Medipod started on March 5th, 2011. That was a special date for me as it is also my wedding anniversary. This year my husband and I are celebrating 17 wonderful years of marriage! But that is another story!

So, the clinic started with a single Podiatry treatment room. A year later I took on my 1st podiatrist. Another year and a 2nd podiatrist joined our team. Over the years, the podiatry team expanded, and we now have 6 part time podiatrists and an Assistant Practitioner.

The clinic also offers Physiotherapy Services, Counselling Services and Audiology Services.

As a team, we have always worked together to make your feet better. Each practitioner brings a wealth of clinical skills and expertise. Our focus is on patient-centred care. It is not unusual for our patients to rotate between practitioners for better management of their foot issues.

Most patients have various problems affecting the nails, skin, joints and muscles in their feet and legs. A podiatrist specialises in the management of a wide range of foot and leg related issues and some of us have done more advanced training of the foot in health and disease.

Some of our Specialist Services include:

Swift Microwave Therapy for Verrucas: Swift uses microwave energy which is delivered through a special probe applied to the skin to treat your verruca.

Nail surgery: A minor procedure during which part of the nail (or the whole nail in some cases) is removed under local anaesthetic. The nail bed is then destroyed to prevent unwanted painful regrowth.

Doppler Vascular Assessment: A Doppler assessment uses a special ultrasound equipment to listen to the blood flow through the blood vessels in your feet. This is an important assessment especially if you suffer from poor circulation.

Lacuna Method for Fungal Nails: It is a special method that involves drilling micro holes into the nail plate so the anti-fungal preparations can penetrate easier through the nail to the nail bed, where the active infection lies.

Biomechanics and Sports Injuries: A detailed gait analysis to identify the contributing factors to your discomfort. Templates of your feet can also be taken and a prescription for bespoke insoles is prepared to redistribute the abnormal pressure underneath your feet. Suitable for conditions such as heel pain, tendinitis, joint pain, sprains and many more.

Nail Reconstruction: Nail reconstruction is both a cosmetic and a medical procedure. We can build your nail layer by layer using a special gel substance to give you a new toenail.

Children’s Feet: Children can also experience foot issues such as flat feet, ingrown toenails, verrucas, footwear difficulties, walking abnormalities and many more.

Fungal Nail Testing: A reliable test to aid diagnosis of a fungal infection in just 5 minutes! We collect some skin scrapings and nail clippings and place them into the testing tube. In presence of a positive result, we will discuss a management plan.

Happy 12th Birthday! Reviewing success!

I hope you find some value in our monthly blogs. If you would like to have just a check-up or have a particular issue with your feet, our staff at Medipod Clinics can help you. Our experienced podiatrists will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations. For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also welcomed to visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading – Happy 12th Birthday! Reviewing success!

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Happy 12th Birthday! Reviewing success! appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Summertime Foot Hazards Going Barefoot

When the weather is hot, a lot of people tend to walk around barefoot. Although it feels good, going barefoot is generally not a good idea. Being barefoot increases your chance of injury or infection, and it can also cause achy muscles.

In the summer, the pavement absorbs a lot of heat. When the sun is shining, the ground can get hot enough to cause your skin to burn. This is particularly important for certain groups of people who have lost sensation of their feet. Thermal burns are very common in people with neuropathy (lack of sensation) and can lead to serious complications.

Wearing Unsupportive Shoes

One step up from going barefoot in the summer is wearing unsupportive flip-flops or sandals. These can contribute to serious foot pain for many people. Flip-flops are just too flat and make your toes to claw to grasp the ground. Over time, this can lead to toe deformities. In addition, unsupportive footwear can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, various tendinitis, and muscle ache. For better foot health, look for sandals that offer support and protection to your feet.

Sweaty Feet

Everyone gets sweaty feet in the summer, particularly if you must wear shoes and socks all day. Sweating can contribute to several issues such as:

• Athlete’s foot
• General fungal problems
• Bacterial infections
• Toenail fungus
• Discomfort
• Body Odour

As a podiatrist, my priority is to improve the condition of your feet and put a smile on your feet! So, if your feet feel hot and bothered…

– Wash your feet regularly. Using antibacterial soap on your feet can reduce excessive sweating.

