Calluses are hard, rough areas of skin that are often yellowish in colour. They can develop on your foot, usually around the heel area or on the skin under the ball of the foot.

Corn’s are an area of a callous which develops into small circles of thick skin, they commonly develops on the tops and sides of toes or on the sole of the foot. However, they can occur anywhere. They can be very sore if left untreated so it is best to deal with them as early as possible.

Causes

Corns and calluses are quite common and may be the result of the way a person walks or ill-fitting shoes causing friction and pressure. Elderly people are more susceptible due to loss of the skin's protective fatty tissue.

This is where the thickened skin (Callous) combined with Excessive pressure on the feet pads make the feet want to expand sideway causing the hells to crack. This can be very painful and may result in bleeding and infection.

Please call for more advice on prevention and treatment of cracked heels.

An ingrown toenail is when the either side or both sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin which can become red, swollen and tender.

Causes

• Cutting your toenails too short, or cutting the edges, will encourage the skin to fold over your nail and the nail to grow into the skin also
• Wearing tight-fitting shoes, socks or tights – this places pressure on the skin around your toenail; the skin may be pierced if it's pressed on to your toenail.
• Sweaty feet, if the skin around your toenails is soft, it's easier for your nail to pierce it and embed itself within it
• Injury, for example, stubbing your toe can sometimes cause an ingrown toenail to develop.
• Natural shape of the nail, the sides of curved or fan-shaped toenails are more likely to press into the skin surrounding the nail.

Our toenails thicken and harden naturally as we grow older, but this can occur at any age. When toenail thickening occurs in younger people it is most commonly due to infection or injury. If the thickening is caused by toenail fungus, the nail may turn a yellow or brown colour before it begins to thicken.

Also major trauma to the nail is an obvious cause of thickening; it is more often the result of repetitive pressure on the nail during everyday activities. The continual striking of the nail against the shoe causes it to separate from the nail bed.

Systemic diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, to name a few, may affect the toenails.

Thickened toenails can be painful and difficult to cut, and they can increase the risk to infection. I can reduce the thickness of the nail to relieve symptoms.

An itchy red rash develops in the spaces between your toes. The affected skin may also be scaly, flaky and dry.

Causes

Harmless bacteria and fungi live naturally on your skin, but if these organisms multiply, our skin can become infected. A group of fungi called dermatophytes is responsible for athlete’s foot. Dermatophytes live in and feed off dead skin tissue. Our feet provide a warm, dark and humid environment – ideal conditions for the fungi to live and multiply.

Athlete's foot spreads very easily. It can be passed from person to person through contaminated towels, clothing and surfaces. The fungi can survive and multiply in warm and humid places, such as swimming pools, showers and changing rooms.

Prevention and Treatment

Most cases of athlete’s foot are mild and can be treated at home using self-care techniques  and anti-fungal medication. With effective treatment, athlete’s foot only lasts for a few days or weeks. I can supply a series of medication and treatments to suppress the effects of athletes foot.

Verrucas are caused by an infection of the skin by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is highly contagious. Small, bumpy growths on the soles of the feet, often with a tiny black dot, or dots, on the surface. The viral infection is spread through skin contact with contaminated surfaces. We are especially prone if our immune system is weakened – if we’re tired or run down, for example.

We are also at risk if the skin on our feet is damaged by cuts or scratches and comes into contact with rough surfaces contaminated with the virus. This explains why people often catch verrucas in communal changing areas, like those at swimming pools and gym clubs. Virus-infected skin cells are shed onto the floor and passed onto others walking over the same area. If someone has a verruca, the virus can spread to other parts of his or her body as well as to other people.

Verrucas tend to appear on weight-bearing areas such as the ball of the foot, making them particularly uncomfortable and quite painful to walk on. I have a range of non surgical treatments to remove verrucas.