Tips for Basic Foot Respect

Socks/stockings should be worn when you wear shoes and they must be changed every day. If you have problems feeling your feet (e.g. due to neuropathy) you may want to wear your socks inside-out. Cotton fabrics are best. The top elastic of socks should not be too tight as this prevents proper drainage of blood and lymph from the feet to the heart.

Hard and thickened skin (callus) can be gently filed with your own emery board, twice a week. It is best to ask where and how much this should be done when you have an assessment or treatment. Filing is best to do before you wash your feet when the skin is dry.

Dry skin requires moisturising by the daily application of foot cream. Never apply moisturising cream between the toes as this causes maceration of the skin. At Foot Respect we use a particular cream that contains a combination of high quality essential oils of calendula, lavender and geranium that hydrates with a long-lasting and refreshing effect.

If you are able to cut your toe nails, follow the outline of the toe. Don’t cut straight across the toe. Don’t cut nails too short as this can cause bleeding and pain. Don’t cut into the corners. Don’t cut a ‘V’ in the middle of the nail edge. Thick nails may require paring down with a special burr.

Corns really need to be meticulously removed. Normally, a scalpel blade is used to excavate the ‘nucleus’ of a corn. Don’t use corn plasters or acidic treatments for corns as these can make matters worse by causing open sores and infection.

Footwear. Read the next section on footwear advice as this is very important.