by Rudo Makuyana, Sydney Podiatrist
Foot care starts at home. Your local pharmacy offers plenty of affordable and top quality at home foot care products. Today I’m sharing my favourite (and not so favourite) products that help treat and prevent common foot conditions at home.
Six at home foot care products I recommend
At home foot care product #1: Tulis heel cups
If you suffer heel pain, these cups will cushion your heel and help reduce pain by elevating the heel bone. The cups take the pressure off the Achilles tendon and help with plantar fasciitis and absorb shock for athletes like runners and dancers.
At home foot care product #2: FeetCalm 24H Hydration Ampoule
We import FeetCalm products directly from the UK for use in our clinics. We use this hyaluronic acid after mani pedis to restore moisture and add hydration to dry feet. The single-dose capsule protects the integrity of the product and ensures the active ingredients are preserved until the packaging is opened. It really hydrates the skin and helps treat dry cracked feet, especially if you use it as directed. Apply it daily for seven days and you’ll see a marked improvement. I also like the FeetCalm mousse for foot odors.
At home foot care product #3: Comfy Corn Cushions
These are an affordable and simple way to alleviate corn pain at home. The cushion adhesive works well and will fit on most corns. This is an acid-free corn treatment product, meaning it won’t cause irritation and potential infection. We recommend gentle filing of the corn before applying the corn cushions for better results.
At home foot care product #4: Wart-Off
This is the better at-home wart treatment because it has 40% salicylic acid, which is a suitable dose to actually treat warts. The challenge is repeating treatment every night and it can take up to four weeks to see improvement. Make sure to tape the foot to starve the wart of oxygen with each application.
At home foot care product #5: SolvEasy Tinea Spray
This is my go-to tinea treatment product. The spray makes it easy to apply between your toes and it’s very effective in treating the bacterial infection that causes tinea. Using the spray reduces the need for you to touch the infected area with your hands, potentially spreading the infection further. It helps reduce itching while also working to clear the bacterial infection. Apply daily for seven days for best results.
At home foot care product #6: Band-Aid Blister Cushions
These are really good, and made particularly for blister treatment. Many patients find they do a great job of protecting your blisters meaning you can walk around in comfort while your blister heals.
Plus: four at home foot care products to avoid
Exfoliating foot masks
Masks that peel off the entire layer of skin from your feet are often unnecessary. We see many patients who have trouble removing layers of skin causing pain and discomfort, not to mention that it looks terrible. The uneven level of skin removal can cause issues, especially between the toes. An in-salon medi-pedi is a much safer option.
Over-the-counter orthotics
Premade insoles and orthotics don’t tend to be much help because they’re a one-size-fits-all solution. Your podiatrist can create a custom solution designed to treat your specific foot condition. And if the budget is a concern, we can easily source something just as affordable as an orthotic from the pharmacy. Most podiatrists stock affordable orthotic solutions that are only available in-clinic, for similar prices to standard pharmacy orthotics.
Tea tree oil
Long used for its healing properties, tea tree oil is often used to treat a myriad of foot conditions, but there is little evidence of efficacy. That is to say – it doesn’t work! Tea tree oil is overhyped and the fragrance is so strong and overpowering. It’s known to stain some feet with a yellow cast too. A foot care basic moisturiser will do a better job without stinking up your bathroom.
Battery-powered foot file
These promise to remove dry skin from your feet, but I find they are great at creating dust in your bathroom and not much else. I bought one that was going viral on Instagram and it was nothing but a disappointment. I wanted to know if the online hype was real, but sadly it was not the case. Historically these files have never been good. Many people buy them for the satisfaction of treating their feet and removing dry skin but the final results are minimal at best.
To summarise: Best at home foot care products
- Tulis Heel Cups
- Comfy Corn Cushions
- FeetCalm 24H Hydration Ampoule
- Wart-Off
- SolvEasy Tinea Spray
- Band-Aid Blister Cushions
Plus, four at home foot care products to avoid:
- Exfoliating foot masks that peel off skin
- Over-the-counter orthotics
- Tea tree oil
- Battery-powered foot files
