Key Takeaways
- Wash and dry your feet daily, especially between the toes, and cut toenails straight across.
- Well-fitting shoes with a low heel and a roomy toe area help prevent many common problems.
- A pharmacist is often the quickest first step for athlete’s foot, fungal nails and verrucas.
- If you have diabetes, check your feet daily and get same-day help for a new wound, swelling or colour change.
- Get urgent advice for a red, hot or swollen foot or a wound that will not heal, and call 999 for signs of sepsis.
This Voddler.co.uk foot health guide explains how to care for your feet each day, choose shoes that help rather than hurt, and spot the problems that need more attention.
Most foot problems are minor and can be managed at home or with a pharmacist’s help, but some need faster care, especially if you have diabetes.
Like all our Voddler.co.uk health guides, this one was written by our editorial team and is based on NHS and NICE guidance and peer-reviewed sources.
The Voddler.co.uk Daily Foot Care Checklist
A few minutes a day helps keep your feet healthy and lets you spot changes early.
- Wash daily in warm, not hot, water with a mild soap.
- Dry carefully, especially between the toes, where damp skin encourages fungal infections.
- Moisturise dry or cracked skin, but not between the toes.
- Cut toenails straight across, not too short, and file any sharp edges.
- Change your socks daily, ideally cotton or another breathable fabric.
- Check your feet for cuts, blisters, swelling or colour changes, using a mirror if needed.
How to Choose the Right Footwear
Shoes that pinch, rub or slip cause many foot problems, from corns to ingrown toenails. Look for:
- a wide, rounded toe area that lets your toes lie flat
- a low heel and a cushioned, supportive sole
- laces, straps or buckles that hold your foot securely
Try shoes on later in the day, when feet are often slightly larger, and save high heels and flip-flops for short periods. Well-fitting shoes and slippers also help prevent falls, as our guide to healthy ageing explains.
Common Foot Problems and What Helps
Athlete’s Foot and Fungal Nails
Athlete’s foot causes itchy white patches between the toes and sore, flaky or cracked skin. A pharmacist can recommend an antifungal cream, spray or powder. Treat it promptly, as it can spread to the toenails and make them thick and discoloured. Never share towels or socks.
Verrucas
These warts on the soles are not harmful and usually go away on their own, though this can take months or years. Cover them when swimming. A pharmacist can suggest treatments, but if you have diabetes or poor circulation, ask a GP or podiatrist first.
Corns and Calluses
Hard skin builds up where shoes press or rub. Soaking in warm water, a pumice stone and moisturiser can soften it. Do not cut corns or calluses off yourself, and if you have diabetes or circulation problems, see a GP or podiatrist instead.
Bunions
A bunion is a bony lump on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. Wide, low-heeled shoes, bunion pads and ice can ease pain, but insoles and splints will not get rid of a bunion or stop it getting worse. Read more about the causes and symptoms of bunions.
Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail makes the toe red, sore and swollen. Warm, salty foot soaks, roomy shoes and leaving the nail to grow out can help, and a podiatrist can remove part of the nail if needed.
Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis causes pain under the heel and arch, often worst with the first steps after rest. Rest, ice, cushioned supportive shoes, gentle stretches and painkillers used as the label or your pharmacist advises can help, and a podiatrist or physiotherapist can suggest insoles. For knee, hip or back pain, see our guide to bone and joint health.
Foot Problems Compared: What to Try First
This quick Voddler.co.uk summary shows what to try first and when to see a GP.
| Problem | Try first | See a GP if |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete’s foot | Pharmacist antifungal treatment | Not clearing, or you have diabetes |
| Fungal nails | Pharmacist antifungal nail paint | Severe, spreading, or you have diabetes |
| Verruca | Leave it, or ask a pharmacist | Very painful, bleeding or keeps coming back |
| Corn or callus | Softening, filing, better shoes | Bleeding, pus, or you have diabetes |
| Bunion | Wide shoes and bunion pads | Pain stops normal activities, or you have diabetes |
| Ingrown toenail | Warm, salty soaks and roomy shoes | Pus, no improvement, or you have diabetes |
| Heel pain | Rest, ice, supportive shoes, stretches | No better after two weeks of self-care |
Feet and Diabetes: Daily Checks and Yearly Reviews
Diabetes can reduce feeling and blood flow in the feet, so a small cut can turn into an ulcer or infection without you noticing. If you have diabetes:
- check your feet every day, including the soles, or ask someone to help
- test bath water with your elbow, and keep hot water bottles off your feet
- avoid walking barefoot and never use corn plasters or blades
- have a free foot check at least once a year, usually at your diabetes review
Get help the same day from your GP or foot protection team if you notice a new cut, blister or sore, a wound that smells or leaks fluid, redness, swelling, a change in colour or shape, a foot that feels hotter or colder than usual, or new pain. If you cannot reach them, contact NHS 111 straight away. Diabetes UK has detailed advice, and you can read about how diabetes affects foot health.
What Does a Podiatrist Do?
Podiatrists, also called chiropodists, treat problems with the feet and lower legs, from hard skin and nails to heel pain and diabetic foot care. Both titles are protected in the UK, so anyone using them must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The Royal College of Podiatry can help you find a podiatrist. Learn how podiatry can improve your quality of life or browse our podiatry articles.
When to See a GP or Get Urgent Help
See a Pharmacist or GP
A pharmacist can help with minor problems. See a GP if:
- pain is severe, getting worse or stopping normal activities
- self-care or pharmacy treatment has not worked
- you have tingling, numbness or loss of feeling in your foot
- you have diabetes or poor circulation and foot pain or any minor foot problem
Get Urgent Advice the Same Day
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if:
- your foot is red, hot or swollen, or redness is spreading
- a cut or sore is not healing, smells or is leaking pus
- you have foot pain and feel hot, cold or shivery
- after an injury, you cannot walk or your foot is at an odd angle
- you have diabetes and notice any of the warning signs above
Call 999 or Go to A&E
Get emergency help if someone with a foot wound or infection becomes very unwell or shows signs of sepsis, such as very fast breathing, confusion or slurred speech, blue, pale or blotchy skin, or a rash that does not fade when pressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I cut my toenails?
Cut them straight across with clean clippers, not too short or down into the corners, which can cause ingrown toenails. File any sharp edges. If your nails are very thick or hard to reach, a podiatrist can help.
Can a pharmacist treat athlete’s foot?
Yes. A pharmacist can recommend an antifungal cream, spray or powder. See a GP if it does not clear, your foot becomes hot, red and painful, or you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
Do I need a GP referral to see a podiatrist?
Not always. Some areas let you refer yourself to NHS podiatry, while others need a GP referral. You can also book a private podiatrist directly, but first check that they are registered with the HCPC.
Can Voddler.co.uk tell me what is wrong with my foot?
No. Our editorial team shares general information based on NHS and NICE guidance, but we cannot diagnose or treat individual problems. For advice about your feet, speak to a pharmacist, GP or podiatrist, or contact NHS 111 if it is urgent.
Final Thoughts
Healthy feet rarely need much: a daily wash and check, careful nail cutting and shoes that fit. Most problems respond to self-care or a pharmacist’s advice, but if you have diabetes, a new wound, swelling or colour change needs same-day help.
We hope this Voddler.co.uk foot health guide helps you stay comfortable and active. For more practical, NHS-based advice, visit the Voddler.co.uk homepage.
This guide is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional. In an emergency, call 999.
