Common foot conditions: how to recognise, treat and prevent them

Corns (including soft corns)

A corn is a small, very localised thickening of the skin built around a hard core. The core presses on nerve endings, which is why a tiny corn can hurt so much. When it forms between two toes, the skin stays moist and white: this is called a soft corn.

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Calluses and hard skin

A callus is a patch of thickened skin, wider than a corn and without a core. It forms where the foot takes the most pressure: under the ball of the foot, on the heel, along the big toe. It is a protective reaction that becomes a problem when it gets too thick.

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Ingrown toenail

The edge of the nail, usually on the big toe, digs into the surrounding skin. The area becomes painful, red and swollen. Left untreated, it can become infected and form a bulge of overgrown tissue.

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Thick or misshapen toenails

With age, repeated knocks or some illnesses, toenails can become very thick, hard, yellow and curved. They become almost impossible to cut yourself and can press painfully inside the shoe.

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Fungal nail infection and athlete's foot

A fungal infection of the nail makes it yellow, thick and crumbly. Between the toes (athlete's foot) it causes itching, redness and small cracks.

How to recognise it

A yellow or whitish nail that thickens and crumbles; white, cracked, itchy skin between the toes.

Common causes

Heat and moisture (closed shoes, sweating), swimming pools and changing rooms, shared towels or shoes, diabetes.

At the practice

The diagnosis is confirmed by a sample, and the antifungal treatment is prescribed by a doctor or advised by a pharmacist. Thinning the affected nail helps the treatment penetrate and eases discomfort.

Day to day

Dry carefully between the toes, change socks daily, alternate shoes, wear flip-flops at the pool.

See a doctor

To confirm the diagnosis and get the right treatment, especially if several nails are affected.

Also known as: toenail fungus, onychomycosis, yellow toenail, athlete's foot.

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Cracked heels

When the skin on the heel is both thick and dry, it loses its flexibility and splits. Deep cracks can bleed and become infected.

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Plantar warts (verrucas)

A plantar wart is a small growth of skin caused by a virus (HPV). On the sole, body weight pushes it inwards, which makes it painful. It is often mistaken for a corn.

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Bunions (hallux valgus)

The big toe drifts towards the other toes and a bump forms on the inner edge of the foot. The deformity itself cannot be corrected by chiropody, but it causes friction that leads to corns, calluses and ingrown nails.

How to recognise it

A red, tender bump at the base of the big toe, overlapping toes, difficulty finding shoes that fit.

Common causes

Family predisposition, narrow shoes and high heels; more common in women.

At the practice

Treatment of the corns, calluses and nails linked to the bunion, and advice on footwear to reduce friction.

Day to day

Shoes that are wide at the front, with no seam over the bump.

See a doctor

If pain limits walking despite suitable footwear, a medical or surgical opinion may help.

Also known as: bunion, hallux valgus, big toe deformity.

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Diabetic feet

Over the years, diabetes can reduce sensation in the feet (neuropathy) and affect circulation. A small injury — a corn, a blister, a badly cut nail — can go unnoticed and turn into a wound that is slow to heal. That is why diabetic feet need careful monitoring.

How to recognise it

Tingling, a 'numb' or 'cardboard' feeling, very dry skin, a wound that does not hurt.

Common causes

Nerve and blood-vessel damage linked to diabetes, more likely when diabetes is long-standing or poorly controlled.

At the practice

Careful, adapted chiropody and a check of skin and nails at every visit. Any worrying sign, especially loss of sensation, is reported to your doctor.

Day to day

Look at your feet every day (with a mirror if needed), never walk barefoot, never use sharp tools or corn plasters, check inside your shoes before putting them on.

See a doctor

Without delay for any wound, blister, redness or change in the colour of the foot.

Also known as: diabetic foot care, diabetes and feet, diabetic neuropathy feet.

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Feet in later life

With age, skin gets thinner, nails thicken and it becomes harder to reach your own feet. Painful feet mean walking less and less well, which increases the risk of falls.

How to recognise it

Long or thick nails, corns and calluses, difficulty cutting your nails, discomfort in shoes.

Common causes

Ageing skin and nails, stiff joints, poorer eyesight, blood thinners that make small cuts more of a concern.

At the practice

Regular, gentle care to keep walking comfortable, and an attentive eye on anything worth mentioning to your doctor. Home visits are possible.

Day to day

Closed, stable shoes in your size — including at home.

Also known as: foot care for elderly, senior foot care, feet and falls.

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