– Use antiperspirant. Antiperspirant works by blocking pores from excessive sweating. You may also find surgical spirit useful as it is an astringent.

– Try foot powders. There loads of different foot powders out there that can help absorb excessive sweat. Some of them have anti-fungal properties as well.

– Wear the right socks. Make sure your socks are made of natural fibres and not synthetic ones. Replace nylon socks with bamboo socks or cotton.

Blisters, Corns & Calluses

Blisters are small pockets of clear fluid under a layer of skin. They can also contain blood or pus. They are mostly caused by friction, when your shoes rub the same spot on your foot, when you wear shoes that don’t fit properly, or when you wear shoes without socks. Depending on the cause, blistering may happen along with pain, redness, or itching.

Draining a blister is not recommended because of the risk of infection, but if you must “pop” it, use a sterile needle to allow the skin to re-attach. Try not to cut the skin away unless it is already torn and drying out. Keep the blister clean. Bathe your foot in salt water every day and cover the blister with a dressing or gauze. Change the dressing daily until the area is completely dry.

Corns are small lumps of hard skin. Corns are caused by pressure or friction from footwear and are more likely to develop if you have toe deformities. If you think you have a corn, do not use any medicated corn plasters. They contain salicylic acid and can burn the skin badly. Instead, use a non-medicated corn pad, to deflect the pressure. You can also use a pumice stone or a foot file to rub away the hard skin on top. Most importantly, book an appointment with a podiatrist to have your corns professionally treated.

Summertime Foot Hazards

Calluses are larger patches of rough, thick skin. They are caused by an uneven distribution of weight, generally at the ball of your foot or heel. Calluses also can be caused by ill-fitting shoes, pressure, and friction when you walk. Foot orthoses can help redistribute the pressure when you walk and help in general with your posture and alleviate discomfort. If you want to improve the condition of your feet, you can use a pumice stone or a foot file to rub away the hard skin and regularly use a urea-based cream. Also having professional treatment by a podiatrist can seriously improve your foot health! 

When it’s warm and your feet get hot and sweaty, they can feel uncomfortable and painful. Regular visit to your podiatrist can improve the health of your feet and offer you advice on how to best care for them.

At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We offer a very wide range of treatments such as verruca treatments, ingrown toenails management, fungal infections treatment, heel pain management, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.

For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also welcomed to visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading – Summertime Foot Hazards. Let Your Feet Do The Talking This Summer!

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Summertime Foot Hazards appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

But sun, sand and water can be harsh on your feet. Dry skin and cracked heels are a very common foot condition podiatrists see daily, especially during the summer months. This can be a result of wearing shoes that have an open back, which typically provides inadequate support for the heel of the foot. The skin can become dry, and form deep and painful cracks.

If you want to have smooth feet, simply follow my top 5 tips, and let your feet do the talking this summer!

1. Enjoy a nice soak! Giving your feet 10-20 minutes soak in warm water is both relaxing and beneficial. It softens the hard skin so it easier for you to remove it at the next step.
2. Remove any hard skin. You can use a foot file or a pumice stone to remove any hard or dry skin. Visit your podiatrist regularly to get the hard skin professionally removed and get specific advice about your individual needs.
3. Moisturise daily. I recommend a urea-based cream for better results, especially if you have dry or hard skin. Urea is a substance that is found naturally in the skin, which, by its nature, is very attracted to water. That is why it is a fantastic emollient that softens and smooths the skin. In the clinic, we have a wide range of urea-based creams for your feet.
4. Toenail care. A few healthy habits go a long way! Trim your nails straight across and file down the corners carefully.  Avoid wearing nail polish for long periods of time.  And finally avoid tight fitting shoes as they can cause irreversible damage to your toenails.
5. Sun care. Don’t forget to use sunscreen on your feet too! Make sure you reapply after swimming or sweating heavily. Sun exposure can contribute to skin cancers and premature ageing on your feet, therefore use sunscreen with 30 SPF (sun protection factor) at least.

Medipod Clinics Experienced Staff

At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We offer a very wide range of treatments such as verruca treatments, ingrown toenails management, fungal infections treatment, heel pain management, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.

