How to Stop Foot Calluses from Coming Back

Having calluses on your feet can be annoying – and sometimes painful – but in most cases, they are actually beneficial and protective.

Why Do Calluses Form?

Calluses develop when the body senses friction or pressure on a specific area of the skin. To protect itself from blisters, wounds, or ulcers, the skin responds by producing thickened keratin.

Think of a weightlifter’s hands — they develop thicker skin where the bar rubs to prevent blisters. The same principle applies to your feet. The skin thickens where pressure or friction is greatest, creating a natural barrier that protects the tissues underneath.

When Calluses Become a Problem

While calluses are protective, they can become painful if one area of the foot takes on too much load. For example:

• A high-arched foot may develop heavy callus on the ball of the foot.
• A flat or pronated foot may form thick callus along the side of the big toe.

In these cases, it isn’t enough to simply remove the callus – because if the pressure point remains, the callus will quickly return.

Sometimes, the opposite problem occurs. People with neuropathy (reduced sensation in the feet) may not feel pressure or pain, so their body does not form protective callus. This can lead to ulceration or non-healing wounds, which require urgent podiatric care.

How to Manage Calluses Safely 

• Light daily filing: Use a dry foot file for a few seconds before your morning shower to smooth the surface.
• Avoid excessive softening creams: If the callus formed to protect underlying tissue, softening it too much can increase the risk of blistering or soreness.
• Address the root cause: Visit a podiatrist for a pressure and gait analysis. Custom orthotics or insoles can redistribute pressure across the foot, preventing one area from overloading and reducing callus recurrence.
• Check footwear fit: Tight or unsupportive shoes can increase friction and accelerate callus formation.

The Podiatrist’s Approach

At the Dubai Podiatry Centre, we don’t just remove callus – we look at why it’s forming. By identifying the high-pressure zones and correcting the underlying biomechanics with orthotics, we help the skin return to a more balanced, natural state.

In Summary

Calluses are a sign your body is protecting itself. The goal isn’t to eliminate them entirely, but to prevent them from overdeveloping by ensuring even foot pressure and proper support. With the right care plan – professional assessment, orthotic realignment, and a simple at-home routine ., calluses can be kept comfortable and under control.

عدوى الفطريات بين أصابع القدم

مركز دبي لطب الأقدام – تثقيف المريض

لماذا تحدث

تُعدّ عدوى الفطريات بين أصابع القدم شائعة عندما تُحتجز الرطوبة وتبقى البشرة رطبة لفترات طويلة.
وغالبًا ما يحدث ذلك عند:

ارتداء أحذية الجولف أو أحذية المشي أو الأحذية الرياضية لأكثر من 4 ساعات.

تقارب أصابع القدم من بعضها البعض، مما يسمح بتراكم العرق حتى عند ارتداء الصنادل أو النعال.

كيفية الوقاية منها

تبديل الأحذية وغسل القدمين

بعد نشاط طويل (مثل جولة جولف تستغرق 4 ساعات)، أزل الحذاء والجوارب.

اغسل القدمين أو استحم لإزالة العرق.

إذا لم يكن هناك وقت للاستحمام، اترك القدمين تتعرضان للهواء ودع المسافات بين الأصابع تجف.

استخدام بخاخ مطهر

رش محلول مائي من الكلورهيكسيدين بنسبة 2٪ مباشرة بين الأصابع بعد التمارين لتقليل نمو الفطريات في حال عدم إمكانية الغسل فورًا.

ارتداء جوارب الأصابع

تفصل جوارب الأصابع بين كل إصبع وتمتص الرطوبة، مما يحافظ على جفاف الجلد.

مثالية لمدربي الجولف، ومدربي اللياقة، أو أي شخص يرتدي أحذية رياضية طوال اليوم.

العادة الموصى بها

بدلًا من معالجة عدوى الفطريات بالأدوية بشكل متكرر، من الأفضل الوقاية منها قبل حدوثها من خلال:

الحفاظ على جفاف الأصابع وفصلها عن بعضها البعض.

