Develop a Daily Foot Care Routine

Your feet work hard every day, so giving them some tender loving care (TLC) should be part of your daily routine. A consistent foot care habit not only keeps your feet looking good but also helps prevent dryness, infections, and discomfort. Here’s how to build an effective daily foot care routine:

1. Wash Your Feet Every Day

While it might seem obvious, many people overlook proper foot hygiene. Simply rinsing your feet in the shower isn’t enough to remove sweat, dirt, and bacteria. Take a moment to thoroughly wash them with warm water and mild soap.

• Focus on cleaning between your toes, where bacteria and moisture tend to accumulate.
• Avoid long soaks, as they can dry out your skin.

2. Dry Thoroughly

Damp feet create the perfect environment for fungal infections like athlete’s foot. After washing your feet:

• Pat them dry with a clean towel, paying close attention to the spaces between your toes.
• If you’re prone to sweaty feet, consider using an antifungal powder to keep them fresh.

3. Moisturize Daily

Dry, cracked heels can be uncomfortable and may lead to infections if left untreated. To keep your feet soft and healthy:

• After drying your feet, apply a urea-based foot cream, focusing on your heels and soles.
• Avoid applying moisturizer between your toes to prevent bacteria and fungi from thriving.

4. Exfoliate Weekly

Exfoliation removes dead skin and helps keep your feet smooth and soft. Once or twice a week:

• Use a pumice stone or foot file to gently focus on rough areas like your heels.
• Follow up with moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Why This Routine Matters

Making foot care a daily habit isn’t just about appearance; it’s about maintaining foot health and preventing problems before they start. Here are some key benefits:
• Keeps Infections Away: Clean, dry feet are less likely to harbour bacteria or fungi.
• Healthier Skin: Regular moisturizing and exfoliating help prevent cracks and calluses.
• Early Problem Detection: Daily care helps you notice early signs of issues like blisters, cuts, or redness.

Taking just a few minutes each day to care for your feet can make a significant difference in how they look and feel. Your feet work tirelessly to carry you through life—they deserve a little extra attention and care!

At Medipod Clinics, we care about the health of your feet and always strive to provide the best advice for maintaining healthy skin. We offer a variety of treatments, including verruca management, ingrown toenail and nail surgery, plantar heel pain management, and specialized care for children’s feet and individuals with diabetes. We also manage fungal infections and provide advanced treatments with laser technology. Let us help you keep your feet in the best possible condition.

Thank you for reading this months blog, Let’s start a daily footcare routine.

Take care,
Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Let’s Start a Daily Foot Care Routine: New Year appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

What’s the best food for healthy feet? What foods should you avoid if you want to reduce your risk for foot pain and injury. What kind of food makes inflammation and pain better or worse?

There has been a lot of research about diet and inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a risk element for several chronic ailments. It is a common cause of foot pain related to different types of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis. It can also contribute to heel pain such as plantar fasciitis.

Foods that reduce inflammation and pain, promoting healthy feet

Vitamin C

Many foot problems, including tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, develop because of inflammation. Fortunately, Vitamin C can help fight that inflammation. Foods rich in Vitamin C include oranges, kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes, kale and spinach. In fact spinach offers double or triple-duty for your foot health. It is a foot-superfood!)

Calcium and Vitamin D

Your feet are made up of 26 bones, so it is important to eat foods rich in calcium to help prevent osteoporosis which is often associated with an elevated risk of fractures. In fact, a stress fracture of the foot can be one of the first signs of osteoporosis.

For the body to absorb calcium, it is important to have sufficient levels of vitamin D. Calcium rich foods include dairy products like milk or cheese, leafy greens such as broccoli and spinach, salmon and sardines. Sometimes it is advisable to take daily supplements of vitamin D to meet your daily requirements. Regular exercise can also be very helpful.

Vitamin B

As our diabetic patients know, neuropathy takes a toll on your foot health. Neuropathy makes your feet feel numb and, in some cases, it can cause tingling of the feet or burning foot pain.