For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also welcomed to visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading – Top 5 Tips for Your Feet! Let Your Feet Do The Talking This Summer!

Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Top 5 Tips for Your Feet! Let Your Feet Do The Talking This Summer! appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Your feet carry a lot of weight throughout the day, and wearing shoes means subjecting them to additional pressure. It is important to rest and look after your feet.

This month I thought you might like some ideas to create your own DIY homemade foot products. An aromatic foot bath, a glorious foot scrub, a soothing moisturising foot balm and a refreshing foot spray! You can always be creative and prepare your DIY foot remedies from the comfort of your home to take extra care of your feet.

Let’s put a smile on your feet and start mixing!!

Aromatic Foot Bath

A homemade aromatic foot bath is a wonderful DIY spa experience! Soaking your feet takes away the tiredness and swelling fast and leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to face the next day. Soak your feet for at least 10 minutes a couple of times a week for best results.

Ingredients

• Epsom salts. They reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and eliminate odour.
• A few drops of tea tree oil, maybe even peppermint oil and rosemary. Tea tree oil helps to soften calluses, while peppermint oil and rosemary soothe cracked, dry skin.
• Lemon peel and citrus essential oils. The citrus essential oils and lemon peel will leave your feet smelling wonderfully fresh and clean.

A Glorious Foot Scrub

This scrub is great for tired feet and is suited for all skin types. But remember to do a patch test with the foot scrub to check for allergic reactions, especially if you are using essential oils.

Massaging your feet with a scrub regularly boosts blood circulation and soothes foot pain. It also relaxes your mind and body and helps to relieve stress. It makes your feet look amazing as the foot scrub gently exfoliates and removes all the dirt and dead skin cells.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Epsom salts
• 1 tablespoon of olive or coconut oil. Coconut and olive oils soften the feet and moisturize them.
• 3-4 drops peppermint oil. Peppermint oil relieves aches and pains and smells fresh.

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and transfer to a glass jar. Scrub your feet for 10 minutes with this mixture. Leave it on for another 10 minutes if you wish. Wash your feet afterwards and follow up with a moisturiser. It’s bliss!

Mum’s Foot Balm

This foot balm has special meaning to me as it was my mum’s creation when she had her own Podiatry practice in Greece.

It smells very fresh and moisturises your feet beautifully! It is easy to make and is also great for your hands! You just mix everything together and transfer into a glass jar. A little bit of this beautiful foot balm goes a long way!

Ingredients

• Vaseline. Petroleum Jelly forms a protective layer on the skin therefore it helps to heal cracked and dry skin.
• Nivea cream or lotion. Highly moisturising and helps to hydrate the skin.
• A few drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has antiviral and antiseptic properties, so it reduces inflammation and fights the infection of fungi or bacteria.

Refreshing Foot Deodorant

My last recommended DIY foot product is your own foot deodorant. This antiperspirant is alcohol-based, so it evaporates quickly and doesn’t leave any residue on your skin.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup distilled water
• 1/4 cup clear alcohol (e.g. pure vodka or gin). The alcohol stops the bacteria on your skin to cause a bad odour when you are sweating.
• A few drops of sage essential oil. Sage essential oil has strong antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial and disinfectant qualities.
• A few drops of lemongrass essential oil. Lemongrass essential oil is incredibly fragrant and refreshing and helps combat sweaty feet.

At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We offer a very wide range of treatments such as verruca treatments, ingrown toenails management, fungal infections treatment, heel pain management, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.

For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also welcomed to visit us at 45 Rugby Road, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading – 4 DIY Homemade Foot Products You Can Try

Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post DIY Homemade Foot Products You Can Try appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Summer can be hard on your feet. The combination of heat, sun, and sand can take a toll on your tootsies. But it doesn’t have to. These simple steps to fabulous summer feet will keep your feet healthy and looking their best during warm weather. So, before you slip into those new sandals or holiday flip flops, you may want to do something about those dry, cracked heels and tired looking feet that have been hiding away all winter. Are you ready?

Ten simple steps to keep your feet healthy and looking sandal-ready for summer.

