This is an opportunity to remind you of the good foot care habits that will help maintain your feet in good condition this Autumn and Winter. During summer lots of people have worn footwear with no heel cup for example: sandals, mules and flip flops. This type of footwear can lead to cracked heels, manage this by reducing callus with a pumice stone after a bath or shower, next apply Heel Balm cream which will moisturise the heel. After three or four weeks heels will be back to normal. If the cracked heel is painful please telephone for further free advice and or an appointment. 

Fungal nail infection can be particularly troublesome please ask for a free advice leaflet. Maintaining good foot hygiene is the key to success, by reducing the moisture in footwear, changing socks regularly, avoid walking barefoot in communal bathing areas, these habits promote good foot health foot. There are many brands of cream to treat fungal nail infections in local pharmacies.

On a medical note Scientists at East Anglia University are carrying out in depth research to confirm that a compound called sulforaphane blocks the enzyme activity which leads to joint breakdown and osteoarthritis. This compound is found in broccoli and when eaten creates high levels of sulforaphane  in the blood stream and this next stage of the project will seek to find out how effective it is at entering joints to slow or reduce osteoarthritis.

Looking ahead to winter, if you are prone to chilblains avoid going outside when it is very cold, with slipper’s as your footwear. The sudden change in temperature from a warm home to frost outside can be very painful. Think about wearing shoes with a thicker sole and appropriate socks or stockings.

Tony Hibbert  M.Ch.S   Podiatrist