Foot Care

What is foot care?

Foot care refers to the steps you take to make sure your feet are good condition, if you’re able to.² This can include:²

• Checking your feet regularly for any problems
• Keeping your feet clean
• Moisturising the skin on your feet
• Clipping your toenails regularly
• Wearing appropriate footwear
• Treating any foot conditions effectively

Common foot problems

Problems that you might develop on your feet include:^3–7

• Dry, cracked skin – skin with less than 10% water content. Dry skin is extremely common but is more likely in older people or people with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis
• Skin fissures – large cracks in the skin of your feet either caused by a lack of moisture or too much moisture. Heel fissures are extremely common in summer, due to wearing sandals with open backs in hot weather
• Corns and calluses – an area of hard, thickened skin that occurs when the body tries to protect itself from excess friction or pressure in a certain area. Corns and calluses may be yellowish in colour and appear on the foot, heel or toes
• Ingrown toenails – when the nail pierces the surrounding skin, causing pain and inflammation. This commonly affects the big toe and can be avoided by trimming your toenails regularly and keeping the corners of your nails visible
• Athlete’s foot – a fungal infection that causes red, itchy skin on your heel and between your toes. This is a highly contagious condition that is more common in people who use communal changing areas. It can be treated using athlete’s foot cream or a nail lacquer set if the infection spreads to your nails
• Warts and verrucas – small lumps caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) that can occur on your feet and be itchy or painful. They are spread via contaminated objects or skin-to-skin contact
• Blisters – pockets of fluid that form under the skin due to friction during activities like walking. Preventative foot blister care includes using surgical spirit rubbed over the area that tends to blister to toughen the skin

When to see a GP or podiatrist

You should contact your GP or a podiatrist (foot specialist) if you have a problem with your feet and:^5–9

• Cuts or wounds that won’t heal
• A temperature
• Sores
• An ingrown toenail
• Bleeding
• Warts that won’t go away
• Diabetes
• Signs of infection (swelling, heat, pain, discharge, redness)

If you have diabetes, your feet should be assessed during your annual diabetes review to check for and monitor any potential problems. ⁸

How to check your feet?

Checking your feet is an important part of maintaining good foot hygiene, as it means you can identify any issues before they progress.⁹

To check your feet properly, you should carefully examine the top and bottom of your feet, as well as between your toes, for any:⁹

• Cuts
• Scratches
• Bruises
• Blisters
• Wounds
• Painful areas

If it’s difficult for you to see your own feet, you can try using a mirror or asking someone to help you.⁹

Top footwear tips

Wearing the right footwear can help to prevent a variety of different foot problems.^8,10 If you’re wondering what the right footwear is, the answer is: shoes that are comfortable, fit properly and are in good condition.^8,10

The ideal shoe should:

• Be made of breathable, natural or synthetic material with seam-free linings
• Have a deep and roomy toe-box at the front to prevent pressure on your toes
• Have a broad heel no more than 3cm (1.5 inches) high
• Have a cushioned and flexible light rubber sole with good grip
• Have a lace, buckle or velcro strap fastening that holds the shoe comfortably and securely on your foot

You should avoid:

• Wearing slippers all day as regular footwear, as they offer little support and encourage perspiration
• Slip on or backless shoes
• Shoes that are too big or too small, with squashed backs
• Wearing lace up shoes that are untied or without laces

Daily foot care

Having a good, daily foot care routine can keep your feet healthy and reduce the risk of any problems developing.¹⁰

To take care of your feet every day:^9–12

• Wash your feet with soap every day in the shower or bath
• Do not soak your feet for more than 10 minutes, as this can reduce the natural oils in your feet, resulting in dry skin
• Dry your feet, including between your toes, thoroughly with a clean towel to reduce the risk of bacterial or fungal infections. If your skin is fragile, use tissues to dry between your toes
• If the skin between your toes is white and moist, apply surgical spirit or witch hazel daily using cotton wool (unless your skin is broken, in which case this will sting)
• Gently scrub your toenails using a nail brush
• Remove hard skin by gently rubbing with a pumice stone or foot file (unless the hard skin is over a bony area)
• Moisturise your feet twice a day using a urea-based foot cream (10% or 20% concentration). Your podiatrist will tell you which one is right for you
• Change your socks and/or tights every day
• Wear cotton socks to help your skin breathe
• Don’t try to remove hard skin/corns using sharp implements, as these can damage your skin
• Speak to an HCPC registered podiatrist if you are experiencing pain and discomfort and need more support
• Get regular exercise, even if it’s just walking around the house, as this can help your circulation

Nail care

Proper nail care can reduce the risk of ingrown toenails.¹⁰

Generally, filing your toenails is safer than trying to cut them.¹¹ You should:

• File your toenails two times a week
• File in one direction, away from your body
• File thickened nails from on top to reduce their thickness and keep them comfortable (but avoid using the same nail file used on fungal toenails on non-infected nails)

However, if you prefer to cut your toenails:^9–11

• Cut your nails every six to 12 weeks using nail scissors or clippers
• Cut straight across your nails, not too short or down the sides of your nails, as this can lead to ingrowing nails
• Use a nail file to round off any sharp edges

Your personal foot care kit

To help you manage your foot care, you should have:¹³

• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Foot file
• Moisturiser or a urea-based emollient
• Small hand-held mirror

Sources

1. https://clevelandcliniclondon.uk/clinical-institutes/heart-vascular-thoracic/diabetes-related-foot-care
2. https://www.nhsgrampian.org/globalassets/foidocument/foi-public-documents1---all-documents/footcare-advice-pil.pdf
3. https://www.esht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1020.pdf
4. https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/uploads/22233.pdf
5. https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foot-care.pdf
6. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/warts-and-verrucas/
7. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/skin-hair-and-nails/warts-and-verrucas/
8. https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/preventing-falls/keeping-well/looking-after-your-feet/
9. https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/caring-your-feet-and-toenails
10. https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/services/podiatry-foot-protection/looking-after-your-feet/
11. https://www.sth.nhs.uk/clientfiles/File/pd7238%5B1%5D%20footwear%20and%20foot%20care%20advice.pdf
12. https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/community/podiatry/footcare-advice/
13. https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/media/109514712/caring-for-your-feet-podiatry-foot-care-service.pdf