Beyond The Ordinary

Better Feet Solutions – helping you take every step with comfort and confidence.

Services

We offer a range of specialized services tailored to meet your individual needs. Our approach is focused on understanding and responding to what you require, providing effective and practical solutions.

Routine Nail and Foot Care

What Does Routine Foot Care Include?

Our routine foot care appointments prioritize the overall health of your feet, focusing on preventive measures rather than addressing complex or specialized conditions. During a typical appointment, we perform meticulous nail trimming, reduce calluses, and remove corns as necessary.

We also address issues such as thickened, uneven, or hard-to-cut nails, which can often lead to discomfort if left unattended. Each treatment is customized to meet your specific needs, and we provide expert advice to help you maintain foot comfort between visits.

Corns and Callus

Understanding Corns and Calluses

Corns and calluses are thickened patches of skin that develop in response to excessive pressure or friction on the feet. While they can form on any part of the foot, they are most commonly found on the toes, soles, and heels. Corns tend to be smaller and feature a hard, central core, whereas calluses are larger and more diffuse.

Symptoms of Corns and Calluses

Many patients describe the sensation of walking on pebbles due to corns and calluses. These conditions can be quite painful, causing discomfort that feels like sharp pins or stones embedded in the foot.

Additional symptoms may include:

  • Thickened and hardened skin
  • A raised, bump-like area on the skin
  • Tenderness and soreness
  • Redness and inflammation
  • Dry, flaky, or waxy skin

Treatment Options for Corns and Calluses

At Better Feet Solutions, we recognize that corns and calluses are more than just minor nuisances; they can lead to significant pain and discomfort.

To address these issues, we provide a variety of effective treatment options. Depending on the severity of your condition, our podiatrists may recommend one or more of the following:

1. Padding and Strapping: This method helps alleviate pressure on the affected area, reducing pain and discomfort.

2. Debridement: This procedure involves the removal of thickened skin from the corn or callus. Our podiatrists utilize specialized tools to safely eliminate the hardened skin, offering relief and preventing further complications.

Diabetic Foot Care

Understanding Diabetes and Foot Care

Managing diabetes requires vigilant attention to your feet. Elevated blood sugar levels can impair circulation and nerve function, increasing the likelihood of foot complications. However, with proper care, most issues can be effectively managed.

Why Foot Care is Essential for Diabetics

Diabetes can significantly reduce blood flow to your feet, hindering healing and making infections harder to combat. It may also lead to nerve damage, which means you might not notice cuts or blisters until they worsen. Regular foot inspections can help you identify minor issues early, preventing them from escalating into serious conditions.

Common Foot Problems in Diabetics

Some frequent foot issues faced by individuals with diabetes include:

  • Dry Skin and Cracked Heels – Diabetes can disrupt the skin’s moisture retention.  Consequently, feet may become excessively dry or cracked, particularly around the heels and ankles. These cracks create entry points for bacteria or fungi, potentially leading to further complications.
  • Corns and Calluses – For those with diabetes, corns and calluses can develop more rapidly at pressure points (such as under your toes or on the ball of your foot) and may conceal more serious damage beneath.
  • Fungal Nail Infections – Impaired circulation, elevated blood sugar levels, and nerve damage can heighten the risk of infections. Diabetes can also cause nails to thicken, increasing the likelihood of complications like fungal nail infections or ulcers if left untreated.
  • Ingrown Toenails – Diabetics may have reduced sensitivity to foot pain, allowing an ingrown toenail to go unnoticed until it becomes inflamed or infected.
  • Ulcers or Non-Healing Wounds – Ulcers (open wounds) pose a significant risk for individuals with diabetes and may take longer to heal. If you suspect you have an ulcer, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
  • Changes in Skin Color or Temperature – Such changes can indicate a serious condition, so it is crucial to seek medical advice promptly.

How to Inspect your Feet at Home

If you have diabetes, we recommend establishing a daily routine to check your feet. Examine the soles, heels, toes, and spaces between your toes. Use a mirror if necessary.

Be on the lookout for:

  • Cuts, redness, or swelling
  • Blisters or hard skin
  • Any discharge or unpleasant odor
  • Changes in shape or color

If you notice anything unusual, we suggest scheduling an appointment with a podiatrist or your GP.

