Common foot problems in later life without diabetes

1. Look at the whole foot

Check the top, sole, heel, between toes and around nails in good light, or ask someone trusted to help with permission. Notice breaks in skin, swelling, redness, unusual colour, discharge, numbness or a change in shape.

2. Choose gentle routine care

Wash feet and dry carefully, especially between toes. Moisturise dry skin but avoid leaving cream between toes, where dampness can irritate skin. Keep nails clean and file rough edges gently.

3. Make footwear safer and comfortable

Choose secure shoes that do not rub or pinch, with a stable sole and a heel that stays on. Loose backless slippers may increase trips. A podiatrist can advise on fit and pressure relief if a bunion or toe shape makes shoes painful.

4. Find the right podiatry route

NHS podiatry is not a universal nail-cutting service; local eligibility often prioritises higher-risk feet. Ask a GP practice whether self-referral is possible. If paying privately, check HCPC registration and ask what assessment and follow-up are included.

5. Know when to contact a GP

Ask a GP or podiatrist about pain that limits walking, persistent cracked skin, thickened or ingrowing nail, suspected infection, repeated blisters or a change that does not improve. Contact a GP promptly for a wound, discharge, spreading redness, swelling, an unusually cold or pale foot, or new loss of sensation.

6. Get advice for an ingrowing nail instead of digging at it

An ingrowing toenail can cause a painful, swollen toe and may become infected. NHS advice says not to pick at it or cut the nail while it is growing into the toe. Ask a pharmacist whether a GP assessment is needed, especially when the problem is not improving. Tell the GP about swelling, discharge or feeling unwell rather than treating the nail as a purely cosmetic problem. Some areas allow direct referral to a podiatrist; ask the GP surgery about the local route and explain the current symptoms when you enquire.

7. Discuss bunion pain in terms of everyday movement

Tell the GP how a painful bunion affects walking, footwear and normal activities. The NHS says a GP or podiatrist can advise on easing symptoms and may discuss pressure-relieving supports. Wear shoes with enough width for the toes rather than forcing the foot into a narrow shape. Ask for advice if pain continues despite home measures or the bunion is worsening. Take the shoes you commonly wear to an assessment if practical, and explain where they rub. Ask what follow-up is appropriate if the suggested changes do not help.

8. Separate routine nail care from clinical podiatry

Routine foot washing, skin care, nail care and checking footwear are different from clinical assessment of a wound or painful foot condition. Scottish Government guidance says NHS podiatry in Scotland is no longer funded for personal footcare, including routine toenail cutting. Ask locally what help is available when you cannot manage those personal tasks, while describing any clinical symptoms separately. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, ask the local NHS or HSC service about its own eligibility and referral arrangements. Avoid assuming that difficulty reaching toenails automatically means the same service is available everywhere.

9. Prepare a useful description for your foot appointment

Explain where the problem is, what has changed and which daily activity is affected. Separate a request for help with routine nail care from concerns about broken skin, an ingrowing nail or painful walking. Scottish guidance identifies clinical podiatry roles including foot infections, non-healing wounds, foot and ankle conditions and circulation assessment. Ask which service should assess your particular concern and what you should do while waiting. If reaching or seeing your feet is difficult, describe that too so routine care advice can be adapted rather than expecting you to perform a task you cannot manage safely.

Common questions