Foot Health Courses - Your Ticket to a New Life

Ready to start a new career with a Foot Health Training Course?

If so, then your search is over. Training to become a Foot Health Practitioner, Podiatry Assistant or Nail Technician, (performing Pedicures or nail cutting) maybe the best move you will ever make. With an aging population in most western countries, the foot care industry is about to explode with retiring baby boomers and so now is your best chance to get on board.

In the UK there are three main educational bodies that offer foot health courses to students wanting to train as foot health professionals (FHP's).

Best Footcare Course providers:

• The Stonebridge College


• SMAE Institute


• College of Foot Health Practitioners (formerly the West Midlands School of Chiropody)


• Open Study College

All offer foot training in two parts, a theory section and practical section. With the theory you learn in the comfort of your own home or distance learning as it is called with a dedicated tutor on hand to help and guide you. The practical part is done over one or two weeks at a training facility equipped. These Foot care courses give the student the confidence to perform basic foot care like removal of corns and calluses and the treatment of a variety of foot and nail conditions like fungal and wart infections.

The cost of these courses may seem slightly high from the outset, around £2,000 depending on the number of weeks of practical training. But when you compare this to the amount you can earn it is more than worth it.

Once you complete your foot care course, you will be qualified and registered to practice with that organisation and generally they will provide your insurance cover. However, you will not be able to use the title 'Chiropodist' or 'Podiatrist' as these are now legally protected titles.

Current Foot Care openings in the Footcare World

If you are looking for how the foot care industry exists in the UK in its present form, then listed below is the structure based on educational requirements (And this excludes one of the biggest sectors - Footwear):

• Podiatrist/Chiropodist


• Podiatry Assistant (Medical Pedicure in the USA)


• Foot Health Practitioner


• Nail Technician/Pedicurist (Medi Pedi's in the USA)


• Reflexologists

Podiatry is the professional end of foot health with invasive procedures like ingrown toenail and bunion removal with gait analysis to prescribe orthotics. Foot health courses for Podiatrists are normally full time tertiary university degrees although part time courses are available.

With a Podiatry assistant you need to complete around 500 hours of supervised practice (NHS or Private) with both oral and practical assessments.

Although at the lower end of the scale a good way into the foot health industry is to train as a nail technician or Pedicurist. They of ten form part of a beauty therapist course but can be done individually at some colleges. They are aimed at beautifying the foot, many people just find they need their nails cut, and so the income potential of a nail technician is not that different from that of a foot health practitioner.

Normally a FHP will base their business on a home visiting practice. However, this has many plus points with it like being your own boss, working and charging what you like as well as keeping cost down to a minimum.

What may surprise you the most, is that by completing one of these Foot Health Courses it will give you the ability to earn a staggering amount of money compared to the general 9-5 population and therefore give you the tools to transform your life for the better - if you set up your practice correctly.

The Importance of Foot Health

Our feet are one of the most used but abused parts of our body. They take us where we want to go, lugging our weight around for miles and miles, up and down, every day. But many people tend to ignore the importance of foot health until problems set in.

The main culprit, really, is ignorance. Too many people simply do not know how to care for their feet.

Foot care actually has a lot to do with common sense, except when the problem is caused by a medical condition, like diabetic foot problems. But ignore your feet and you do risk infections and diseases that can be quite serious.

Fashion can be really bad for foot health.

How many women have endured blisters and bunions on feet squeezed painfully into sky-high heels? Or men with a penchant for pointy foot wear. You'd be surprised how many foot problems can be avoided simply by choosing good, practical footwear. Choose shoes with round toes and keep heels as low as possible. Anything above three inches can be hell on the ball of the foot. For flat feet, choose shoes with good arch supports.

One of the most common problems is, of course, athletes foot. It is caused by the fungus Trichophyton, which enjoys feet that are hot and sweaty, thus, its name. Left untreated, it attacks the upper layer of the skin, causing itchiness and a burning situation, or even bleeding. When infection sets in, blisters called bullous tinea pedis result.

Athletes foot can be avoided by washing your feet and drying them thoroughly, and using shoes made of materials that "breathe," like leather. Foot powder helps a lot, too. If you do get it, use anti-fungal cream, never topical steroids, which allow the fungus to multiply. A household remedy is to soak the foot in a solution of one part vinegar and four parts water.

Clipping your toenails is a simple enough foot health maintenance job. But it should be done properly or you could end up with wounds that easily get infected or, worse, ingrown nails that will have to be treated surgically. And never try to camouflage cracked or discolored nails with polish. It could make the problem worse.

