Medical foot care is provided by a health care practitioner (registered nurse or licensed practical nurse) and focuses on general foot health, and issues that people have with their feet. These practitioners have the experience and education to work with clients with complex care needs (ex. Diabetes, clients on blood thinning medication, etc.) and who can identify signs and symptoms of infection, skin pathologies, and nail abnormalities, including, but not limited, to ingrown, thickened and brittle nails, calluses, corns, hardened or thickened skin, and wounds and ulcers.
While both medical foot care and pedicures tend to the toenails and skin of the feet, the purpose and details of the treatments vary. A pedicure is a cosmetic procedure that focuses on the beauty and therapeutic treatment of the toenails and feet, while medical foot care involves the assessment and treatment of nail and skin pathologies of the foot.