In a perfect world, weekly pedicures would be enough to remove the toughest calluses. But sometimes your feet need a little more TLC, especially if you’re on them all day. Or, maybe you’re experiencing underlying conditions like diabetes or an autoimmune disease that leave feet cracked, dry, and even painful. When you think of a pedicure, the first thing that likely comes to mind is a trip to your neighborhood salon, where you’ll typically relax in a massage chair while someone massages your feet, trims and shapes your toenails, and paints them after soaking them in water. That’s where a medical pedicure comes in. Think of a medical pedicure as “the bridge between podiatry and nail care,” Marcela Correa, a licensed medical pedicurist, and the owner of Medi-Pedi NYC tells Women’s Health. Medical pedicures, aka, medi-pedis, aren’t as scary as they sound. In fact, they’re soothing and treat almost any condition your feet may have, like cracked heels and ingrown toenails.
When you think of a pedicure, the first thing that likely comes to mind is a trip to your neighborhood salon, where you’ll typically relax in a massage chair while someone massages your feet, trims and shapes your toenails, and paints them after soaking them in water.
Although it seems like med-pedis are only for those experiencing dry, cracked skin and other issues on their feet, these pedicures are for everyone.
Most times, medical pedicures are suggested for athletes and anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet. “This pedicure is also for people that want to maintain the health of their feet and those that don’t feel comfortable taking their shoes off in front of others at a regular nail salon,” Correa notes.
Those who suffer from underlying conditions like diabetes, cancer, or autoimmune diseases are also great candidates for medi pedis, as they can remove thick calluses that make it difficult to walk without putting the compromised at risk of contracting infections from tools that aren’t correctly sanitized.
This sterile and waterless pedicure is tailored to target the needs of each individual. This includes dead skin removal with professional equipment, nail nipping, filing, shaping, and buffing your nails to shiny perfection.”