|| Podiatrist Laura’s Sunday blog – embarrassing feet ||

As a podiatrist for over the last 20 years there’s isn’t much that I personally haven’t seen, so many interesting cases and some clients who have been worried and upset about how their feet look or feel. Which has led me to think a bit deeper about education and more specifically about how important educating our clients is. I have to say our Podiatrists do this on a daily basis and it’s fundamental to what we do. The thing is, that the problem with feet and lower limb problems is exactly that… people don’t know what’s wrong! While google is now our go to tool… the information out there on the internet isn’t always factually correct or shall we say … can lead to anxiety over the worst case scenario! So first of all, if you have a foot problem book in with one of our Podiatrists ! Let us assess you and diagnose the issue at hand!

One of the first topics I am going to talk about is one of the most common conditions we see! And also the one most common that people get embarrassed about! It’s the one that in my experience – people will cry about, when it affects their nails . Fungal infections!

The facts…

  • 5% of adults in Europe have a diagnosed skin disorder on their feet.
  • Fungal skin infections are third most common disease in the world.
  • 35% of adults in Europe have a fungal foot infection.
  • If a fungal skin infection is left then usually within two years it will transmit to the nail. With Tinea Pedis being the most common infection- this presents with underlying red skin and chalky white, dry lines over the top. But let’s be frank… there are literally hundreds of different types of fungal infections! 

Let’s talk treatment – first of all – washing your feet with a soap or Prende Cleansing balm (preferably) morning and night is essential! Lather up that soap, rinse and dry your feet properly! Wear clean socks and if you’ve got sweaty feet, wash and change them even more regularly. There are some fab socks out there… our current favourites are Thought socks which are made from bamboo, and have thermo-regulating properties. If you think you may have a fungal infection to your feet when getting dressed put your socks on first! The saying goes – ‘Socks before jocks!’ And I hope you can guess why!

 

 

The other interesting fact is that, often people aren’t using the fungal treatment correctly. Instruction for using an anti fungal cream

  1. Apply after a bath or shower.
  2. Ensure the product is applied to both feet.
  3. Using your fingers, apply between, under and over the toes, then to the soles and sides of each foot.
  4. Allow the product to dry.
  5. Wash hands with soap and water after use.

 

Types of treatment

Canesten which is a clotrimozole 1-% you should use it twice daily for 2 weeks.

Lamisil – a terbinafine hydrochloride it is advised to use it once a day for 1 week and then it is advised to repeat this once a month for a week if you have a recurrent problem. But if your worried, we will advise you on a routine that suits your lifestyle when you come in for that diagnosis.

Lamisil Once 1% cutaneous solution is a single dose treatment for athlete’s foot. The clear solution is applied only once. Use the contents of the tube only once per episode of athlete’s foot. When using Lamisil once – do not wash feet for 24 hours after application

We also have a new way of diagnosing fungal nail infection in 5 minutes! And can be done within your podiatry appointment. We take a sample of the nail, add to a solution – with antibodies specific to fungal protein, add in the test strip and within 5 minutes the results will show! It’s a fantastic tool. If a positive result is found .. we would suggest a course of clearanail. In this treatment we use a fabulous gadget to place tiny holes in the nail that are 0.4mm wide.. we cover where the infection is, you would then apply the Lamisil spray daily, across the nails that have been treated and return in 8 weeks for another treatment. I personally am seeing fabulous results with this piece of kit and it’s great see the infection growing out and to give people a solution to the unsightly problem!

For those who need a quick cosmetic fix that lasts up to 6 weeks, we offer nail reconstruction. I’ve trained our beauty therapists to do this, and it can be added to your podiatry treatment. This is perfect for nails which are diseased and crumbly or have been previously traumatised. Again your podiatrist will advise if you are a suitable candidate. It’s an excellent treatment to hide those pesky nails for spring/summer holidays.

 

And so … I think I’ve bored you enough on a Sunday! The biggest and strongest message I would give you .. if in doubt… get it checked out! Many people say – “I couldn’t do your job!” And I reply … “it’s a good job I do! “Anxiety, tickley feet, upset, crying… we’ve dealt with it all… nothing phases our Podiatrists! If you have a problem.. we are here to help. The sooner we do the treatment and advise you on homecare the better the outcomes – which will only increase your confidence.

You only get one pair of feet – let’s take care of them!

Laura x