Health & Wellbeing Your complete guide to happy feet

Put your best foot forward this summer with our expert advice

They’re not the most popular body part – in fact one in three women hate their feet. But as the weather heats up it’s hard to keep them hidden away. we’ve answered your most common complaints so you can fall head over heels with your feet again...

QTo pop or not to pop – what’s the fastest way to heal a blister?

A‘Ultimately a blister will heal on its own,’ says Richard Handford of the R Handford & Co Podiatry. ‘The only time I recommend popping it is if you’re halfway through a walking holiday. In that case walking the next day – in the same shoes – will almost certainly take the top off your blister and cause more damage to the skin. Then, it’s better to pop the blister with a clean needle, allow the fluid to drain then dress and pad it properly to protect it from the day’s activities. But if the activity that caused the blister was a one-off, like a fun run, and the blister is intact, it’s better to leave it that way as it’s sealed and will eventually heal naturally.’

QI love wearing flip-flops – but why do they always give me dry, cracked heels?

ASummer-ready feet are a must in the warm weather, so it’s worth the effort to make sure they feel – as well as look – great. ‘Flip-flops and other backless sandals cause friction and pressure when you walk, leading to a build-up of dry skin,’ says Tariq Khan, Consultant Podiatrist at the Wilbraham Place Practice in Sloane Square, London. ‘If it gets really bad, this dry skin can cause pain and bleeding, so give yourself a break from flip-flops and wear a sandal with a back strap for support. Evening foot soaks in a bath of warm salty water will reduce inflammation, while an emery board or pumice can remove hard skin (but don’t use a blade on your skin). I also recommend moisturising with baby oil, or, if the skin is cracked, using a 25% urea foot cream.’

QHelp! I‘ve got painful bunions, but I can’t bear the thought of surgery. Is there anything else I can do?

A‘Only surgery can straighten your toes out, but if you can put up with them looking crooked and just want to be pain-free, there are effective alternatives,’ says Tariq. ‘My clinic offers our own topical herbal preparation which reduces pain and inflammation around the bunion. We offer this alongside a programme of exercises and we recommend wearing sturdy shoes and bathing your feet in salt water.’

QMy beauty therapist said I risk a fungal nail infection if I keep my toenails polished all summer. Is that right?

A‘No, chemicals in some dark nail polishes react with the keratin in your nails, causing a yellowish stain, but that’s not an infection,’ says Heidi Meckler, podiatrist for Strive Footwear. ‘However, a study by Duke University in North Carolina found that chemicals in nail polish do get absorbed into our bodies, so apply a protective base coat and give yourself alternate weeks with no polish, or just wear it at weekends.

‘If you do get a fungal infection – which is called onychomycosis – this can also cause discoloration. It’s more likely to have come from a bout of athlete’s foot, so help prevent this by keeping toes dry and clean, wearing breathable footwear, and using tea tree oil or surgical spirit between your toes if you often use communal changing rooms and showers.’

QShould I treat corns and calluses with over-thecounter products, or bite the bullet and pay for treatment?

ABite the bullet. ‘Corns and calluses are caused by rubbing or pressure in a particular area (usually on the balls of feet or tops of toes),’ says Heidi. ‘It’s better to make an appointment with a podiatrist or chiropodist (they are the same profession with different names) to have these treated. Over-the-counter corn plasters contain salicylic acid to soften the corn. However, if you don’t get them exactly in the right spot they can make matters worse by breaking down healthy skin which could cause ulcers and infections.’

QDo over-the-counter wart treatments work for verrucas?

A‘Acid foot products and freezing sprays have a 70-75% success rate in treating warts and verrucas, but time is also a healer,’ says Tariq. ‘Most of them resolve themselves within two years, but this is usually down to your immune system – so focus on strengthening that. Taking a daily 10-15mg zinc supplement seems to help.’