Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers that we get asked every day. If you need more information, please contact us.
- Q. What is the cause of most foot problems?
- Q. What letters of qualifications should I look for when I want to find a chiropodist?
- Q. What is the difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist
- Q. Are verrucae catching, and can I go swimming if I have one?
- Q. Do corns have roots?
- Q. My feet hurt after standing on them all day and I can't wait to kick my shoes off when I get home. They are OK when I'm not at work
- Q. What's the difference between a verruca and a corn?
- Q. What causes Athlete's Foot and how can I prevent it?
- Q. My feet tend to get very sweaty in summer, what can I do?
- Q. How can I get rid of hard skin?
- Q. Why do women suffer more foot problems than men?
Q. What is the cause of most foot problems?
A. Shoes that don't fit properly are the source of many foot problems - the higher the heel, the worse the problems tend to be. Slip-on shoes are one of the worst culprits, as they cause the foot to slide forward and cramp the toes. Worst of all are court shoes, as they are low-fronted, giving no support to the foot, and tend to be too narrow in the toe box. If you have foot problems, it is important to look at the cause, which is most likely to be your shoes. For frequent, everyday wear, choose a low-heeled shoe - no higher than 4 cm - which has a rounded toe. Find out more in our shoe section.
Q. What letters of qualifications should I look for when I want to find a chiropodist?
A. The letters you should look for are:
S.R.Ch. State registered chiropodist
M.Ch.S. Member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
F.Ch.S. Fellow of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
FCPod(Surg) Fellow of the College of Podiatrists of the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists
There may be one or more of the above succeeding the name.
Q. What is the difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist
A. There is now no difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist. Podiatrist is the favoured term in Britain and is used for chiropodists in many other English speaking countries.
Q. Are verrucae catching, and can I go swimming if I have one?
A. A verruca is a viral infection and can be picked up from coming into contact with the virus. To try and avoid catching one try not to come into contact with the changing room floor by wearing something like flip flops in the changing room and to the pool edge. If you already have a verruca, keep it covered. Verruca socks are available, which are slim fit rubber socks that prevent the virus being spread or picked up. (Not very popular due to the look of them).
A. A lot of people think that a corn has a root, and that you need to remove the root in order to get rid of the corn. This is not the case. A corn is simply made up of hard skin that occurs over a bony prominence such as a joint. It is usually the result of pressure or friction to the area. The central area of the corn that appears to go deeper into the toe, isn't something growing from inside, but is where the area of pressure (usually from the shoe if it is on the toe) is greatest. The skin thickens as a result of too much pressure/trauma and makes it look like there is a core or root that needs removing.
Q. My feet hurt after standing on them all day and I can't wait to kick my shoes off when I get home. They are OK when I'm not at work
A. If your feet hurt something is wrong! More often than not the shoes are a poor fit or style. Whether you are at work, at home or playing sport or other activity, make sure you have the right shoe for the job. If you don't your feet will let you know. We have included a whole section dedicated to choosing the right shoes; getting the right fit; and plenty of advice on how you can still be fashionable without causing long term damage to your feet.
Q. What's the difference between a verruca and a corn?
A. The usual test is to pinch the suspect area. Verrucae are usually more painful than corns when pinched. Corns and callous are more likely to affect weight bearing areas, whereas verrucae can appear on any area.
Q. What causes Athlete's Foot and how can I prevent it?
A. Athlete's foot is a fungal infection which thrives in warm, moist conditions such as showers or changing room floors. It starts with itchy, irritated patches of skin between the toes, which then cracks and peels, and may turn soggy and smell unpleasant. To treat it, use an over the counter product specifically for fungal infections of the foot (always follow the manufacturers instructions). Ask your pharmacist or State Registered chiropodist if you are unsure. To prevent Athlete's Foot you need to make sure you follow a daily foot care routine. Change socks or tights daily and don't wear the same shoes two days running - give them a day or to to dry out properly as feet sweat a lot.
Q. My feet tend to get very sweaty in summer, what can I do?
A. There are more sweat glands per inch of our feet than anywhere else in our body - so it's not surprising that many people suffer from sweaty feet, especially in warm weather. For minor problems wash feet morning and evening in warm, soapy water, then dry thoroughly. You can also use an antibacterial wash, which helps deal with foot odour, too. Then apply surgical spirit and dust the feet with talc. Going barefoot whenever you can will help, as will wearing open-toed sandals. For more serious problems there are special foot antiperspirants.
Q. How can I get rid of hard skin?
A. In summer, hard, cracked skin on the heels and balls of the feet are very common, and is often caused by wearing footwear which rubs the skin. Use an emery board or pumice to gently rub away the hard skin, then use a rich moisturising cream, such as an aqueous cream or E45 to soften the skin. Getting into a daily foot care routine will help.
Q. Why do women suffer more foot problems than men?
A. An American study called "If the shoe fits, wear it" found that nine out of ten women are wearing shoes that are too small and, after the age of 60, some 70% of women will have osteoarthiritis problems in their feet. As you get older, your feet tend to spread, but few women get them measured after the age of 20. Foot problems most commonly appear in the 40's, 50's, and 60's following decades of persevering with poorly fitting footwear. If social expectations of women's appearance and the sort of shoes that are "acceptable" changed, then there would be far fewer foot problems.