FOOT SURE: Foot health from OX7.

13/12/2021

Having sore feet is no fun at any age. Most here can reach their toenails and hard skin, but may have corns or verrucae...

Many people cannot reach their feet to even begin to investigate for themselves the cause of their discomfort...

So next time you see your elderly relative or friend, for example, ask them how their feet are...even better, ask if you can take a peek...and encourage them to seek assistance from someone qualified to help if anything is causing them, or you, concern.

Feet need a treat every now and then 😊

12/12/2021

TREAT YOUR FEET!

Scrub every day

Keep a nailbrush in your shower, along with a pumice stone or foot file, and spend a few minutes focusing on your feet every time you bathe. Scrub under your nails, and rub callused, rough areas with the file or stone for up to one minute. (You can also add an exfoliating scrub to this skin-smoothing routine.) Just don't scrub so hard that you rub the skin raw or you get rid of calluses altogether. Some callus is necessary to help protect your feet; keep razors away from your heels. If you puncture skin or use instruments not sterilized properly, you could end up with an infection.

Clip nails right

If you leave your nails too long, they can hit the edge of your shoes and bruise. If you clip them too short, you may trigger ingrown toenails. Every three to four weeks, after you've showered or soaked your feet, use small clippers to trim, cutting straight across. If you start to notice redness or inflammation around the nail (early signs of an ingrown nail), clean the area. If the condition persists, seek help from a health professional.

Soften skin

Dried, cracked foot skin? Moisturizing your feet should be your number one priority. After a shower and before bed, apply a moisturizer (Wear socks overnight to prevent the cream from rubbing off if you like).

Towel-dry toes and feet

Bacteria and fungus that can lead to athlete's foot and other infections thrive in dark, moist environments and the areas between the toes provide just that. Always change out of sweaty socks and shoes, and be sure to towel-dry your feet--and between your toes--after swimming or showering. If you do notice flaking, scaling skin, try an over-the-counter athlete's-foot cream or spray. If the problem persists, seek advice from a health professional.

10/11/2021

Some nifty little flyers!
If you know of anyone who struggles with their feet or just fancies a thorough 'medipedi', I am here for home visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays and am available at Beechwood Park, Stow, on a Wednesday. 😊

01/11/2021

My instruments are all sterilised prior to single use. My Class B steam vacuum autoclave meets all European standards and legal requirements relating to the ISO 13060 directive, ensuring procedure safety by guaranteeing the sterility of all the instruments I use.

01/11/2021

WHAT IS A CALLUS?

When we walk or stand, our body weight is carried first on the heel and then on the ball of the foot where the skin is thicker to withstand the pressure. When this pressure becomes excessive, some areas of skin thicken and form corns and callus, as a protective response to the friction of skin rubbing against a bone, shoe or the ground.

Callus (or callosity) is an extended area of thickened, hard skin on the sole of the foot. It is usually symptomatic of an underlying problem such as a bony deformity, a particular style of walking or inappropriate footwear. Some people have a natural tendency to form callus because of their skin type. Elderly people have less fatty tissue in their skin and this can lead to callus forming on the ball of the foot.

I can easily reduce callus to any area of the foot. After callus reduction, some people may benefit from padding to the ball of the foot, to compensate for any loss of natural padding. Emollient creams delay callus building up and help improve the skin’s natural elasticity. You may also need to wear more supportive or wider fitting footwear to reduce pressure on the affected area.

All treatment is carried out after a full foot health assessment, with full explanation and exploration of individual issues.

01/11/2021

WHAT ARE CORNS?

Corns are caused by pressure or friction over bony areas, such as a joint, and they have a central core which may cause pain if it presses on a nerve. There are different types of corns, the most common of which are ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ corns:

Hard corns – these are the most common and appear as a small area of concentrated hard skin up to the size of a small pea usually within a wider area of thickened skin or callus. This may be a symptom of the feet or toes not functioning properly.

Soft corns – these develop in a similar way to hard corns but they are whitish and rubbery in texture and appear between the toes where the skin is moist from sweat or from inadequate drying.

Seed corns – these are tiny corns that tend to occur either singly or in clusters on the bottom of the foot and are usually painless.

Fibrous corns – these arise when corns have been present for a long time and are more firmly attached to the deeper tissues than any other type of corn. They may also be painful.

It is not adviseable to cut corns yourself. People with diabetes, poor circulation or a reduced immune system should not self-treat, but instead seek advice from a health care professional.

28/10/2021

A local, professional and fully qualified foot health professional will fully assess, advise and treat many different foot health issues, starting with a medical history and neurovascular assessment.

Fully insured, I am able to undertake home visits on a Tuesday and Thursday and at a clinic location on a Wednesday.

If you need help with your feet, feel free to contact me by either telephone, text or Whatsapp.

Page shares cheekily welcomed 😊

21/10/2021

Looking forward to working in this lovely setting on Wednesdays from November!

Beechwood Park Wellness Suite, Stow on the Wold.

21/10/2021

Hi.
My name is Louise and I am both a Registered Nurse and qualified Foot Health Professional, trained at the SMAE Institute. Living locally, I am happy to be able to offer home visits for adult-only foot health care on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at the Wellness Suite, Beechwood Park, Stow on the Wold on Wednesdays.
Appointments available from November 2nd.

If you have any questions, please either call me or send me a Whatsapp. Thank you.
Louise.

20/10/2021