Cosmetic Pedicure vs Medical Pedicure:

You may be familiar with the concept of a pedicure for cosmetic reasons but did you know that a medical pedicure from a podiatrist can be hugely beneficial to your overall foot health? 

Both types of pedicure tend to your feet, toes, and nails — so what’s the difference between them? Let’s explore what each entails and which may be the best option for you.

What is a cosmetic pedicure?

A cosmetic foot pedicure can be a great way to boost your confidence about your feet and experience a bit of pampering. This type of pedicure focuses on aesthetics and is often described as a therapeutic beauty treatment. 

You may receive exfoliation and moisturising to remove dead cells and soften your skin. The salon practitioner may also cut back your cuticles, trim and shape your toenails, and add some nail polish.

What is a medical pedicure?

A medical pedicure, on the other hand, involves assessing and treating your toenails and any problems with the skin of your feet. 

At City Foot Health, a medical pedicure is a thorough overhaul of your feet performed only by an HCPC registered podiatrist. It’s an advanced, thorough, non-invasive treatment that ensures both the health and beauty of your feet. Our pedicures combine all elements of our special podiatry services. 

What does a medical pedicure include?

The first step in a medical pedicure at City Foot Health is to examine your feet. Once that’s done, we will safely remove corns and calluses and soften any hard, dry skin.

Your podiatrist will follow this with a routine pedicure. Here, they will:

• Cut, shape, and buff your toenails
• Carry out a cuticle treatment
• Deeply exfoliate your skin
• Treat your nails with a unique serum made here at City Foot Health
• Apply foot cream

The result? You’ll leave with your feet in perfect condition. They’ll be looking and feeling healthy, attractive and revitalised. To ensure exceptionally long-lasting results, we’ll perform the treatment on dry feet and use a range of professional foot products to suit your skin type.

Which do you need?

Both forms of pedicure can offer a relaxing experience and improve the overall look of your feet and toenails.

If you’re looking for a quick treatment that focuses solely on the appearance of your feet, you might consider a cosmetic pedicure. However, if you have corns, calluses, or cracked heels, you may find it more beneficial to book a medical pedicure where a trained podiatrist will be able to safely and effectively remove the dry skin. Not only will you get great-looking results, but you’ll have a deeper treatment that lasts longer. 

What’s more, with a medical pedicure from City Foot Health, you can feel confident knowing that you’ll be in safe hands. In contrast to a regular pedicure, our treatments use specialised instruments to achieve the desired effects. We sterilise all instruments in an ultrasonic bath then treat them in our autoclave at 134 degrees. The tools used in a salon pedicure tend to be sterilised in bright blue barbicide or a similar product. 

Also, because we perform the medical pedicure on dry feet there is no risk of infection arising from a shared footbath. You can’t always guarantee hygiene or sanitation standards in popular nail salons. With a higher turnover, standards tend to decrease and the likelihood of fungal infections, cross-contamination or ingrown nails (due to poor cutting) increases.

How often should you have a medical pedicure?

If you’re at high risk of infections and foot problems due to conditions such as diabetes, it’s essential to look after your feet. Regular medical pedicures are a great way to keep things in check. 

However, we can all benefit from giving our feet more attention! We recommend a medical pedicure every 8-10 weeks for happy and healthy feet. After each pedicure, it’s a good idea to apply a good-quality moisturiser to your feet. This will help keep the skin soft, supple, and gorgeous between treatments.

Medical pedicures at City Foot Health

Whether you’re suffering from bothersome corns and calluses or just want to treat your feet to a full check-up and exfoliation, a medical pedicure could be the perfect treatment.

For thorough, effective medical foot pedicures that leave you feeling rejuvenated, contact the City Foot Health team. Our experienced podiatry team have the training, experience, and state-of-the-art instruments and equipment to ensure your feet are in tip-top condition.