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Original poster

Really, really revolting feet.

30 replies

Undercoverbanana · 16/07/2018 08:22

Sorry about this but I need to tackle this.

I spent lots of time in running shoes/trainers/cycling shoes.

My toenails are thick and sort of grow in thickness as much as length. Many of them are discoloured and loose and I often lose toenails completely.

I have thick, ugly skin on my heels, toes and balls of my feet.

Yesterday I started to tackle it. I used some really industrial toenail clippers and managed to get the nails into a reasonable shape and applied some shiny, dark nail varnish to disguise the ugliness. Because the nails are so oddly shaped, this was really tricky to do.

But the hard skin!!!! I used a pumice stone and it just went on and on and on and looked even worse!

What are your secrets? I can’t go for a pedicure because I’ve never done that and would be too ashamed. Apart from the nails and the hard skin I have neat, nicely shaped feet that look good in sandals.

Please share your knowledge!!!!

OP posts:
IJustHadToNameChange · 16/07/2018 08:25

Chiropodist.

Pumice and rotating sandpaper wheels are useless.

They simply smooth the rough skin down.

Chiropodists are trained. Chiropodists use scalpels.

Even after 6 weeks between visits, my feet yield an embarrassing amount of hard skin.

My chiropodist really earns her money.

Usually costs around £30 per visit, though.

HRTpatch · 16/07/2018 08:26

I second chiropodist. Believe me they will have seen worse.

LadyPenelopeCantDance · 16/07/2018 08:31

Highly recommend Flexitol for the hard skin. You will see a big difference after a few days. Amazon do a big tub for about £20 which is better value than the tubes when you need to use lots of it.

BillywigSting · 16/07/2018 08:32

Yep chiropodist.

They are literally trained to deal with problem feet.

Discoloured nails and calluses will be nothing to them. If your nails are thick and crumbly they're probably fungal and they can fix that for you so they grow in more normally

IMissGin · 16/07/2018 08:33

Footner! Then a chiropodist

3GreenBottles · 16/07/2018 08:50

Definitely first stop a chiropodist. They’ll sort out the hard skin and give you proper advice and taking care of your feet.

Pedicures are great for upkeep, but if you’ve got callouses and damaged nails, I’d steer well clear until a chiropodist has had a proper look at them.

ilovecherries · 16/07/2018 08:54

Yes, proper podiatrist to sort it all out before you even think of a pedicure. She has completely tamed my runner’s feet. They have industrial machines (so it feels like!) that will whizz off the hard skin and file the top side of your nails down to a more normal thickness, as well as dealing with any fungally thing. I now go every 6 weeks and my feet look and feel amazing. Between visits I do the whole flexitol thing to keep them nice, but that would never have worked initially.

MrsMariaPolouvicka · 16/07/2018 09:04

YYY to a podiatrist/chiropodist. A large percentage of their customers are elderly people who can no longer look after their own feet, they also treat all foot skin and nail infections and conditions and are referral points for GPs. Believe me, they will have seen far, far worse than your probably completely normal feet and toenails.

I go every April for a pre sandal MOT, then maintain with a pumice and flexitol (the higher % thicker version) for my heels. Then I have a pedicure set with a scalpel, and cuticle nipper for my toes; I soak my feet and gently scrape the excess skin from my nails. I just watched what the podiatrist did, it's not as expert and I don't have the buffer and polisher they use but it really helps.

Original poster
Undercoverbanana · 16/07/2018 09:20

Thank you for your replies.

I don’t think I could be a chiropodist!!!!

I have seen very varied reviews of these Footner socks. Are they any good? Should I wait until it is socks weather again because of the skin peeling?

OP posts:
MrsMariaPolouvicka · 16/07/2018 09:31

I don’t think I could be a chiropodist!!!! me either! However, these people do not have the delicate constitution we obviously have where feet are concerned, and they are very trained and capable.

Don't faff around with the time and £ of home remedies, just book an appointment and get it sorted. I pay £40 for a half hour appointment and if worth every penny.

tierraJ · 16/07/2018 12:32

My sister got her feet sorted out by a good chiropodist- she had terrible dry skin, athletes foot & fungal toe nails.

Her feet look ok now & her toenails are more 'normal'.

WigglyBlossom · 16/07/2018 13:25

I would also say Chiropodist. Just to tackle the initial stuff, you may be able to keep on top of things yourself after that.

WigglyBlossom · 16/07/2018 13:27

Footner socks are great, I swear by them. However, with feet as bad as yours and problem toenails (plus the nice weather atm) I would hold off on it. See what the Chiropodist suggests.

Spottybotty14 · 16/07/2018 13:58

I’ve just done the Footner socks. They are amazing. It took until day 4/5 before they started peeling but the results are good and a week later i’m now in a place where I will be able to keep the heels under control with a pumice stone and some flexitol.
Be warned the peeling is drastic. My husband was horrified and disgusted and my 4 yo wanted to peel it all off....

WellTidy · 16/07/2018 15:02

This is what you want. Cheap as chips and 100% works. There is nothing sponge like about it, you soak your feet in the bath, lather up, and then rub away with this stone/pumice thing. It is loads and loads better than a normal pumice stone. Then use a really good foot cream (like flexitol), and wear cotton socks to help the cream sink in.

My feet are shockingly bad, fungal infections, hard and rough skin, the works. They look passable now, having used the sponge twice. It is quick and easy. I was recommended it on MN and have told loads of people about it.

Chanelprincess · 16/07/2018 15:10

You can't avoid those things if you run a lot. Chiropodist definitely, then you'll be able maintain your feet between visits e.g. with Flexitol and the knife from Boots.

Chanelprincess · 16/07/2018 15:13

Also, I've found the Margaret Dabbs approach of only filing a dry foot rather than using pumice etc when wet makes the hard skin build up much more slowly.

mmmgoats · 16/07/2018 15:22

sorry to hijack - are they only available online @welltidy?

WellTidy · 16/07/2018 15:25

mmm I have only ever bought mine on amazon, it lasts for an age, so I haven't needed to look to replace, sorry.

Bea1985 · 16/07/2018 15:36

Potato peeler type callous remover for the hard skin - cheap and extremely effective.

bibbidybobbidyboo · 16/07/2018 16:07

Watching with interest as I also have horrible feet. Can anyone recommend a chiropodist in London? I've had a Google & getting much higher prices than the £30 people are saying here.

mycatplotsdeath · 16/07/2018 17:10

Newton sponges off amazon followed by flexitol.
Honestly op. This transformed my feet

lancashirebornandbred · 16/07/2018 17:21

I have bought the Newtons sponges from a local pharmacist. The pharmacist referred to them as an undiscovered treasure. Loads better than any Scholl products, but doesn't get the publicity.

TheMonkeyMummy · 16/07/2018 18:25

I love to hike and get horrid skin build up. This year I discovered this stuff... it's magic. She's in Switzerland but will post abroad.

Get a serious pedicure and treat yourself to this stuff every other day.
www.essentiallylili.com/product/lime-foot-repair/

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