If you run for exercise, you put a lot of strain on your feet. A common problem is heel pain, which is usually caused by plantar fasciitis. Overdoing your routine can lead to tendonitis as well. Toe pain is usually caused by running shoes that are too small. Blisters often develop or your nails can turn black or even fall off.

Another common foot problem is calluses on feet, which are caused by friction between your feet and your shoes and cause the skin, usually the soles, to thicken. Warts, too, which are caused by a virus, can grow on the feet.

You will no doubt hear about supposedly successful home remedies for common foot ailments. Be careful though, because many of these will only worsen the problem. If in doubt, it is best to see a foot health professional.

Foot Health - Experiencing Foot Pain, Bottom-Of-Foot Pain Or Toenail Fungus?

Foot health is a topic that many people try to avoid. The foot isn't exactly a part of the body that we normally associate with the words pretty and sexy. The foot is typically protected from the outside world via a pair of socks and shoes.

All sorts of foot-wear exists these days and they come in different shapes and size. We wear this kind of foot-wear to protect our feet. Foot health relates to looking after the well-being of our feet. Ensuring that our feet our healthy is what foot health is all about.

There are many different kinds of problems that can occur to our precious feet. Foot pain, bottom-of-foot pain and toenail fungus are three common problems that occur. Our feet need to be taken care of and washed on a daily basis.

There are a few types of foot pain. Bottom-Of-Foot pains are a common occurrence because we use that part of the foot so much. They are constantly taking a pounding from everyday activities such as walking and standing.

A medical term for bottom-of-foot pain or ball-of-foot pain is metatarsalgia. Metatarsalgia is a painful condition which affects the metatarsal region of the foot. The metatarsal region is the area just below the toes. We also call this region ball-of-foot.

The disorder can affect the bones and joints at the ball-of-foot. The problem typically occurs because of excessive pressure being applied on the region over long periods of time.

Most of the time, the problem can be fixed by wearing the correct foot-wear. Foot-wear that is uncomfortable to wear is more than likely going to cause pain and discomfort.

Toenail fungus is another condition that affects the toenails. Fungus can develop on the toenails due to poor hygiene. The feet need to be cleaned on a regular basis and at least once a day. Bacteria naturally live on the surface of our skin on the feet.

The number of bacteria that live on our feet really depends on whether or not we clean our feet properly. If we wear shoes and socks throughout the day, bacteria can grow and spread. Inside shoes and socks, the conditions for bacteria and fungal growth are just right.

It is very important that we take foot health seriously and wear comfortable foot-wear that allows our feet to feel safe and relaxed. Shoes must be designed to absorb most the impact when walking and running. Massages might be able to relieve sore feet.

In conclusion, if you are experiencing foot pain, bottom-of-foot pain or toenail fungus, then we need to ensure that we are wearing the right foot-wear and keeping our feet clean.

7 Tips for Foot Health

Foot care is an essential routine activity that should be done by all individuals to achieve optimum wellness. Our feet contribute an important role in our activities of daily living which generally involves standing, walking and moving around. The lower body extremities especially the feet appear to support the entire weight of a person bringing them to be the most overused part of the body. To help prevent damage and promote foot care, here are seven tips to promote foot health.

Inspect and palpate your feet regularly. Keeping track with your feet will help you notice any changes or foot irregularities when it suddenly differs in foot colour, thickness, temperature, skin turgor and note for cracks. Also check for the capilliary refill of your toenails that will indicate adequate blood oxygenation. Any growth or change on the foot is not considered normal and should be consulted to a physician.

Wash your feet on a daily basis making sure to clean and wash in between the toes. Wet skin is very vulnerable which is prone to cracking and lesions since the skin become inelastic. Make sure you let your feet completely dry by using a towel to prevent skin from impairment.

Trim and cut your toenails. Be careful not to overly trim your toenails to prevent from skin damage and injury. For ladies and lasses who enjoy pedicures and nail art, make sure not to prolong the nail paint over a week. Use a mild nail polish remover to completely cleanse the nail polish. Prolonged paint will cause the nails to be brittle and may lead to certain foot problems.

Select the appropriate shoe and shoe size for your feet. When buying a new pair of shoes, consider and prioritize the comfort it will bring your feet and not after the shoe style. The best time for shoe fitting is during the day when the feet are at its largest.