1. 1. Avoid walking barefoot. Going outdoors without shoes in the summer increases the risk of injury to your feet. It also increases the odds that you will develop warts on the soles of your feet (verrucas), ringworm (fungus), and other infections.
   2. Wear the right socks. Acrylic and synthetic blend socks work best to wick away perspiration that can lead to fungal infections. “Dark, hot and moist is the perfect environment for a fungus to grow,” says Faye Vogiatzoglou, our Clinical Director at Medipod Clinics.
   3. Protect your feet from blisters. Sandals often cause blisters on the feet when they rub against bare skin. If you feel a blister coming on, use padding such as moleskin or a blister plaster to reduce friction.
   4. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water on summer days will minimize foot swelling due to the heat.
   5. Use sunscreen. Don’t forget to use sunscreen on exposed parts of your feet in the summer. Be sure to reapply after swimming or sweating heavily, even if the sunscreen is “waterproof”. Use sunscreen with 30 SPF (sun protection factor) or higher to guard against skin cancer and premature ageing of the skin on your feet.
   6. Evaluate your flip-flop wear. Flip-flops can result in sore feet and ankles. But “Some flip-flops are better than others,” says Faye. “Choose styles with good arch and heel support.” Also avoid walking in them for long distances.
   7. Add cushioning to summer shoes. Summer slides and flimsy sandals often have thin soles and little cushioning and foot support. Faye recommends to use cushioned inserts to help provide added support. Inserts are available at chemist stores and more functional ones at the clinic.
   8. Get your hard skin treated. For pretty summer feet, give yourself an at-home treatment or indulge in a professional one. Besides making your toenails look attractive, during a Standard Podiatry Treatment, our Podiatrists can remove hard and dry skin, offer management advice on cracked heels and help you maintain the health of your feet.
   9. Moisturise. Did you know that the skin on our feet is up to ten times thicker than the rest of our body skin? It therefore requires a much more intensive moisturising routine. Invest in a rich foot cream to give your feet the moisturisation they need and deserve. Faye suggests that “ideally, they should be moisturised after every shower, but if you don’t have time in the morning, give them some TLC before you hop into bed at night”.
   10. And finally, make them look pretty! Get creative and have fun experimenting with our Dr Remedy Enriched nail polish colours this summer. Invest in toe separators and don’t be afraid to reach for those hot pinks and gorgeous coral shades! But remember! Take off your polish periodically to give the nail bed some air.

By keeping your feet in tip-top shape during the summer, not only they will look beautiful, but you can also be assured that your feet are in good health and you’re minimising the risk of developing any infections.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

For more information about our podiatry services, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot related questions.

Thank you for reading.

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Direstor
http://medipodclinics.com

The post Healthy and Sandal-Ready Feet for Summer – 10 Simple Steps appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Corns and calluses are areas of hard skin that develop due to excessive pressure or friction. They commonly occur on the feet and can cause pain and discomfort when you walk.

Podiatrists are trained to use sharp instruments in order to remove efficiently any corns and calluses from your feet. The process is pain free and will leave your skin smooth and feeling great!
Regular podiatry treatments can improve the condition of your feet and improve your well-being.

Corns

Corns are small, localised areas of hard skin that usually develop on the top of the toes or the bottom of your feet. However, they can occur anywhere, even in between your toes.

Corns are caused by:

Abnormal foot mechanics – any foot deformity will change the way you walk. This results in certain areas of your foot rubbing more against the shoe, resulting in corns and calluses.

Corns often occur on bony feet, as there is a lack of natural cushioning. They can also develop as a symptom of another foot problem, such as:

• a bunion– where the joint of the big toe sticks outwards as the big toe begins to point towards the other toes on the same foot
• hammer toe – where the toe is bent at the middle joint

Wearing poorly fitting shoes – shoes that are too loose can allow your foot to slide and rub. Certain shoe designs that place excessive pressure on specific areas of the foot – for example, high-heeled shoes can squeeze the toes.

Calluses and Hard Skin

Calluses are hard, rough areas of skin and are often yellowish in colour. They usually develop at the bottom of your feet, around the heel area or on the skin under the ball of your feet. They can also occur on the palms of your hands due to the friction from wearing rings.

