There are two types of corn:

1)      Hard (dry) (Helma Durum)

Hard corns form as the skin compensates by thickening at the point of pressure or rubbing and are the response of the skin trying to protect itself and the underlying bones.

2)      Soft (moist) (Heloma Molle)

Develop between the toes and usually occur when the hour glass shape of the toes is too accentuated and the ends of the bones are too wide causing friction.

Corns of the upper toes (hard) are caused by wearing tight or ill fitting shoes. They can also be due to changes in the bones structure.

The first essential treatment is to identify the shoes that may be causing the corn and to stop wearing them. Unfortunately the demands of fashion rarely accommodate comfort so if throwing out the shoes is not an option take appropriate precautions such as regular shoe rotation.

The corn will not reform if you correct the shoes and/or bone structural problems with a orthotic and/or protective plaster that can be adhered to inside the shoe and on the skin.

PURE recommends:  the soaking of the foot in a Gehwol Foot Bath solution and then carefully removing the excess callus on the corn area. Gay is fully accredited Advanced Foot care Specialist and is able to do this for you using a special machine. Neither types of corns are supported by blood or nerve supply therefore the procedure is painless with no blood apparent.

Its only when we can no longer continue the activity that we take for granted walking that we start to pay attention to our feet

“Take Care the are the only ones you will ever have”

Recommended Foot Care products : 

Lavender Foot Soak

Cracked Skin Salve (will keep the skin soft)

TYPES and CAUSES

1. External (infections on 1 or 2 nails)
   • Neglect/poor hygiene e.g. communal showers etc
   • Trauma/injury
   • General contact
2. Internal (infection visible in most nails)
   • Poor diet/nutrition
   • Illness (bulimia, anorexia, nervosa)
   • Medication
   • Hormonal
   • Psoriasis of the nail (not of the skin)

This is a very common problem and most people that I see could have infection extending from the natural free edge of the toe nail to a larger area of the nail plate. If the fungus is not treated it can continue to thrive down the nail until it reached the matrix where the cells are producing the nail. This is not what we want to have happen as here the infection can become gangrenous, spread rapidly and cause permanent damage and disfigure the nail.

Fungal infections can often look creamy in appearance; however can vary as in much in that they may appear grey, yellow, brown, black and green. Fungus can easily work down the nail due to the dark, warm, moist environments our feet are constantly in.

Treatment:

Unfortunately fungus of the nail is difficult to treat because toe nails especially grow slowly. There are several fungicide treatments available and are generally not suitable for some clients such as diabetics, elderly or those who have liver conditions.  PURE recommends a visit to a Podiatrist or medical professional who is an expert in this field and can advise of the safest form of action.

What can PURE do for you…

Whilst we cannot treat the fungal infection its self we can be instrumental in guiding you to take action and help prevent further infection. We can try to identify the cause, and prepare your nail for treatment and offer some form of immediate homecare.

Gay is a fully certified Advance Foot Care Specialist, having trained in Gehwol. Germanys leading podiatry products.

Gehwol recommended: 

• Foot Deodorant Spray

1. As  the result of a trauma or poor clipping to the side of the toe nail plate resulting in a nail spur (splinter of the nail) which pierces into the nail fold area as the nail grows forward.  When shoes are worn, this causes further pressure into the nail fold. Consequently an infection and inflammation begins and pain is experienced. Walking can be almost unbearable.
2. Ingrown toenails can also occur due to improper cutting of the toe nails at home. Cutting the toe nail at the side of the nail plate usually at the upper 1/3 of the toe nail, without properly finishing the job – can also leave a nail spur.

Treatment:

PURE recommends that you call straight away and make time for Gay to help you.  The problem can be corrected immediately. Feet are soaked in a warm lavender foot bath, to supply relief and to soften the skin.  The nail spur is removed, along with excess skin debris. The sides of the nail plate are then smooth to ensure the toenail can continue to grow out without causing any discomfort. In some cases the problem may be chronic having been going on for many years.  Sometime surgery is often the only solution. If this is the case we suggest that you seek the opinion of a podiatrist.

Gehwol recommends:

• Foot bath and nail softner

• Causes of dry skin on the feet.
• going barefoot and not moisturising (most common)
• wearing rubber based footwear that draws the moisture from the feet
• Chemicals or hot pools
• Medication
• Not using a Gehwol moisturiser and many more…

General dry skin and calluses on the feet are the result of the skin losing water. The reason for this are multiple as above but mostly these cracks are caused the fat on the base of the heel is being pushed sideways (like a squashed tomatoe) and if our feet are dry and not in a good condition the pressure on the skin to crack is increased. When these fissures or cracks start to occur in the heel prompt action is required.

In some cases cracks penetrate the full thickness of the epidermis (skin) and occasionally they will become painful and start to bleed. Dry hard skin starts to build up excessively and becomes too hard to deal with yourself. When cream is applied to the swollen cracks it often doesn’t get thru to the wound because of the thickened callous.

PURE can help.

We love the feet!!!

We recommend….

To start, make a time to come and see us. Gay is a fully certified foot care specialists and deals with this problem professionally.

She will soak the feet in a foot bath to soften the hard dry skin. This is medicated to sooth any tender bleeding cracks. The dry skin is skilfully removed with a Puck Micro Foot machine. Any open fissures or cracks are treated, if required cuticle care, trimming of the toe nails relaxing foot massage and /or a paint or polish can be arranged also.

Gehwol recommends:

• Doulble sided pedi – paddle for the removal of dry hard skin
• Lipidro cream for the natural balance of oil in dry rough feet.
• Cracked skin salve for the effective care and treatment of painful; swollen cracks in the feet.

I write this in the midst of a hot sticky summer, where it
is hard to stay beautiful when you are constantly perspiring but hey who cares,
the sun is shining, its warm everyday, people are happy, laughing, enjoying
family and friends.

Beauty is not about us only, it’s also about our sparkling
lake, majestic mountains and brilliant blue sky …”a true kiwi summer”

In saying that, it has bought its hazards.  4:00am on January the 5^th we were woken
by a bright red light that filled our room. It was so bright that you couldn’t
visibly see what it was thru the shutters. My husband quickly ran outside and
just meters from our house was a fire, well alight. Thankfully it was blowing
sideways not downwards but while that gave us some time, not so for others in
our neighbourhood. I cannot praise the skill of the Wanaka, Hawea and Luggate
fire brigades enough, in bringing what had potential for Mt Iron to be a disastrous
life threatening fire.  Well done guys
and girls!!!

Aside from that drama, Christmas and New Year for our family
was fantastic, as I hope it was for yours. For me the highlight was the grand
children. Seeing our little ones from down south, Cooper and Hollie, not to
mention their Mum & Dad, was a huge excitement and the watching the wee
ones who live here in Wanaka Rylan and Lucas, prepare for their big day, was
special. They were such fun.

Christmas is a time of giving, caring and remembering and
while we enjoyed, we were also mindful of those who have had an extremely hard
year in 2010. To those who have lost loved ones, homes and businesses, we send
our love and I am sure the worst is behind us.

But….soon it will be Autumn, the leaves will turn to those
gorgeous golden colours and drop to the ground. Don’t get me wrong – I love
summer. But I also love the change of seasons. I love the crisp mornings and
cool evenings. It’s a reminder that nothing is constant, everything always changing
…a bit like our skin.

There is a lot of happenings and rumblings going on within
PURE for 2012. They are all GOOD!! So watch this space