You should consider booking an appointment with a professional in the following situations:

• High-risk patients who have conditions such as diabetes, vascular or sensory disabilities, a compromised immune system, psoriasis, or previous ulcers.
• Inherited or acquired musculoskeletal problems, or any foot deformities which cause a modified gait.
• Wearing inappropriate footwear, which causes chronic pressure points, leading to blister formation, corns, traumatized or detached nails.
• Wearing flip-flops, having dehydrated skin, or even the slightest excess weight can result in cracked heels or deep fissures, which often presents as a bleeding, hard-to-heal wound.
• Mechanical injuries or traumas which can occur not just accidentally, but can also happen as a result of doing sport. The toenail becomes painful and, at the same time, the accumulated blood, extravasation under the nail, can be the first step towards a bacterial or fungal nail infection.
• Genetic predisposition, wearing inappropriate shoes or improper nail shortening, which can cause ingrown toenails.
• During pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, all the muscles, tendons and ligaments expand and that, coupled with increased weight, can cause the foot arches to collapse. Those changes can lead to chronic pressure points and nail disorders. Another problem is that bending forward and shortening toenails becomes more and more difficult.
• In the case of menopause, the nails curve and the nail beds narrow which can cause the risk of painful ingrown toenails,
• Any nail and skin infections caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi.
• With ageing, it can also become difficult to bend forward and shorten the nails.

Different foot health treatments and services are recommended for high-risk patients as a preventive, regular treatment to prevent nail and skin disorders from developing, to reduce risk of infections and even decrease the risk of amputation. 

As a result of inherited or acquired musculoskeletal disorders or foot deformities, patients may have a modified gait or limited mobility. Static changes in feet such as collapsed transverse or longitudinal arches, hammer toes or bunions result in a modified gait, which can cause chronic pressure points on feet. Moreover, those conditions can lead straight to different skin lesions and disorders such as corns, calluses or even ingrown toenails. 

Inherited or acquired metabolic, vascular or neurological diseases or inefficiency can cause skin and nail disorders therefore such individuals are highly prone to infections and ulcerations.  It is recommended that they book a regular assessment and foot treatment every 3-4-6 weeks, depending on their actual skin or nail conditions.

Anyone who doesn't fall into the high-risk category can be considered to be low-risk.

Please take a moment to think about the following:

In the last month have you walked around barefoot in common public areas such as a public shower room, gym or swimming pool even though it is highly recommended not to do so? If you have, you may have got a skin or nail infection recently that you do not even know about.

Do you spend time maintaining the appropriate foot hygiene and health of your skin or nails on a daily basis? Do you use emollients and antiperspirants or topical ointment for sweaty feet? 

Are your shoes appropriate in size and design for you? Does your footwear fit the shape of your feet and any already developed orthopaedic conditions? Do you wear insoles which can support your collapsed transverse or longitudinal arches while walking, standing at work, or even while doing sport?

Do you clean your shoes regularly? Our feet are exposed to skin infections as microbes are able to accumulate rapidly in a warm, damp environment, which is common in shower rooms, swimming pools, saunas and solariums. When the number of spores or bacteria increases and reaches a certain point, infection can happen. People are more prone to getting an infection when their immune system is compromised and microbes easily penetrate the skin and nail bed. Regularly disinfecting shoes can help to reduce microbe levels and help keep our feet healthy. 

If you have any concerns based on the above questions or you can already feel or see symptoms, the most important thing is to contact a Foot Health Professional or a Podiatrist as soon as possible for a special foot health treatments and not start any treatment at home. There is a high risk of causing more serious issues if you self-treat at home rather than being assessed and treated by an experienced specialist. 

In addition, a professional can educate you so that you know exactly what your condition is, how it can be treated and what the benefits and risks of the optional treatment solutions are.