As much as possible, avoid walking and running barefooted at your home. Walking barefooted may lead to an incident that may impair and aggravate the condition of your feet. It is best advised and wise to put on your slippers even at home to prevent any possible accident.

After a long stand, walk, run, a tiring and stressful day at work, lifting your legs against the wall will benefit your foot and legs venous return which promotes blood circulation. It is said that promoting venous return can aid in preventing formation of blood clots and plaques in the feet due prolonged standing, blood pooling and inadequate circulation.

Lastly, never disregard any foot or ankle pain even though you have a strong pain threshold and tolerance. Any pain connotes that there is an inflammation or any underlying cause within. It is better to consult your doctor or a podiatric physician to help diagnose and treat the pain.

For diagnosed type one or type two diabetes, caring for your feet plays a major role in maintaining your health. Foot lesions and wounds are the common cause of leg amputation for diabetic people. Make sure to routinely check and do foot care as recommended to prevent amputation from happening.

Foot Health Care and Attention

Foot Health is usually taken for granted because of its constant use. The feet composes of the all ten toes, the heels, the ankle, and the palm of the feet. These are the basic parts of the feet as a whole unit. But how did the use of the feet become important in human history?

It was an unforgettable moment for the evolution of man to be claimed the most superior of all earth's creatures by learning to stand up in Darwin's Evolution theory. Having to stand in your own two feet is also significant when you were a toddler that marked the beginning of your walking life. Basically, everything you did had something to do with you feet at one time or another and you must realize how disabled you can be without your feet. So how do you properly tend to your feet to show your gratitude to this nature's wonder?

The feet are subjected to about a hundred or more pounds of pressure everyday just by you standing or carrying a load. Every major nerve endings are located at the bottom of the feet. That is why foot spa or massage can truly be a relaxing experience due to the nerves that gets stimulated by the right strokes and preparations. It is not practical to afford spa treatments for your feet everyday, so what pragmatic methods can you do to keep your Foot Health at top shape?

Inspect your feet everyday. Look at your feet closely when you take a bath or shower. Check if there are any superficial indications of skin problems like athlete's foot or any fungal infections and treat them immediately. Also, check for any deformities or pain felt in the area.

Wash and clean your feet daily. Clean and washed feet are free from foot odor problems or bacteria. The feet is almost susceptible to free bacteria on the surfaces it touches and so washing it with warm water and soap can help minimize the contamination of bacteria from your feet.

Do not treat your nails to fancy cuts. As much as possible, especially for women, cut your toe nails to its natural form. Do not reform the natural shape of your nails as it might cause in-grown nail that can grow painfully at wrongly cut nails.

Moisturize and massage your feet once a day. A brief massage for a few minutes can help stimulate the nerve endings at the feet than can help you relax the whole day. Massaging with lotion and covering the feet with petroleum jelly at night with socks on can minimize calluses and corns.

Use the right socks. Many socks manufactured today are specialized in many ways. Some are made with anti-bacterial materials that can prevent bad odor from the feet and some have elasticity built to support the ankle and the heels. Choose different socks for different uses to protect your feet properly.

Keeping your foot health can translate to good personal hygiene. Although the feet is usually covered from the outside, it is imperative to maintain them clean, massaged, and well-kept to maximize the use of your feet for any occasion.

Foot Health - Get Rid Of Smelly Feet

Bad smelling feet isn't something that people like to hear about or have. Having smelly feet is quite embarrassing, especially when you have to take your shoes off in front of many people.

Foot odour is very unpleasant. Some people say it smells like rotten cheese and others say it smells like rubbish. Smelly feet smell bad no matter which way you look at it. A lot of people are related to or know someone with bad foot odour.

People have many different ways of hiding foot odor. Spraying perfume or neutralising spray on their feet is only a source of temporary relief. Shoes that restrict air flow are no good when it comes to removing foot odours.

Sweat is the main thing that makes our feet smell bad. Bad smelling feet is mainly due to sweat building up in our shoes and in our socks. The sweat is usually trapped in the socks or the insides of the shoes and after a long period of time the smells start to come out.

The human body's feet have over two hundred thousand sweat glands. The feet perspire a lot of sweat every day. Sweat is essentially salt and water. The smell isn't from the sweat, but from the bacteria on our skin which feeds on the sweat.

The bacteria eating the sweat will excrete waste that has a very strong and bad odour. This bad odour is hard to get rid of. The bacteria found on the skin of our body is quite normal. Constant showering every few hours could remove a lot of this bacteria but they will just keep coming back.