استخدام جوارب الأصابع يوميًا.

غسل القدمين أو رشها بعد ممارسة الرياضة.

للمزيد من المعلومات أو لحجز موعد، يُرجى الاتصال على:
📞 ‎+٩٧١ ٤ ٣٤٣٥٣٩٠
📱 واتساب: ٩٧١٥٠٣٥٥٣٠٢٤

Fungal Infection Between the Toes

Dubai Podiatry Centre – Patient Education

Why It Happens

Fungal infections between the toes are common when moisture becomes trapped and the skin stays damp for long periods.

This often occurs when:

• Wearing golf shoes, hiking boots, or sports shoes for 4+ hours.
• The toes are very close together, allowing sweat to accumulate even in sandals or slippers.

How to Prevent It

1.Change footwear and rinse feet

• After long activity (e.g. 4-hour golf game), remove shoes and socks.
• Rinse or shower to wash away sweat.
• If no time to shower, simply air the feet and let the toe spaces dry.

2.Use an antiseptic spray

• Spray 2% chlorhexidine aqua solution directly between the toes after exercise to reduce fungal growth if washing isn’t immediately possible.

3.Wear toe socks

• Toe socks separate each toe and absorb moisture, keeping the skin dry.
• Ideal for golf instructors, fitness trainers, or anyone wearing sports shoes all day.

Recommended Habit

Rather than repeatedly treating fungal infections with medicines, prevent them before they occur by:

• Keeping the toes dry and separated.
• Using toe socks daily.
• Rinsing or spraying the feet after sports.

Raising the Bar on Patient Safety: Dubai Podiatry Centre Partners with Spectronix

At Dubai Podiatry Centre, patient safety has always been at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when patients step into our clinic, they deserve complete confidence that every standard of care is being met — and exceeded.

That’s why we recently partnered with Spectronix, a leading consultancy specialising in Dubai Health Authority (DHA) compliance and healthcare safety. Their team provided our clinic with a comprehensive training session designed to align us with the very latest DHA guidelines.

Why Spectronix?

Spectronix is more than a consultancy; they are a partner in quality care. Their experts visited our clinic, assessed our procedures, and identified opportunities for improvement, ensuring that every aspect of our practice reflects international best practice and local regulatory excellence.

Commitment from Our Chief Podiatrist

Our Chief Podiatrist, Michelle Champlin, has a deep passion for patient safety. She attends the Arab Health Congress and Patient Safety Conference every January to stay at the forefront of innovation in healthcare quality. When she discovered that Spectronix could provide hands-on guidance and an actionable framework for continuous improvement, she immediately welcomed their expertise into our clinic.

“Patient safety is of the utmost importance at Dubai Podiatry Centre. Working with Spectronix ensures that we are not only compliant but also proactive — always looking ahead to raise our standards even higher.”
– Michelle Champlin, Chief Podiatrist

What This Means for Our Patients

For our patients, this collaboration is a promise: that every visit to Dubai Podiatry Centre is backed by rigorous standards, updated guidelines, and a genuine culture of safety. We want every patient to feel reassured that they are in a clinic that goes above and beyond in podiatry care.

Leading the Way in Dubai

We highly recommend Spectronix to other healthcare facilities across Dubai. Their services help clinics keep pace with DHA regulations and maintain Dubai’s reputation as a global leader in healthcare excellence, patient satisfaction, and patient happiness.

لماذا أصبح ظفري أخضر وابتعد عن فراش الظفر؟

Why Has My Toenail Turned Green and Lifted From the Nail Bed?

By Michelle Champlin, Chief Podiatrist

It can be worrying to see a toenail becoming greenish in colour and beginning to separate from the nail bed. This is a common condition we see in podiatry, often referred to as green nail syndrome.

What causes the green colour?

The green stain is usually caused by a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This particular bacteria produces a green pigment that seeps into the nail from underneath.