Foot Health Tips for Diabetics – Maintaining Healthy Feet Daily

Incorporating a few simple habits can lead to significant improvements:

  • Wash your feet daily and dry them thoroughly, especially between your toes (avoid using a hairdryer!).

  • Moisturize your feet, but steer clear of the area between your toes.

  • Wear well-fitting socks and change them daily.

  • Avoid walking barefoot.

  • Opt for shoes with a wide toe box and soft, supportive lining.

  • Test water temperature with your elbow before entering a hot bath. Reduced sensitivity,

How a Podiatrist Can Support Individuals with Diabetes

 

For those living with diabetes, receiving specialized foot care from a podiatrist can significantly enhance foot health and help prevent potential complications.

Verrucae

A verruca is a type of wart that develops on the sole of the foot, resulting from an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Verrucae, commonly known as warts, are highly prevalent and affect the majority of people at some point in their lives. While many verrucae resolve on their own without treatment, numerous individuals seek intervention due to their persistent nature, aesthetic concerns, discomfort, or interference with physical activities.

Causes and Spread

  • Virus: Caused by specific strains of HPV that enter through tiny cuts or breaks in the skin.
  • Transmission: Spreads easily in damp, communal areas such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and shared showers when walking barefoot.
  • Growth: Due to their location on the bottom of the foot, body weight causes them to grow inward rather than outward.

Symptoms

  • Appearance: A flat or slightly raised rough patch of skin with a hard border.
  • Black Dots: Often characterized by tiny black specks in the center, which are small, clotted blood vessels.
  • Pain: Can cause sharp or aching discomfort when standing or walking due to pressure. 

 Treatment options include:

Salicylic Acid Paints and Gels: Available in various strengths, salicylic acid works by removing the outer layers of dead skin, prompting the immune system to clear the virus. The application process involves soaking the feet in warm water, gently exfoliating thickened skin with a pumice stone or emery board, and then applying the treatment directly to the wart.

Cryotherapy: This method uses liquid nitrogen to freeze warts, which may require shaving thicker warts for effective application. Although it can be painful and may lead to blisters, this treatment often necessitates repetition every few weeks.

Verrutop offers a groundbreaking approach to wart treatment. Unlike methods such as cryotherapy or other chemical treatments that freeze or burn tissue, Verrutop modifies the viral protein structure and dehydrates the wart tissue, facilitating its natural detachment from the skin and revealing healthy skin underneath.

Fungal Skin and Nails

Fungal skin infections are quite common and include conditions such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, and fungal nail infections. While these infections are typically mild and easily treatable, they can occasionally become more severe or challenging to manage.

Understanding Fungal Skin Infections

Various fungi and yeasts can lead to infections of the skin and nails. Many of these infections are contagious, meaning they can spread from person to person. Here are some common ways you might contract a fungal infection:

  • Direct contact with an infected person or animal, including pets like dogs and cats.
  • Sharing personal items such as clothing, towels, hairbrushes, or bedding with someone who is infected.
  • Less commonly, through contact with contaminated soil.
  • When fungi that normally reside harmlessly on or in your body begin to multiply uncontrollably.

Fungal infections are more likely to occur in warm or moist areas of your body. Therefore, you may be at higher risk if you:

  • Live or work in a hot and humid environment.
  • Wear tight-fitting clothing or shoes that restrict airflow to your feet.
  • Tend to sweat excessively.

Additionally, you may be more susceptible to fungal skin infections if you:

  • Have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or medications like corticosteroids.
  • Have diabetes.
  • Experience other skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema.

A compromised immune system can also lead to more severe infections that are harder to treat.

Symptoms of Fungal Skin Infections

The symptoms of a fungal skin infection vary depending on the type of fungus involved and its location. You may notice changes in your skin, hair, or nails. Fungal infections can affect a single area or multiple areas of your body and may spread from one location to another.

Fungal Skin Infections

Fungal infections can alter the appearance of your skin. You might observe patches that are:

  • Red, discolored, or darker than the surrounding skin.
  • Scaly and itchy, resembling dry skin.
  • Sore, potentially with pus-filled spots.

Fungal Nail Infections

Fungal nail infections can cause your nails to appear abnormal and discolored. Over time, these infections may lead to pain and discomfort, interfering with activities such as standing, walking, or exercising.