Our feet smell particular bad compared with our armpits or hands which also contain a lot of sweat glands because our feet are typically covered with socks and shoes. Sweat is trapped in our socks and shoes and bacteria are having an all-you-can-eat banquet inside your shoes. They will feed off the sweat and then excrete foul-smelling odours.

Everyone has a different odour because our bodies only allow certain bacteria to survive on the skin. Different people allow different kinds which is why everyone smells different. A person that is sweating more often than another will more than likely have smelly feet.

Foot health isn't a topic we hear about every day. Looking after our foot health to get rid of bad-smelling foot odours is quite easy. Just wear comfortable foot wear that have great air ventilation. Change socks once or twice a day and wash your feet at least once a day.

In conclusion, washing your feet and wearing the right foot wear can lead to great foot health and great smelling feet.

Foot Health

Good foot health is imperative in to prevent foot problems. Washing your feet daily will reduce your risk of having bacteria and viruses causing foot infections. It is a good idea to get a foot tub to clean your feet. Warm water, and non-drying soap to clean your feet will help the process for efficiency and effectiveness. Soaking your feet in water may wash away necessary skin oils that give your feet natural protection. This may cause the skin to dry out and crack, creating vulnerability for openings in the skin to allow bacteria and viruses in, potentially leading to infections and bad foot health. Once you have completed washing your feet, rinse the soap off and dry your feet thoroughly, paying close attention to between the toes. Apply a moisturizing cream on your feet, to ensure that your feet do not become too dry. While moisturizing avoid getting lotion between the toes as excessive moisture can cause the skin to break down, potentially leading to infection.

Once clean, trim your nails straight across to avoid future foot problems with ingrown toe nails. To handle your corns and calluses, there are over the counter treatments available that are very effective. Using a pumice stone on your corns and calluses while the skin is moist will help to gently smooth excess skin on your feet. The OTC preparations should be done with caution and the manufacturers instructions should be read and understood before proceeding with this method of treatment.

Improper footwear may be the cause of calluses or corns on your heels and toes. Wearing socks and shoes that fit will is important to your overall foot health. Socks that are seamless or that do not have tick seams are better for your feet, as less pressure will be put on certain areas. Wearing shoes with wide toe box, smooth liners, adequate support, and breathable materials are all a plus for feet to breath and stay healthy. Wearing shoes without socks is not advised, as they will allow your feet to sweat and lead to moisture build up, which in turn can lead to skin breakdown. Avoiding pressure on your heels and toes will reduce your risk of bad corns and calluses from developing.

Foot Health Tips For Diabetic Patients

1. Manage your diabetes

Work with the health care team to deal with your increasing blood glucose. Submit your self for medical management such as insulin therapy and diet modification. It is the best way of keeping yourself safe from the complications of diabetes mellitus.

2. Check your feet every now and then

Always inspect your feet for presence of cuts, blisters, red spots, swelling and other forms of wounds. With your bare feet, check the bottoms using a mirror or ask for assistance on any of your family member to help you if you have trouble in seeing. Also, check for any changes in temperature.

3. Wash your feet daily

When washing your feet, use lukewarm of warm water and avoid using hot water. This is to soften the formed skin on your feet. Do not soak your feet as this may put you at risk for any burn injuries or others. Always check the temperature of the water using a thermometer to be sure that you have the accurate temperature of water. After washing, be sure to dry it well including the middle of your toe fingers.

4. Keep the skin soft and downy

Rub thin amount of non-scented lotion on the entire feet, but not in the middle of your toe fingers. I specified the non-scented lotion since most of the scented lotion contains alcohol which is a perfect drying agent. Drying your skin makes it more prone to skin breaks and lacerations.

5. Smooth corns and thick calluses tenderly

Who says a diabetic patient can no longer have a relaxing foot spa? Using a pumice stone to smooth corns and thick calluses is proven safe and effective in your foot health needs. Just take note that you have to use this gently.

6. Cut your toe nails straight-across

In cutting your toe nails, the ideal way is to cut it straight across since this type of cut prevent formation of ingrown, nail problems and file the edges with an emery board or nail file.

7. Avoid walking barefooted

It is a contraindication to diabetic patients to walk barefooted unless you want you leg being amputated. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and offer full protection to your feet. Do not wear chuck tailor, advan or any canvas shoes since this type of shoes put your feet at risk for punctures. Feel your shoes before putting your feet in it. Make sure that the lining is smooth and there are no objects inside.