Although it is hard to reverse the condition, Vitamin B can help support your nervous system. In fact, adding vitamin B to your diet can sometimes improve your neuropathy symptoms. Foods rich in Vitamin B are tuna, cottage cheese, salmon, eggs, and sardines.

However, there are certain food types which are best avoided if you suffer from inflammation. These include:

• Refined grains, trans fats, and sugar found in junk foods and baked goods;
• The saturated fat found in red meat;
• The omega-6 fats are found in many vegetable oils, such as soybean, sunflower, and corn oils.

When it comes to your improving the health of your feet, nutrition is extremely important. Fuelling your body with the right foods builds a good foundation for healthy bones and muscles, encourages circulation, and limits inflammation and pain.

For more information about nutrition and your feet in Diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.uk.

Podiatrists are specialists when it comes to your foot health. So if you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help.

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.

Thank you for reading – 2024 – New Year, New Feet – Nutrition for your Feet.

Faye, Natalie, Lisa, Maria, Zoe, Claire and Julia

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post 2024 – New Year, New Feet – Nutrition for your Feet appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

So, as well as vowing to watch less television or keep on top of the dishes this New Year, make sure you put the comfort and wellbeing of your feet on your list of resolutions too.

We’ve put together a few ways that you can start giving your feet the star treatment in 2022!

Pamper and Moisturise

Who doesn’t love to feel pampered now and again? And our feet are not to be missed when it comes to soaking our troubles away.

For baby-soft feet, exfoliate using a scrub. Most of us have dry and cracked feet because we don’t take care of them. Dead skin can be uncomfortable, but regular exfoliation will get rid of the dead skin and result in softer and smoother feet.

Moisturising is also the key to maintaining silky-smooth feet. Just before bed, apply a moisturising cream (preferably at least 10% urea based) or body butter, and then pull on a pair of socks. You’ll wake up with noticeably softer feet.

Need some moisturiser recommendations? Check out our range of creams that your feet will thank you for.

Buy a New Comfortable Pair of Shoes

It’s time to put aside that old, worn pair of shoes you’re attached to because they are ‘comfortable’. The new year is about starting afresh, so now’s the time to invest in a new pair that are comfortable, but also supportive.

Comfortable doesn’t have to mean old-fashioned! There are plenty of shoes out there that are both attractive, fashionable, comfortable, and supportive.

We can advise on a range of wider fit shoes that are extra roomy, comfy and suitable for a range of occasions in an array of styles – just ask one of our podiatrist for further details.

Don’t Ignore Foot Problems

Medical professionals can sometimes describe our feet as ‘windows’ as they can often indicate a health problem elsewhere in the body.

It’s for this important reason that your final New Year’s resolution for your feet should be that you get any unusual foot problems checked out by a GP or your podiatrist as soon as possible, as it could be an indication of something bigger.

Some common symptoms to be aware of include: a swollen toe, which could indicate gout or infection; your nails turning club-shaped, which could point to a lung condition; sore toe joints, which could signal rheumatoid arthritis as well as ulcers and numbness which could be a sign of diabetes.

Start Doing Foot Exercises and Stretches

A lot of people make New Year’s resolutions to exercise more, but let’s not forget about exercising our feet! Doing some foot exercises and stretching out our lower muscles from time-to-time is a great way to encourage good blood flow and can help alleviate any pains and discomfort.

We recommend some easy exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home, minimum 3 times a week, such as heel raises, and calf stretches.

At Medipod Clinics we are very experienced when it comes to managing foot problems. As well as keeping up to date with the latest research and new treatments, we always try to give you the information and tools you need to keep your feet healthy.

From treating your feet with new, well-fitting footwear to buying yourself a soothing foot cream, Medipod stock a range of feel-good foot products that are sure to kick-start your new year in the right direction.

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.

We offer treatments for nails, hard skin, ingrown toenails, verrucas, heel pain, tendinitis, and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

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.

Thank you for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post New Year’s Resolutions! Let’s Put a Smile on Your Feet appeared first on Medipod Clinics.