Seila Ivars Ribes, Altea podiatrist

I am Seila Ivars Ribes, a registered podiatrist and the person responsible for Clínica Podológica Seila Ivars, in the centre of Altea.

My aim is that you leave the appointment understanding what is happening to your feet, what your options are and why one treatment is recommended over another. Treating a foot is not only about easing a complaint: it is about finding where it comes from, stopping it from returning and helping you keep your feet well over time.

A healthcare calling that began before podiatry

I grew up on the slopes of the Serra Bernia, in Altea la Vella, and I found my calling in healthcare while working as a «técnico en cuidados auxiliares de enfermería», the Spanish nursing assistant qualification. That period taught me something I still use every day: to listen, to notice small changes and to adapt care to each person.

My next step was a degree in Podiatry from the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, in 2022, and I have practised as a podiatrist since that same year. I continue to extend my training in podiatric surgery and sports podiatry, and I am certified in pre- and post-operative protocol and practice by the Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Podología de la Comunidad Valenciana, the regional podiatry association.

A podiatrist from Altea

Practising in my own town and caring for people from Altea and from other municipalities in the Marina Baixa and the Marina Alta means more to me than a job.

I began by seeing patients in their own homes, before opening the practice, and I still do. If you cannot travel, home visit podiatry explains what can be treated at home and how to request a visit.

How I understand podiatry

Every foot, every way of walking and every patient is different, so treatment begins with an individual assessment and an explanation you can follow. The way I work rests on seven things:

Listening to what worries you, and since when.
Examining the foot before proposing anything.
Explaining clearly what is found.
Weighing the alternatives when there is more than one.
Preferring conservative treatments whenever they are indicated.
Following up when the way things develop calls for it.
Giving you advice you can actually apply day to day.

The same professional throughout

I run the practice myself. The person who examines you is the person who treats you and who reviews how it develops: you will not be passed from one professional to another between the first appointment, the treatment and the follow-ups.

That continuity is not a convenience, it is part of the treatment. It makes it possible to compare changes between visits, to adjust what is recommended according to the response, and it means you do not have to tell your whole story again every time you come.

You do not need to know what to ask for

You do not need to know which treatment you need before you come. It is enough to say what hurts, what has changed or what worries you: the assessment exists precisely to work out what may be happening and which approach is the most suitable.

You can see what is done in each case under treatments and what each problem is under conditions. These are common reasons for an appointment:

Pain when walking, running or standing for long periods.
Ingrown, thickened or discoloured nails.
Hard skin, callouses or cracks that cause discomfort.
Painful lesions on the sole of the foot.
Itching, flaking or a suspected infection.
Frequent tiredness in the feet or legs, or uneven wear on footwear.
Questions about your gait, about footwear, or about a growing child’s feet.
Diabetes or circulation problems, which make preventive check-ups advisable.

Continuing training, and the limits of the discipline

Podiatry changes, so keeping training up to date is not decoration: it is part of practising responsibly.

And working responsibly also means knowing the limits of your own discipline. When what I see needs tests, a diagnosis or treatment from another speciality, I say so and point you towards the right professional.

Before you come

The first appointment begins with a conversation: the reason for the visit, since when, any relevant history and what you usually do. Then comes the examination, which depending on the case covers the skin and nails, the joints, the pressure areas, your footwear or the way you stand and walk.

For some appointments it helps to bring the shoes you wear every day, any insoles you already have, related medical reports and a list of the medication you take.

If you would like to see the place before coming, the clinic has the photographs, how you get in and what happens step by step. The entrance is at street level, with no steps, and the treatment room is adapted for older people and those with reduced mobility. Instruments are sterilised between patients.

Qualifications and registrations you can verify

In a healthcare practice these are not decoration: they are public, verifiable facts, and publishing them means you do not have to take a promise on trust. Accreditations sets out what each number proves, where to check it and what it does not prove.

Degree in Podiatry from the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche.
Registration no. 838463655 with the Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Podología de la Comunidad Valenciana, the regional podiatry association.
Practice registered in the Valencian Regional Register of Healthcare Centres, Services and Establishments under no. 44655.
Home podiatry activity registered under no. 24759.

My commitment to you

I want you to come knowing that you will be listened to, that you will get a clear explanation, and that no treatment will be carried out without you understanding first what it involves.

If something is bothering you, if you have noticed a change, or if you simply want your feet checked, book an appointment and we will look at it.