Manky feet and toenails. Beautician or chiropodist?

[MordechaiVanunu]

I have a fungal nail infection on 4 toes on 1 foot. I've tried topical treatments from the docs and longterm antibiotics and nothing has ever got rid of it.

I now just cosmetically manage it by filing the nails down and keeping them painted, looks OK.

Every summer I try to do a home pedicure and buff off all the dry skin etc, but it is never satisfactory. I either spend forever filing the skin with no effect at all, or have on occasion over filed and drawn blood (wince).

I've tried pumice, foot file, ped egg and nothing is great.

I also hate doing it, it seems hugely time consuming, I hate the sensation and the whole idea of filing skin. (wince again).

So, I've decided that from now on I'm going to get my feet done professionally.

I want the nails filed down and dead skin removed, I'm happy to paint toenails after myself.

I don't know though, whether I need to go to a chiropodist for this, or whether this is just cosmetic and I need to go to a beautician for a pedicure? I happy to go to either, whichever is the most appropriate, but dont know which I should book.

Sounds like a chiropodist to me. I would also do the dry skin weekly or fortnightly rather than leave it for a long time. If you do it with a foot file or a ped egg just after a shower, it shouldn't take more than a minute or two each time.

Definitely chiropodist.

Won't sort the fungus, but Flexitol night and morning (under socks at night to start with) works wonders for hard skin. Even heals the splits.
Definitely worth seeing a chiro for the infection but long term you can keep the hard skin at bay yourself.

I was told by the Dr that fungal treatment for nails wasn't a quick fix and the stuff would probably need to be used religiously for around a year.I did get rid of it,with perseverance.This was many years ago though so maybe things have changed...

Definately a chiropodist for the filing etc.

I do use flexitol and it's moisturising but doesn't get rid of the dry skin altogether.

I just want to avoid all foot filing myself from now on, I want it done for me.

I'll use flexitol in between filings.

I used a topical treatment for years and had antibiotics for months and still have the thick nasty toenails.

Call 'Scholl' - they do an amazing foot treatment

I use flexitol and it works if you keep it up - its now just part of my morning routine. I did need to use twice a day to get rid of hard skin in first place.
Tea tree works for nail fungus.

I have found Neutrogena Norwegian Formula better than Flexitol but both are good,I use it every other day and my feet are kept nice all year.Try the tea tree oil as suggested its very good and works,best with a chiropodist to get you straight first then keep up with it yourself,chiropodists appointments can be made through your doctors surgery.

Chiropodist.

Thanks all will book chiropodist, and then keep feet moisturised between appointments.

Yes, chiropodist, but really moisturise before hand (thick gunky layers of e45 and bed socks) as it will help.

You could get on the waiting list for that foot scraper to the stars, Bastien Gonzales?

I urge you to do it, as having done feet feels amazing. You'll be on cloud nine.

If you are feeling brave, you can get years' worth of dead skin off with a Dremel multi-bit tool. I used the Dremel 300 on DH's feet and am justly proud of the result. I suggest wearing an apron and keeping your face a bit out of the way as great clouds of dead foot dust come off. It's hilarious, gross and effective. You have to be careful not to allow the Dremel (use the drum sander attachment) to stay still on the skin for long - I just tap it on the skin briefly and repeatedly until the hooves are gone.