treated. There are many different treatments available and the number of treatments is determined by the type and number of verrucae/s present.

Athlete's Foot, known medically as Tinea Pedis, is a common skin infection of the feet caused by fungus. Signs and symptoms often include itching, scaling, cracking and redness. In rare cases the skin may blister. Athlete's Foot fungus may infect any part of the foot, but most often grows between the toes. If left untreated the fungus can spread to the toenails, causing thickening and yellowing of the nail, which is much harder to treat. Fungal infections are highly contagious and can spread to anywhere on your skin, including your areas like you scalp and hands. It is always best to treat the condition as soon as symptoms are first noticed. Treatment is dependent on what type of Athlete’s Foot you have.

Chilblains is a condition which results from defective blood circulation on exposure to cold, which the toes are particularly vulnerable. The skin may first become itchy, then red and swollen with a burning sensation and very tender to touch. If you development chilblains it’s important to resist the urge to scratch, as this will further damage the skin. Treatment and prevention advice provided after assessment.

As a person with diabetes, you are more vulnerable to foot problems, because diabetes can damage your nerves and reduce blood flow to your feet. When you have diabetes, proper foot care is especially important! Diabetic feet require care and attention and having regular foot health check appointments to help the care of your feet is keeping you a step ahead.

Paraffin wax heat therapy increases blood flow, tolerance for pain, relaxes muscles and increases hydration in the skin. Intended to moisturise and soften the skin while providing a therapeutic and healing effect to sore and aching joints. Making it particularly beneficial for those suffering from arthritis and rheumatic pain. Warm wax is applied by brush from individual pods of wax offering a beautiful, hygienic experience. Conditions that benefit from warm wax therapy include: Chilblains Arthritis Bursitis Eczema and psoriasis Sore muscles Stiff joints Scar tissue Inflammation Muscle spasm Tendonitis Sports injury Scleroderma Bad circulation How heat helps: Though it is usually a very simple form of treatment, heat therapy is actually quite ingenious in the way that it relieves pain and muscle stiffness. When applied to sore areas of the body, heat helps to dilate your blood vessels. This encourages blood to rush to the affected area, flushing out toxins and other wastes. This blood also brings oxygen to the site, which helps to repair soft tissue, encourage muscle tone, and relax muscles contractions. Heat therapy also lessens the severity of pain symptoms, though it is not completely understood why. It is thought that heat may help to numb the nerve endings inside your body, thereby decreasing your sensations of pain. Paraffin wax treatments are NOT SUITABLE for Diabetics, varicose veins or abnormalities, vascular disorders, broken or open skin wounds.