Has summer taken its toll on your feet? A podiatrist explains why the Medi-Pedi could be the answer

After one of the longest and hottest summers in years, our feet have had nowhere to hide. Months of sandals, open-toed shoes, holidays and bare feet around the pool have put them firmly on display – highlighting a growing change in the way we think about our feet and how we care for them.For years, the traditional pedicure was largely about aesthetics: trim the nails, file away some hard skin, choose a polish and off you go.But now, demand for treatments that combine beauty, wellbeing and podiatry expertise is emerging, and TikTok is teeming with before-and-after pictures of the latest foot fad: the Medi-Pedi. TikTok is teeming with before-and-after pictures of the latest foot fad: the Medi-Pedi Users say this three-in-one approach, blending medicine, aesthetics and wellbeing, isn’t simply about how your feet look when you leave the salon. It’s about how they feel, their underlying health, and identifying and treating common skin and nail concerns such as corns, calluses, cracked heels and problematic toenails.We carefully consider who treats our face, skin and hair, yet our feet have always been something of an afterthought – often ignored until the week before a summer holiday.But that’s changing. Maggie Trevillion, owner of Medi-Pedi salon Callen Olive, says consumers have become far more educated about self-care.She says, ‘We’re seeing clients prioritising their feet throughout the year rather than just booking a pre-holiday treatment.‘Our feet lead and carry us everywhere, every single day. They deserve the same maintenance and attention we routinely give to the rest of our body.’According to Trevillion, expectations have changed too. Customers don’t want foot healthcare to feel clinical. Yes, they want expertise, but they also want an experience, and they want to see and feel a genuine difference.Trevillion says, ‘Clients want to walk into a beautiful environment, relax, switch off and feel genuinely cared for while enjoying some well-deserved R&R. A Medi-Pedi should deliver both – professional foot care alongside the luxury and experience we have come to expect from our other beauty and wellbeing treatments.’So what is the Medi-Pedi?‘It is about far more than cutting toenails. A podiatrist is a qualified healthcare professional, and we can learn an enormous amount by examining someone’s feet, skin and nails,’ says Trevillion.‘Your skin and nail health can say a lot about your overall health and wellbeing. During a podiatry-led Medi-Pedi, we’re not simply making the feet look prettier. We’re assessing what we’re seeing and treating appropriately. Something a client assumes is simply dry skin may be something else entirely. A thick or discoloured toenail isn’t automatically fungal, and a painful area of hard skin may actually be a corn caused by pressure.’This is where Trevillion stresses the medical element – the ‘Medi’ – of the pedicure – the ‘Pedi’. Instead of simply disguising something, therapists will ask what it is, why it is happening and what they can do about it. Trevillion says the transformation is one of the most satisfying things about her job.‘For me, the transformation is one of the most satisfying things about my job. The results can often be seen and felt immediately. Using medical training and specialist instruments, we can professionally reduce hard skin, treat corns where appropriate, carefully manage nails and finish by moisturising the feet.‘I’m biased, of course, but the results can be incomparable to a quick toenail paint. Feet can leave looking and feeling smoother, softer, healthier and incredibly well cared for.’Summer can bring its own foot-health risks too. Hot weather means feet sweat more, we’re walking barefoot more frequently, and spending more time around swimming pools, changing rooms and communal showers isn’t good for foot hygiene. Warm, moist environments can encourage fungal infections, while communal areas can increase exposure to viral infections such as verrucae.And Trevillion issues a word of warning about traditional pedicures. She says, ‘They absolutely have their place, but consumers should understand the difference between a beauty treatment and a clinical foot treatment. The beauty industry is not held to the same infection-control standards as a healthcare environment.‘Sharing nail files, foot files or inadequately decontaminated instruments can potentially allow bacterial, viral and fungal skin and nail infections to spread through cross-contamination. Summer can bring its own foot-health risks too ‘In a Medi-Pedi clinic, nail files and buffers are single-use, while reusable clinical instruments go through appropriate decontamination and sterilisation processes after every patient. Simply placing instruments into the familiar blue disinfectant solution – often referred to as Barbicide – is not the same as sterilising them. That is a significant distinction.’Five things to consider before your next pedicureHow hygienic is the salon?‘Whatever type of pedicure you’re booking, don’t be embarrassed to ask about hygiene. Ask whether files and buffers are single-use, how reusable instruments are decontaminated and sterilised, and what happens if the practitioner notices something unusual. You should feel completely confident about what is being used on your feet.’Is there an underlying issue?‘One of my biggest concerns is the temptation to disguise a problematic toenail with polish or gel rather than finding out what is causing it. If a nail becomes discoloured, thickened, crumbly, starts lifting from the nail bed or changes significantly in appearance, it should ideally be assessed before it is covered. A discoloured nail isn’t necessarily fungal, which is precisely why professional assessment matters.’Should I be seeking treatment over disguise?‘Fungal nail infections are a common example. Nail varnish doesn’t address the underlying cause, and continually disguising a suspicious nail can mean the problem isn’t investigated until it has become much more established.‘Interestingly, in clinic we often see men presenting for fungal nail treatment earlier than women. One possible reason is that women can hide a nail they dislike beneath varnish and continue doing so until they reach the point where they can no longer disguise it.’What is my therapist qualified to do?‘Beauty professionals also have boundaries to what they are qualified to treat. Suspected fungal infections, verrucae, painful corns and unexplained skin or nail changes should be referred to an appropriately qualified healthcare professional rather than simply covered up.‘The words “medical pedicure” themselves aren’t enough when choosing where to go. If you want a podiatry-led Medi-Pedi, find out who will actually be carrying out your treatment and check that they are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).‘Podiatrist and chiropodist are protected professional titles in the UK. Ask about infection-control procedures and what will happen if something is discovered during your appointment that requires further investigation or treatment.’Is treatment personalised?‘Most importantly, treatment should be personalised. There shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to cutting nails or removing every piece of hard skin. More aggressive doesn’t mean better.‘Professional removal of callus, corns and problematic nails requires clinical skill and judgement, and a Medi-Pedi shouldn’t hurt or leave your feet bleeding in the pursuit of getting them summer-ready.’When it comes to fancy feet, the definition of pampering is changing. It’s no longer simply about having perfectly painted toenails – it’s about having feet that are healthy, comfortable, beautifully cared for and that you feel confident showing or sharing on TikTok!The rise of the Medi-Pedi reflects a shift towards beauty and wellbeing treatments that prioritise health over aesthetics. And after one of the hottest summers in years, when our feet have been more visible than ever, perhaps it’s finally time they received the same care and attention as the rest of us.