8. Protect your feet from hot and cold

Wear shoes at the beach or on hot weather and wear socks at night if your feet gets cold.

9. Maintain good blood flow on our feet

Elevate your legs when sitting. Wiggle your toes and move your ankles up and down for 5 minutes for about 2 to 3 times a day. Avoid cross-leg sitting as it decreases blood flow on your feet. Avoid smoking since nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, thus decreasing the blood flow on the extremities.

10. Know your doctor

Have your doctor assess your bare feet and find out whether you are likely to have serious foot problems. Remember that you may not feel the pain of an impending injury. Call your doctor right away if a sore, cut, blister, or bruises on your feet that does not recover after 24 hours. Follow your doctor's advice about foot health. Do not self-medicate or use home remedies or over the counter drugs to treat any foot problems. Remember that your foot might be amputated if the situation gets worst.

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The Importance of Foot Hygiene in Foot Health

The importance of good foot hygiene goes far beyond the need to keep the feet from becoming dirty and developing odor. Proper foot hygiene can prevent the development of numerous foot problems, and for some individuals may save their leg from amputation. This article will discuss the way people can properly care for their feet and keep them healthy for years to come.

Foot cleanliness is an important part of keeping the body clean. Anyone who has ever walked barefoot can relate to that when the soles of the feet become soiled. However, even those who wear shoes all the time are still at risk for 'soiling' of the feet. This soiling comes not from dirt but from the natural shedding of the skin, combined with sweat residue, sock lint, or shoe debris if one does not wear socks. All of this material provides a good platform upon which bacteria and fungus can accumulate, and eventually this can cause skin infections. The most common infection seen in the skin is that from a fungus.

This infection is commonly called Athlete's foot, and millions of humans (if not nearly all) suffer from this condition from time to time. While this condition is easily treated, the long term presence of fungus can distract the skin's immune system and lead to the sneaking in of bacteria into the cracks and skin ripples that are found in Athlete's foot. Bacteria is also present in soil and on walking surfaces exposed to other bacteria (like in kitchens and baths), and barefoot walking can potentially expose the skin to these organisms. Bacterial infections are not as benign as Athlete's foot, and can enter the skin and spread up the foot into the body. For diabetics and others whose immune system is not as strong, these infections can pose a serious risk to the health of the foot and leg, and occasionally they result in an amputation if the infection is serious enough.

By washing the foot, especially in between the toes, the debris and soil that fungus and bacteria accumulates on is removed, and the skin is left with a healthy top surface. Vigorous scrubbing is not necessary, and can lead to skin irritation if one is too aggressive. Careful removal of soap residue is needed, as is the careful drying of the foot and toes to prevent skin irritation from lengthy water exposure.

Another important aspect of good foot hygiene is to keep the feet well moisturized. From time to time, especially in the winter, the foot skin will dry out. For some, this is a result of genetics or diseases which reduce the moisturization of the skin. With drier skin comes more cracks and crevasses that bacteria and fungus can use to enter the skin. Dry skin can also potentially painful cracks so deep that a wound develops. The practice of soaking the foot to either make it moister or to remove fungus or bacteria only makes this worse, as soaking depletes the skin of vital oils that help keep it moist. Some bacteria also thrive in foot baths, and frequent soaking can sometimes cause infections. The daily application of a good moisturizing cream to the feet can keep the skin moist and its surface smooth. It is important not to place the moisturizing cream in between the toes, as this area is at risk for fungus development that can also follow overly moist toe spaces.

Toenails are often ignored when foot hygiene is taken into consideration. Like every other part of the foot, the toenails need care and maintenance to prevent problems from developing. Nails that are too long are at greater risk of breaking off when the toe is stubbed. This can lead to pain, inflammation, and possibly infection of the skin around the nail itself. Nail damage can also lead to the introduction of fungus under the nail itself. The nail will become discolored, thickened, and misshapen from this infection. It is treatable, but a nail fungus infection requires a lot of time for eradication. Keeping the nails short can prevent some of this nail injury by reducing the likelihood of the nail lifting up during an injury event. In turn, this can reduce the chance that a nail fungus will develop. Although generally benign, nail fungus is still a chronic infection and should be avoided. However, not all changes to a nail's color or appearance is simply a fungus. Any color change in a toenail should be evaluated by a foot specialist or dermatologist, as some skin cancers or body-wide disease appear as changes to a toenail.

