Advice and resources : Caring for your feet

Personal footcare kit

You should have the following equipment to help you care for your feet:

• nail nippers
• emery board or nail file
• moisturiser or urea-based emollient
• small handheld mirror

General foot care and hygiene

1. Wash your feet every day using warm, soapy water and take care to dry your feet well, especially between your toes - this will help to prevent fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot.
2. If the skin on your feet is dry, put moisturiser on regularly before you go to bed, avoiding between the toes (this can lead to fungal infections).
3. Check your feet daily. Giving your feet the once-over will help you to spot any possible problems quickly.
4. Wear well-fitting socks and change them every day to maintain good hygiene.
5. Ensure you are always wearing well-fitting shoes.

Nail care

It is important to regularly look after your toenails (every 3-4 weeks), especially if you are a diabetic.

Nail problems and injuries are caused most often when the nails are too long or are not cut correctly or regularly enough.

If you do not feel that you can cut your own toenails safely, you might find it easier to file the nails weekly instead, this will help maintain a more suitable length.

Tips:

• Do not use scissors to cut your nails – always use nail nippers.
• Nails are much easier to cut after a bath or shower as they tend to be softer. Cleaning your feet before cutting them also helps maintain good foot hygiene.
• Find a safe and comfortable position in a well-lit area – do not cut your nails if you cannot do so comfortably or safely. Having a stool in front of you to rest your heel on might be helpful.
• Hold the foot with one hand and the nippers with the other start at one side of the nail and gently cut across to the other side following the natural line of the nail. Do not be tempted to cut down the sides of the nail or to cut a V shape in the nail as this can cause problems.
• You may find it easier just to file your toenails twice weekly to prevent the need for cutting them or to ask a family member to do it for you.
• When you have an injured or loose nail, cut it back to where it is still attached as this will help it grow back normally.
• Use the nail file/emery board to file the nails, preventing any jagged or rough edges being left behind. Always file in the same direction, away from the body.
• Do not clean underneath your nails with sharp objects.
• Once completed, check between the toes to remove any nail debris.
• If you accidently cause a bleed, firmly apply pressure to the area with some gauze or similar product for a couple of minutes. Check the bleeding has stopped then apply a dry dressing.

Callus and corns

Hard skin forms to protect our feet from stress and strain. If you have this on your feet and it causes you no pain, do not worry about it as it is doing its job. If you do experience pain or discomfort, use a foot file to thin down the callus, being careful not to overdo it – you should not aim to remove it all.

You should do this on a regular basis, ideally 3-4 days a week to prevent it building up.

To help reduce your hard skin you can also apply an emollient/cream daily that contains Urea (10-25%).

Choose the right footwear

Poorly fitting footwear can cause a lot of common problems seen on the feet. This diagram shows the key characteristics for a good shoe.

Slip-on shoes and slippers should be avoided when walking for long distances as they do not provide your feet with adequate support.

The ideal shoe has:

• low heel
• a firm heel counter (plastic or reinforced fabric on the back of the heel that helps the shoe keep its shape and prevents your foot from sliding)
• smooth internal lining
• an upper (top part that covers your foot) that is made of soft, breathable fabric
• fastenings that are firm and adjustable and stop your foot from sliding within the shoe (strong laces, Velcro that is in good condition, or buckles)
• thick, synthetic sole
• flexibility at the forefoot
• deep and wide toe box

Don't delay treatment

You can self-refer to NHS podiatry services if you have:

• an open wound on your foot
• red, hot, swollen foot/area of the foot (infection)
• an ingrown toenail with a bacterial infection

The NHS no longer provides routine appointments for nail cutting and hard skin removal, so if you aren’t able to safely manage the care of your feet at home, you should seek treatment from a private podiatry provider.

Use the Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) website to find a podiatrist near to you and then check that they are registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

• Find a private podiatrist
• Check the HCPC register