Chiropody is the core podiatry treatment: removing hard skin and calluses, cutting and filing the nails —including thickened ones— and checking the skin, the spaces between the toes and the areas that take your weight as you walk. It is done with sterile instruments and needs no preparation beforehand.
It is the most common appointment and also the most useful as a check-up. Once the hardened skin is removed, it becomes clear which areas are taking more pressure than they should, and that makes it possible to spot a nail starting to dig in, a spot where the shoe rubs, or a change in the way the foot loads.
If the skin on the heel splits into cracks that hurt or bleed, cracked heels that hurt explains what you can do at home and what is best avoided.
What the appointment includes
- Assessment of the skin, the nails and the weight-bearing areas of the foot.
- Removal of hard skin, calluses and thickened skin.
- Cutting and filing of nails, including thickened ones.
- Cleaning and filing of the nail edges and nail groove.
- Advice on footwear, nail cutting and moisturising for everyday care.
Struggling to cut your nails, or noticing a hardened area that hurts when you walk?
Book an appointmentFrequently asked questions
- How often should I come?
- There is no single interval that suits everyone: it depends on how fast your nails grow, on your skin, on the footwear you wear and on whether any area is being overloaded. At the end of the session you are told when it makes sense to come back in your case, and that interval is adjusted at later visits according to how the foot is doing. If you have diabetes or circulation problems, the frequency is decided on a risk basis and tends to be more consistent over time.
- Is it the same as a pedicure?
- No. A pedicure is a cosmetic treatment carried out by beauty professionals; chiropody is a healthcare procedure, performed at a centre with a health-registration number by a registered podiatrist. The practical difference lies in what gets examined: besides leaving the skin and nails in order, the foot is assessed to see which areas are taking more pressure than they should and whether anything needs treating or monitoring. That is why a session may end with footwear advice, with an offloading measure, or with a recommendation to look into something else.
- Can I come with nail polish on?
- You can, but the polish is removed at the start. The nail plate itself is what gets examined — the colour, the thickness, whether there is a line, a patch or any lifting — and none of that is visible under polish: a change in colour worth looking at is hidden by precisely what covers it. If you prefer, remove it at home before coming. And if you have been wearing gel polish for a long time, do say so: it is useful to know when assessing how the nail looks.
