The pedicure treatment dates back 4,000 years. No surprise as our feet endures walking, running and all-round requests for standing movement. Let’s not forget the potential abuse of shoe shapes, tightly tied trainers, a range of sports activities and sometimes some questionable dance moves.

It is quite common to have runners toe which people suffer from when running long distances as your toes are swollen, perspiring, and crammed into a tight space. They will endure pressure on the base from the velocity your feet hit the ground and the tip of the toes from the sheer speed you are travelling. Our poor tootsies are silently withstanding most of our fitness endeavours.

The pedicure is no longer only for women it is now genderless.

The pedicure

Firstly, cutting the nail correctly to ensure comfort in tight footwear is of utmost importance. Always using a sharp stainless steel nail clipper. Sold in assorted sizes, shapes, and grips. Selecting the right one for the task at hand. A 240-grit file is a safe way to smooth off the freshly cut edges.

Secondly, the cuticle is the dead skin that attaches to your nail as it grows. Not the live skin at the back of the nail. A good portion of time spent removing the cuticle is an excellent pedicure step. This dead skin can appear very dry and cover around 1/3 of the toenail.

The 2 steps can change the entire look of the foot before you carry out the rest of the treatment.

Scrubs and foot files are a key step when it comes to dry skin on feet. There are several areas which can become compromised such as the side of the baby toe. The corner of the big toe and the main culprit is the heel. Removing the hard and sometimes cracked skin will help with walking comfort and visual appearance.

Never miss the moisture stage, whether it’s lotion or oil or both! This is the way to keep the feet supple. Moisture is lost due to sweaty conditions inside sock and shoe choices. To support healthy skin the moisture must be replenished.

Lastly, to paint or not to paint? Gel polish, and polish are both possible products to colour toenails.

Fungal Infection

A fungal infection may change the nail to a white/yellow/green colour. If you suspect the change is a fungal issue do not contact your nail professional. Ideally, make an appointment at your GP or Pharmacy. Who will consequently recommend to you what treatment would be best to clear up the infection. Leaving a fungal infection unattended in the hope it will clear itself up or grow out, will NOT materialise. Importantly, the infection will continue to affect your nail as it grows.

Onycholysis

If you are unfortunate enough to lose a toenail this information is for you, and if you are lucky enough to not have experienced this, please take note of information to help maintain healthy toenails. Specifically, your 1st step is noticing if your toe nails have changed in any way. Colouring is the most obvious sign. Trauma to your toenail may show in a black/blue/red form.

• Are they painful?

• Is the nail still attached but loose?

When / If your toenail eventually detaches do not fear, follow your instruction of treatment from your GP and sit back and watch your nail grow.

Toenails grow extremely slow compared to our fingernails. Be patient, it could take the best part of a year. If the nail matrix is not damaged the toenail will grow back, with a healthy pink nail bed.

Ingrowing toenail

Lastly, the painful yet common inconvenience. When a toe nail corner is lower than the surrounding skin, the skin can block the regrowth.

The nail will push against the skin block making it red and angry. The skin may also harden again the pushing nail. Creating dry skin which is a larger block for the nail to penetrate. In extreme circumstances the nail will break through the skin in several places.

Always contact your local podiatrist for any ingrowing toenail queries, it can rectify itself, but a painful journey could ensue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to toe nail health there are simple things to maintain a nice environment for them to live in:-

• Wear clean socks made of natural fibres.
• Shoes with space, giving your toes plenty of room.
• Keep toenails short and cut in a straight line.
• Speak to your local pharmacist if you think you may have a fungal infection
• Seek medical advice from a podiatrist if you encounter an ingrowing toenail
• Do not forget to book in with your nail professional for some fabulous colour.