Having your feet “done” is for older people….right?

Since starting out as a FHP I’ve found that sometimes there can be a misconception that people think that you have to be entering your senior years to have foot treatments. This is definitely not the case! Let’s look at some of the treatments I offer to explore this:

Toenail cutting

There comes a point where we all have to admit that reaching to our toes to cut our own toenails just isn’t comfortable any more. This could be for a wide range of reasons such as a back injury, putting weight on or having extremely long legs. I help lots of people of all ages, shapes and sizes with a variety of nails and/or reasons for needing help to trim nails. A good example of this is bunions and/or hammer toes, where the toes or toenails may bend over making it almost impossible for a person to see what and where they are cutting.

Fungal/Thick nails

I also treat lots of people with really thick or fungal nails which can be really difficult to cut through. I often receive phone calls from well meaning relatives who have been trying to help a loved one take care of their toenails but they reach a point where they are worried they might cause their family members pain. Again, fungal nails are not age related. They are, however, notoriously difficult to eliminate.

Verrucae

The majority of patients I treat for verrucae are younger than twenty. Like fungal nails they are difficult to get rid of but, with relentless daily care, it is possible. Unfortunately, verrucae are not as easily treated as in the past as it was possible for GPs to freeze them. In today’s times, with the huge pressures on the NHS, GPs simply do not have time to deal with them. Some people are lucky enough to be referred to Podiatry which is free with the NHS. However, long waiting lists are faced by most. If you are someone who enjoys pedicures, you may find that your beautician refuses to treat you until it is clear. Often, over the counter treatments fail too. So, what can you do? Find a Foot Health Practitioner and tackle them together as a team.

So there you have it! Looking after your feet isn’t just for the ‘older’ generation after all!