Love Your Feet

Jo’s straight-talking guide to keeping your feet in good shape

Your feet carry you through everything, every step, every day, and yet they are the most neglected part of the body. Jo has put together her most important tips and advice, drawn from ten years of treating patients at home across Aldershot, Farnham, Fleet, Camberley, Farnborough, and surrounding areas. Read through, take note, and give your feet the attention they deserve.

Daily Foot Care

Small habits make a big difference. Here are Jo’s recommendations for keeping your feet clean, comfortable, and in good condition between appointments.

Treat your feet to a regular footbath

Jo recommends soaking your feet in very warm water with Gehwol Foot Bath sprinkled in for around 20 minutes, as often as you can manage. Gehwol is a herbal product with natural antifungal properties that soothes, softens, and cleanses the feet beautifully. Add a splash of Stones Mother Apple Cider Vinegar to the water alongside it for an extra antifungal boost.

Cream your legs and feet regularly

Moisturising your legs and feet as often as you can is particularly important for seniors. Any tiny break in the skin, even a pinprick-sized one, can allow bacteria to enter and develop into a more serious infection called cellulitis. Cellulitis can make you very unwell indeed, causing weakness, confusion, and symptoms that can feel similar to a stroke. If you suspect cellulitis, contact your GP promptly for antibiotics. Do not wait.

Wear some form of footwear around the house

Walking barefoot at home might feel comfortable, but it carries more risk than most people realise. Pet hairs from shedding animals can become embedded in the skin of the foot and cause infection. Tiny shards of broken glass on hard floors are often invisible to the naked eye but can cause real pain and injury. Bamboo socks or lightweight house shoes offer simple, effective protection all year round.

Have an annual foot health check, every single year

Jo recommends that every member of the family has at least one professional foot health check per year. What looks like dry skin could be a fungal infection. What feels like a corn could be a verruca. Both are contagious, and catching them early protects the whole family. Think of it the same way you think about a dental check-up. Your feet deserve the same regular attention.

Look after your feet the way you look after your teeth

Your feet are under immense pressure every single day and yet they are the part of the body most people ignore until something goes wrong. Melanomas can form between the toes, on the sole of the foot, and on the nail itself. Regular professional checks could catch something serious before it becomes a problem.

Conditions to Watch For

Sweaty, strong-smelling feet could be Trench Foot

If your feet are excessively sweaty and have a particularly strong odour, you may be suffering from a condition known as Trench Foot. It is brought on by wearing unbreathable footwear such as Wellington boots or damp old trainers for prolonged periods. You will notice a mottled, pitted appearance to the skin on your heel, forefoot, or toes. This condition requires a prescription cream from your GP to treat effectively, so do not ignore it.

Chilblains on your toes in winter

Going barefoot in winter, however brave, can bring on painful chilblains on the ends of your toes. They appear as red blisters or bumps that resemble insect bites and are caused by the cold affecting circulation in the skin. With so many of us now living in homes with hard floors rather than carpet, and not always wearing the right socks inside footwear in colder months, chilblains are more common than people realise. Keep your feet warm and covered when temperatures drop.

Venous insufficiency needs daily attention

If you have been diagnosed with venous insufficiency, meaning blockages in the arteries or veins of the feet or lower legs, it is vitally important to apply any prescribed creams daily without fail. Even the smallest knock against a table or door frame can cause a tiny break in fragile skin that rapidly develops into a weeping open sore on the leg. Please ensure your GP is aware of your condition so your legs can be properly monitored and dressed by a district nurse if needed.

Nail Care

Go easy on the nail polish

Nail polish is fine for a holiday or a special occasion, but Jo does not recommend wearing it routinely. Your nails need to breathe, and keeping them painted for long periods significantly increases the risk of developing a fungal nail infection. If you do wear polish, choose a health-based formula rather than a standard one. Gel polish is the worst offender as it is so difficult to remove and can take months to grow out completely.

Never paint over a fungal nail

If you have a discoloured, thickened, or smelly nail, do not paint over it and hope for the best. This traps the infection beneath the polish and makes it significantly worse. Get the fungal nail properly treated with Jo first. Once it is resolved you can return to painting if you wish, and in the meantime Jo can create a temporary cosmetic nail that can be safely painted for your holiday or a special occasion.

Be cautious with nail bars

Foreign nail bars are not recommended. Many use the same tools on multiple clients without proper sterilisation, which spreads fungal nail infections, bacteria, and other conditions between customers. If you want your nails painted, visit a reputable beauty therapist or salon where you can be confident that tools are properly cleaned between clients.

Do not share nail clippers or footwear within the family

Using the same nail nippers on every family member is one of the most common ways fungal infections spread through households. The same applies to sharing socks or footwear. Keep yours to yourself, and make sure everyone in the family has their own implements.

What to Avoid

Jo has seen the results of well-intentioned home remedies and DIY foot care go badly wrong. Here is her straight-talking advice on what not to do.

Do not attempt your own foot DIY

Jo has treated some serious infections caused by patients attempting to remove corns, cut nails, or treat conditions at home using contaminated implements. If something is bothering you, book an appointment. It is far less expensive than treating an infection

Do not use corn plasters

Corn plasters contain acid that burns the surrounding healthy skin without actually penetrating deep enough to reach the corn beneath. They do not work, they damage the skin around the corn, and they leave the area open to infection. Jo can remove corns safely and properly at your appointment.

Do not waste money on over-the-counter fungal nail treatments

Paint-on fungal nail products do not work. They cannot penetrate the nail plate to reach the infection at the nail bed, which is where it lives and grows. If you have a fungal nail, see Jo for a proper diagnosis and professional treatment. Every time.

Go easy on the flip flops

Flip flops might be convenient but they cause more foot problems than almost any other type of footwear. They generate hard skin and cracked heels as the foot slips across the surface, they draw dust and dirt to open skin, they provide no support to the plantar fascia and are a leading cause of plantar fasciitis, and frankly they are a trip hazard. Save them for the beach, not all day every day.

“Your feet are incredibly important. They are under immense pressure every single day. Do not ignore them.”

— Jo Penny, MCFHP MAFHP

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Did You Know You Can Claim

Foot Health Treatments on Insurance?

Most health insurers do not yet recognise the Foot Health Practitioner qualification for claims purposes, which means treatments are often not covered under standard policies. However, Health Shield is one insurer that does recognise the FHP accreditation, making it possible to claim your foot health appointments back.

If you or your family have regular foot health needs and are considering health insurance, it is well worth looking at Health Shield in the first instance.

Jo Penny Foot Health

Mobile foot health care for all ages across Surrey and Hampshire. Professional, gentle, and delivered directly to your door by a fully qualified, MAFHP registered foot health practitioner based in Aldershot.

Serving: Bagshot, Lightwater, Windlesham, Camberley, Blackwater, Frimley, Farnborough, Aldershot, Tongham, Ash, Ash Green, Mytchett, Farnham, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Odiham, Crondall, Ewshot and surrounding areas.