When trimming nails, care must be taken not to cut too deep into the skin sides. The reason for this involves ingrown nails. Ingrown nails develop as a result of genetics or gradual pressure injury to a nail. Contrary to popular belief, they are not caused by cutting the nail, as the nail grows from the deep end of the toe, which is not affected by the way it is cut. However, by cutting the nail too short into the side of the skin, one irritates the skin. A reaction then develops which causes skin inflammation. The inflamed skin becomes irritated against the ingrown nail that did not previously bother it, and pain subsequently is felt. Infection can follow as bacteria becomes trapped within the swollen skin border. While this condition is easily and permanently treated in-office by a foot specialist, avoiding it by trimming the nails without cutting into the skin may be an easier option.

Properly fitting shoes are another consideration in foot hygiene. Shoes are worn for many reasons, although the basic reason for shoes is to protect the feet from the ground. This protection is at risk when one wears poorly fitting shoes simply for fashion or convenience. Shoes that are too tight, too narrow, or too shallow will cause skin irritation to occur where the shoe rubs the skin. If the irritated area is over a prominent bone, such as on the toes or sides of the foot, the skin may start a process to protect itself. This process leads to the formation of corns and calluses, which is simply a thickening of the top layer of the skin created to protect the skin. Corns and calluses can cause pain, and in some cases (especially in diabetics and the elderly) can lead to the development of wounds underneath them. By reducing the shoe pressure on the skin through the use of a properly sized and fitted shoe, the development of corns and calluses can be slowed or even eliminated.

When a shoe is worn that is too big for the foot, the foot will move and piston within the shoe during walking. This ultimately can lead to toenail bruising as well as foot pain. When purchasing shoes, one's foot should be measured by a knowledgeable shoe clerk and the shoe fitted to that size, considering length AND width. A foot's width is often ignored when purchasing shoes, especially given that many retailers have scaled back the selection of different widths in stock. In the long run, purchasing shoes at a quality shoe store that carries many widths is better that the convenience of a discount retailer that has more styles but less sizing variations. The style of the shoe needs to be considered as well. Someone with a wide foot due to bunions and flat feet should not be in a tight pair of pointed flats. Unfortunately, many people stubbornly refuse to change shoe types out of concern for fashion or the inability to change old habits.

As one can see, the importance of foot hygiene involves much more that just the act of keeping the foot free from dirt and odor. Keeping the skin and nails healthy prevents the development of infections, and keeping the skin smooth and comfortable prevents the development of painful lesions that can limit activity and the enjoyment of life. Making time for the foot during daily body care can pay off in a big way over the long run.

Good Foot Habits - Essential Tips to Promote Excellent Foot Health

Good foot care habits are essential to your health and well being. Unfortunately, we tend to take our feet for granted and only really notice them when something goes wrong. At this point we tend to blame everything else rather than acknowledge our role in causing the problems with our feet.

The following tips will help you establish an effective regime of caring for your feet. Apply these and reap the benefits of happy healthy feet.

Inspect Your feet everyday

Take a little time to examine your feet for any chaffing, blisters or tenderness. Look for corns or fungal infections. Take action immediately as prevention is always preferable to dealing with a more serious foot problem.

Wash your feet regularly

Wash your feet with soap and warm water. Be sure to dry all areas thoroughly. Clean feet tend to be healthy feet.

Keep nails at a healthy length

Inspect your nails and take action to ensure that they remain at a healthy length. This should be not too short as this can lead to the formation of ingrown toenails

Keep your feet well moisturized

Apply a daily moisturizing cream to keep feet soft and supple and to maintain their flexibility and suppleness. Hard dry skin can lead to a variety of skin conditions and foot problems.

Wear appropriate socks

Wear smooth fitting socks. Avoid socks that have seams that may create a ridge within the shoe lining. This could cause chaffing and blisters as well as being very uncomfortable.

Choose shoes that fit

An obvious point perhaps but so many foot problems are caused by ill fitting shoes, often worn for long periods of time. Do not wear the same shoes every day. Look for comfortable well fitting shoes that do not cause pressure in any one spot.

As a golden rule - when selecting shoes choose comfort and fit over fashion your feet will thank you!

Keep active

Walking provides excellent exercise for your feet and will help improve circulation and prevent blood pooling in your ankles. Swimming is also excellent exercise but be careful in the changing room - these are notorious breeding grounds for foot infections!

Your feet are essential to your overall health and well-being. We take them for granted and often have to suffer the consequences. This article has only scratched the surface of how to care for your feet. There is so much more to learn and apply