General Foot Care & Podiatry Services

Callus is an area of thickened, hard skin that may appear yellowish in colour. It can occur in a number of areas on the foot.

There are a number of causes for callus to form, these include excessive pressure over the bony areas, poorly fitting shoes and excessive running or walking. However, some people have naturally excessive production of callus for no obvious reason.

If you have callus formation then you should arrange an appointment with our podiatrist at KK podiatry.

Callus can easily be reduced in a treatment session by our podiatrist using a sterile scalpel blade. This is pain free treatment which aims to reduce pain or discomfort, restore natural formation and improve skin function.
Podiatric management of callus at KK podiatry includes:

• A thorough assessment to determine the cause of the callus
• Implementation of a management plan which may consist of padding, footwear advice and maintenance appointments to keep callus reduced.

A corn is a localised pinpoint area of thickened hard skin which occur in areas of increased pressure on the foot and are often painful. This pressure is usually caused by either the foot structure or footwear. It may feel like a small stone or piece of glass in the foot and appearance of a small hard lump.

Corn treatment with a podiatrist is suitable for anyone who has a corn. It is not advisable to attempt to treat corns at home yourself as can often exacerbate the problem.

The majority of corns can be treated in the initial assessment. The overlying hard skin is reduced then the corn is removed using a sterile scalpel. For most people this procedure is painless, but for some severe corns may be uncomfortable. In both cases it is not uncommon for the lesions to bleed slightly after it has been removed.
Depending on the cause, our podiatrist will give you advice regarding footwear, padding or insoles which can be worn inside your shoes providing longer term relief.

As corns are usually caused by foot structure and footwear, reoccurrence is not uncommon. How quickly a corn returns depends on a variety of factors and our podiatrist will discuss in detail how to reduce this risk or prolong the longevity of the treatment provided.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal skin infection of the foot. It is more common in sportspeople who regularly use communal bathing areas.

Athletes foot can easily be passing from one person to another. The fungus prefers to live in warm, moist environments and this is why symptoms will often first appear in between the toes. A rash that is scaly and itchy may appear and this may become red and sore if left untreated. This rash may also spread to the sole of the foot.

If you suspect that you have athlete’s foot then you should arrange an assessment at KK podiatry as soon as possible.

Our Podiatrist can advise on the most effective treatment for your symptoms, as well as providing information about how to avoid the problem returning. Following your treatment, simple steps to reduce athlete’s foot from reoccurring include; washing toes and feet daily and thoroughly drying between the toes to avoid fungus from thriving.

As the name suggests, cracked heels are heels that have developed cracks or splits”, these are also referred to as fissures. Heel cracks are linear and appear on the border of the heel, as time goes on these cracks become deep, painful and often bleed. If left untreated, they can become a portal for infection.

Cracked heels are caused when the skin becomes too dry; this combined with the forces acting on the heel as a result of walking and standing cause the skin to crack and split, producing what are known as fissures. Some people are more prone to developing heel issues than others.

Autonomic neuropathy is another cause of dry skin and heel fissures. Autonomic neuropathy occurs as a result of damage to the peripheral nervous system, in the foot may result in a reduction in sweat production, leading to dry skin.

Cracked heels can easily be treated by our podiatrist, this may be done with either sharp debridement using a sterile scalpel blade, aggressive filing or a combination of the two, as well as an intensive emollient therapy.

It is very important you visit a podiatrist of you have cracked heels, as the underlying cause must be addressed. Over the counter remedies may not be suitable.

Nail care is a vital part of keeping mobile. Thickened toenails can cause problems with footwear fitting correctly, are difficult to cut and often viewed unsightly. If left untreated, the pressure placed on the nail bed can lead to an ulcer forming under the nail plate.

Thickened nails have a number if causes, the most common being fungal infections and trauma. In addition, ill fitting shoes, aging and some medical problems can also be attributed to nail care being required.

If you are suffering from thickened toenails and you require some treatment from our podiatrist, we can advise, make you more comfortable and more aesthetically pleasing. Depending on what you want to achieve treatment may include:

• Anti-fungal
• Thinning/reducing the nail
• Footwear advice
• Nail surgery

Whithorne House
North Street
GU29 9DH

Tel: 01730 813231 (for Midhurst clinic appointments only)