Cosmetic foot care

Cosmetic foot care, i.e. pedicure, is not legally protected and can be learned through weekend training. Therefore a cosmetic chiropody may only: There are numerous Beauty and Wellnesstudios, which offer foot care in different extent and price ranges. Health insurance companies do not carry the costs of the cosmetic chiropody in principle.

The cosmetic chiropody serves the cleaning, care and embellishment of the foot as well as relaxation. The measures are not necessary in the medical sense, but contribute to foot hygiene. Cosmetic foot care comprises several steps: The costs for a cosmetic foot care vary greatly and usually amount to about 15 to 35€.

Cleaning
Maintain
Shorten nails and cuticles and
Remove cornea – but do not take any medical measures.
First, the feet are usually dipped into a warm foot bath. This should soften the cornea and improve the blood supply to the foot. There are countless bath additives that are used depending on the goal.
Additives like lavender have a relaxing and deodorizing effect, thyme stimulates.
This is usually followed by cutting the toenails. Nail clippers and nail scissors are used for this. Afterwards the toenails are rounded off with a nail file to prevent the ingrowth of the lateral toenails.
The cuticle is carefully pushed back with a nail file.
Subsequently, excess cornea is removed. A pumice stone, a corneal rasp or a foot peeling with corneal softening additives is usually used.
According to your wishes the toenails are then painted.
As a last step, the feet are creamed and massaged, which on the one hand refats the skin and on the other hand stimulates the blood circulation of the feet and relaxes the foot muscles.

Polyneuropathy is very common after many years of diabetes, which means that sugar molecules attach themselves to nerve branches of the feet and legs and thus reduce the conduction of stimuli. The consequence is that many diabetics, especially if they are poorly adjusted, develop an increasing sensitivity disorder (dysesthesia).

The problem is that they then no longer feel minor injuries or blisters from uncomfortable shoes. These heal additionally badly, since with Diabetikern the immune system and the healing processes are weakened. The danger of athlete’s foot and poorly healing ulcers is increased.

Nearly 10% of long-term diabetics develop gangrene (a dying disease) and amputation of toes or the forefoot can be the result. Therefore medical foot care is necessary, especially for long-term diabetics. This can be prescribed by a specialist and can be covered by the patient’s health insurance company at extra cost.

However, only corneal and nail treatments are covered, which must be explicitly stated on the prescription. This can be an important step towards reducing the amputation rate in diabetics! Furthermore, it is very important for diabetics to wear comfortable shoes.

These should be made by an orthopedic surgeon to prevent calluses and blisters. Diabetics should check their feet daily – if necessary with a mirror – and consult a doctor even with the smallest wound (even if it does not hurt)! Athlete’s foot is a very common but often concealed problem.

Every third German suffers from athlete’s foot at least once in his life.Cold feet – and thus poor circulation -, sweaty feet and a weakened immune system favour the development of athlete’s foot. This is especially common in the spaces between the toes, as fungi feel particularly comfortable in dark, humid regions. Particularly endangered are older people over 65 years, diabetics, cardiovascular patients and immunocompromised persons.

It is a contagious disease, the symptoms of which are itching, burning, blistering and scaling. Some of those affected experience pain when walking. Athlete’s foot can spread without treatment and also attack the nail.

Here the therapy is very long. A good treatment of athlete’s foot and nail fungus is important, because the damaged skin can serve as an entry port for bacteria and the development of erysipelas (erysipelas) can occur. Consult a doctor if you have the above mentioned symptoms.

Dry your feet well after washing, including the interdigital spaces, and wear cotton socks that can be washed at 60°. If possible, wear breathable footwear. Therapeutically, the application of antimycotics, i.e. anti-fungal agents, to the affected areas and good foot care are of decisive importance.

The therapy of the nail fungus is very long. The podiatrist can support the healing by removing affected nails. Cornea forms on mechanically stressed areas – usually the heel or ball of the foot.

Corneal formation corresponds to a protective function of the body. They are dead skin cells that thicken to form a pressure pad. Calluses are caused by improper, too tight shoes and foot malpositions – the heelwalker will therefore form calluses primarily on the heel.

Since cornea contains neither nerves nor blood vessels, it neither hurts nor bleeds when removed. A corneal callus is a limited, very thick and painless layer of cornea. The danger is that the cornea tears and cracks (rhagades) form.

These are very painful because they reach into the layers below. Rhagades are also an entry point for germs. Therefore cornea should be removed.

If possible, this should be done by a chiropodist, as he is trained to remove tissue layers that are not too deep. Under no circumstances should planes or cutters be used – the risk of injury is much too high! Rhagades may only be removed by medical chiropodists/pedicurists.

Corneas and corneal calluses may also be removed by cosmetic chiropodists. It is a corneal callosity with a central spur that protrudes into the depths and therefore causes pain. There are hard and soft corns.

The distinction between a corn and a wart can be difficult. Like the cornea, the cornea forms at pressure points, mainly due to pressing shoes or malpositioned toes such as hammer toes or claw toes. The treatment belongs in podological hands.

One should not perform self-manipulation of a corn! Many skin diseases also affect the skin of the feet. However, there are also sole eczema of the foot.

The skin is very dry and scaly. A sufficient care with oily creams is crucial. The podiatrist can choose the appropriate care.

Swimming pools
Saunas
Hotel rooms and
Changing rooms, but also in the bathroom at home.