Calluses are larger than corns and don’t have such a well-defined edge. They develop when the skin rubs against something, such as a bone, a shoe or the ground. They often form over the ball of your foot because this area takes most of your weight when you walk.

Activities that put repeated pressure on the foot, such as running or walking barefoot, can cause calluses to form. Other possible causes of calluses include:

• dry skin
• reduced fatty padding – elderly people have less fatty tissue in their skin
• regularly holding objects such as a hammer or racquet

Treating corns and calluses

If you have a corn on your foot, you should see a podiatrist, who can advise you about treatment. Your GP may be able to refer you on the NHS, however if your condition is unlikely to affect your health or mobility you may not be eligible for NHS treatment.

Corns will not simply disappear without treatment. You can help reduce corns and callouses by soaking your hands or feet in warm, soapy water to soften them. This can make it easier to rub the corn or callus with a pumice stone, nail file, emery board or washcloth to help remove a layer of toughened skin.

DO NOT use a medicated corn plaster under no circumstances, especially if you have any medical conditions such as Diabetes.

The corn plasters work by using salicylic acid (keratolytic agent) to soften the corn. If the hard “plug” is soft, it places less pressure on the nerve endings in the skin, reducing pain.

Corn Plasters do not remove the corn permanently and they can cause serious damage to your skin, even infections. That is because unfortunately, the salicylic acid in corn plasters cannot distinguish between healthy skin and corn and can burn the skin quite severely spreading to surrounding healthy skin.

Causes of Corns and Calluses – Solved!

At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs. If you are not sure what you need, that’s okay too. With our knowledge and enthusiasm for footcare, we will be able to advise you on the right treatment for you.

We also offer verruca treatments, nail surgery, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.

For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. Or, you’re welcome to pop in and visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading this month’s blog – Causes of Corns and Calluses.

www.medipodclinics.com

The post Causes of Corns and Calluses appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

They commonly occur on the feet and can cause pain and discomfort when you walk. Podiatrists are trained to use sharp instruments in order to remove efficiently any corns and calluses from your feet. The process is pain free and will leave your skin smooth and feeling great!

Corns

Corns are small, localised areas of hard skin that usually develop on the top of the toes or the bottom of your feet. However, they can occur anywhere, even in between your toes.

Corns are caused by:

Abnormal foot mechanics – any foot deformity will change the way you walk. This results in certain areas of your foot rubbing more against the shoe, resulting in corns and calluses.

Wearing poorly fitting shoes – shoes that are too loose can allow your foot to slide and rub.

Certain shoe designs that place excessive pressure on specific areas of the foot – for example, high-heeled shoes can squeeze the toes.

Corns often occur on bony feet, as there is a lack of natural cushioning. They can also develop as a symptom of another foot problem, such as:

• a bunion– where the joint of the big toe sticks outwards as the big toe begins to point towards the other toes on the same foot
• hammer toe – where the toe is bent at the middle joint

Calluses

Calluses are hard, rough areas of skin and are often yellowish in colour. They usually develop at the bottom of your feet, around the heel area or on the skin under the ball of your feet. They can also occur on the palms of your hands due to the friction from wearing rings.

Calluses are larger than corns and don’t have such a well-defined edge. They develop when the skin rubs against something, such as a bone, a shoe or the ground. They often form over the ball of your foot because this area takes most of your weight when you walk.

Activities that put repeated pressure on the foot, such as running or walking barefoot, can cause calluses to form. Athletes are particularly susceptible to them.

Other possible causes of calluses include:

• dry skin
• reduced fatty padding – elderly people have less fatty tissue in their skin
• regularly holding objects such as a hammer or racquet

Treating corns and calluses

If you have a corn on your foot, you should see a podiatrist, who can advise you about treatment.
Your GP may be able to refer you on the NHS, however if your condition is unlikely to affect your health or mobility you may not be eligible for NHS treatment.

At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs. If you are not sure what you need, that’s okay too. With our knowledge and enthusiasm for footcare, we will be able to advise you on the right treatment for you.

We also offer verruca treatments, nail surgery, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.

For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. Or, you’re welcome to pop in and visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
www.medipodclinics.com

The post Why do we get corns and calluses? appeared first on Medipod Clinics.