Unlike the natural bacteria that live harmlessly on our skin, Pseudomonas is an environmental opportunist. It is commonly found in soil, tap water, swimming pools, sinks, and even in damp shoes. It does not normally live on the body, but once it finds the right conditions, it can quickly multiply.

Why does it affect the nail?

For the bacteria to take hold, it needs a space to live. This happens when the nail lifts from the nail bed (a process called onycholysis). The lift creates a small pocket where moisture can collect — the perfect place for bacteria to settle.

Nails can lift for several reasons:

•Trauma from tight shoes or stubbing the toe or the toe hyper flexing and rubbing on the ceiling of the shoe

•Repeated nail polish use or gel applications

•A fungal infection that weakens the nail attachment and damages the integrity of the nail plate and the attachment to the skin of the nail bed.

Once the nail is lifted, the space underneath becomes very difficult to keep dry, allowing bacteria to grow and produce the green discoloration.

What should you do if your nail turns green?

• Keep it dry and clean – bacteria thrive in moisture. Using a hair dryer on a cool setting for 30 seconds to dry under the nail after bathing helps to dry-out the area.
• Trim back the lifted portion if possible, so less space exists under the nail, allowing less humidity to develop.
• Antiseptic soaks (such as diluted vinegar or chlorhexidine) may help reduce bacterial growth. Always check the directions as neat, undiluted vinegar can make the whole toenail fall off from the intense ph level.
• Seek podiatric care – in some cases, topical or prescription treatments may be required, especially if the infection persists or is painful. When visiting the podiatrist take your shoes and corresponding socks for examination.  The fitting will be checked as this is the most common source of the problem that causes the toenail to detach.

When to see a podiatrist urgently

If you notice pain, swelling, pus, spreading redness, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, it’s very important to see a podiatrist or doctor promptly. Having bacterial or fungal growth may prevent the nail from growing well and attaching to the nail bed.

Key takeaway:

A green toenail isn’t dangerous in most cases, but it’s a sign that the nail has lifted and has allowed bacteria to move in. With the right care, it can usually be managed effectively — and keeping your toenails healthy, dry, and protected is the best way to prevent it coming back.

For more information or to book an appointment please call our clinic +971 4 3435390 orWhatsApp +971 50 3553024

للمهتمين بتسلق الجبال، أنصح بارتداء أحذية التسلق أكبر من مقاس القدم بثلاث مقاسات على الأقل.

على سبيل المثال، قبل شهر تسلقت جبل بن نيفيس، وهو أعلى جبل في المملكة المتحدة. مقاس قدمي هو ٣٦ بينما أرتدي حذاء تسلق مقاس ٤٠، أي أكبر بأربع مقاسات! السبب أنني أرتدي أولاً جوارب أصابع (toe socks) حتى لا تتكون بثور بين الأصابع، ثم أرتدي فوقها جوارب تسلق سميكة وناعمة جدًا. هذه الجوارب لا تجعل القدم حارة بل تمتص الرطوبة بشكل رائع. هذه الطبقات تأخذ مساحة إضافية داخل الحذاء، ولهذا أختار المقاس ٤٠.

وعند النزول من الجبل قد تتحرك القدم قليلًا داخل الحذاء، لذلك يوجد أسلوب معين لربط الحذاء يقلل من انزلاق القدم للأمام. لكن يجب الانتباه، إذا ربطت الحذاء بإحكام شديد قد تُصاب أصابعك بالتنميل، لذلك من الطبيعي أن تتحرك القدم قليلًا للأمام، لكن من المهم ألا تشعر أن أصابعك تلمس مقدمة الحذاء.

إذا كنت مقبلًا على رحلة أو مغامرة تسلق، أنصح بزيارة العيادة ومعك الحذاء والجوارب التي سترتديها، حتى نفحص جيدًا ونتجنب أي مشاكل أو إصابات مستقبلية في القدم، ونضمن لك تجربة تسلق ناجحة وآمنة.

