A person sits on a bed holding the sole of one foot, which appears reddened.

Looking After My Feet

With the pressure our feet are under every day, it’s only natural for them to need a little attention every now and then. It might be that you’ve noticed some changes to your skin or nails and want a foot health check to see what’s going on, or you might have some kind of pain or other condition that needs treatment.

This page will explain some of the reasons why you might be having issues with your foot health and what kind of support we can help you access.

More about looking after my feet

Why you might be having issues with your foot health

Foot health can cover a wide range of issues that look different for different age groups. For children, it might mean managing development concerns like flat fleet or feet turning inward or outward when they walk. For young people, it might mean addressing injuries from playing sport or a persistent nail or skin problem, and adults might need to see a foot health service because of corns, hard skin, pain or issues with tendons or nails caused by long periods on their feet at work.

For older adults, the focus might be more on treating issues that come from reduced circulation and nerve problems as we age, or foot issues that might affect your balance and mobility. Foot health issues are not always a sign of a more serious problem, and many of them are easily solved with treatment or by making a few small changes like wearing more supportive shoes.

Issues can be caused by standing up or walking for long periods of time, like at work, wearing shoes that are too tight or have a sole that’s too soft, diabetes or circulation conditions, injuries or a repeated strain on the same part of your foot, changes to your circulation and feeling as you get older, nail damage and fungal infections, hard skin going untreated, changes in your bone or joint shape and any change in your ability to manage your foot hygiene.

Getting the right support early can help prevent more serious complications like infection or being unable to walk. If you notice any pain, injuries or changes to your feet, it’s important you start taking action, including self-care, or podiatry service support.