للمزيد من المعلومات أو لحجز موعد، يُرجى الاتصال على:
📞 ‎+٩٧١ ٤ ٣٤٣٥٣٩٠
📱 واتساب: ٩٧١٥٠٣٥٥٣٠٢٤

For avid mountaineers, I recommend wearing hiking boots at least 3 shoe sizes larger than your foot size.

For example, a month ago I hiked Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. My foot size is 36 and my mountain boots are size 40 – that is 4 shoe sizes in difference! This is because I wear toe socks which means that no blisters will form in between my toes, then I wear thick hiking socks over the toe socks. These hiking socks are very fluffy and thick but it does not make my foot hot, it almost takes the moisture away. This combination takes up a lot of space which is why I opt for a shoe size 40.

Then, when I’m walking back down a mountain and there is that little bit of extra slide inside the boot, there is a special way to tie the boots to stop your foot sliding so far forward. However, if you tie them too tightly your toes will go numb so your foot should still slide a little bit forward. You should never feel your toes touching the end of the shoes.

If you are about to embark on an expedition, I recommend visiting the clinic with the shoes and socks that you will be wearing to thoroughly check and avoid causing any future foot-related injuries or issues and ensure a successful adventure.

For more information or to book an appointment please call our clinic +971 4 3435390 or WhatsApp +971 50 3553024

إلا إذا كنت في صالة الألعاب الرياضية وأسقطت وزنًا ثقيلًا على أصابع قدميك، فإن ظهور الكدمات على أظافر القدمين عادة ما يكون نتيجة صدمات متكررة وخفيفة، مثل ارتداء حذاء صغير الحجم مثل أحذية الباليه، الكعب العالي، أو الأحذية الجبلية الضيقة وغير ذلك.

على سبيل المثال: إذا كنت تمارس رياضة المشي لمسافات طويلة وبدأت أصابع قدميك بالارتطام بشكل متكرر وخفيف بمقدمة الحذاء، فإن جذر الظفر قد يتعرض لكدمة، وقد يتوقف الظفر عن النمو لعدة أسابيع. بعد ذلك يبدأ ظفر جديد في النمو، غالبًا أسفل الظفر الأصلي، لذلك قد يبدو وكأن الظفر لم ينمُ بل أصبح أكثر سماكة، لكنه في الحقيقة الظفر الجديد الذي ينمو تحت القديم.

عندما يصل الظفر الجديد إلى منتصف الطريق، فإنه سيدفع تدريجيًا الظفر القديم إلى الخارج. وإذا لم يكن الظفر تالفًا بشدة، فسوف يستمر في النمو وستختفي الكدمة تدريجيًا حتى تصل إلى طرف الظفر.

ومع ذلك، إذا شعرت بأي ألم شديد، ننصحك بحجز استشارة في عيادتنا للتأكد من أن كل شيء على ما يرام.

لمزيد من المعلومات أو لحجز موعد، يرجى الاتصال بعيادتنا على الرقم:
📞 ‎+٩٧١ ٤ ٣٤٣٥٣٩٠
📱 واتساب: ‎+٩٧١ ٥٠ ٣٥٥٣٠٢٤

Wearing tight-fitting shoes can cause a lot of damage to your toenails.

Unless you were in the gym and dropped a heavy weight onto your toes, then bruising on your toe nails is caused by repetitive, gentle trauma, such as wearing a small shoe like a ballerina pump, stilettos, or tight hiking boots and so on.

For example, if you were hiking and your toes gently and repetitively hit the end of the shoe, then the root of the toenail will bruise and the toenail might stop growing for a few weeks. A new nail will grow, likely underneath the original toe nail so it is common to think that your toe nail is not growing and it is just becoming thicker, but it is the new nail underneath growing.

When the new toe nail reaches halfway, it will naturally push old nail off. If it is not too damaged, the toe nail will still continue to grow and that bruise will grow out all the way to the end.

However, if anything becomes too painful, make a consultation at our clinic to ensure everything is alright.

For more information or to book an appointment please call our clinic +971 4 3435390 or WhatsApp +971 50 3553024