Look at the skin on your legs and feet

Do you have dry and/or cracked skin?

Do you have reddish brown colouring of the legs?

Advice

  • Use unscented moisturiser daily, including on your heels. Ask your pharmacy for the best moisturiser for you.

  • Check between your toes, treating any athlete's foot or infection early. Seek advice from pharmacy.

  • Put your legs up when resting or sitting.

  • Monitor for any breaks in your skin. Seek early advice from your pharmacy if needed.

  • You may benefit from wearing compression stockings or socks. Please discuss with your pharmacy, leg club, practice nurse or local lower limb clinic.

Are your legs and/or feet swollen?

Do your legs and/or feet feel heavy/aching or throbbing?

Advice

  • Use unscented moisturiser daily, including on your heels. Ask your pharmacy for the best moisturiser for you.

  • Put your legs up when resting/sitting.

  • Increase your mobility if able e.g. short walks, standing up regularly. If limited mobility, increase ankle movements to aid circulation

  • You may benefit from wearing compression stockings or socks. Please discuss with your pharmacy, leg club, practice nurse or local lower limb clinic.

Do you have an open wound or break in the skin that hasn't healed within 10 days?

Advice

  • Seek advice from your local lower limb service e.g. leg club, practice nurse or lower limb clinic.

Do you have areas on your legs that are frequently wet and/or weeping?

Advice

  • Seek advice from your local lower limb service e.g. leg club, practice nurse or lower limb clinic.

Do you have a mole/freckle or area of skin that looks unusual? Does it hurt, itch, bleed, crust or scab for more than four weeks?

Advice

  • Seek advice from your local lower limb service e.g. leg club, practice nurse or lower limb clinic.

Factors that increase your risk of developing a lower limb condition

Smoking

This can result in damage to your blood circulation. Stopping or cutting down on smoking can help reduce your risk.

Limited mobility

This reduces your blood circulation in the lower limbs.

Occupation

Any work that requires you to sit or stand still for long periods increases pressure in your lower limbs.

Current of previous IV drug misuse

This can result in skin, muscle and circulation damage.

Weight

Excess body weight can cause an increase in leg vein pressure.

Underlying health conditions

Excess body weight can cause an increase in leg vein pressure.

Increased age

Mobility and general health can decline as we age.

If you have any of the following symptoms, please seek immediate advice from the 111 service:

  • Increased redness in one area with or without a temperature or feeling unwell

  • Sudden swelling of one leg

  • Sudden severe pain in one leg

  • Area hot to touch, with or without pus

Do not ignore even the smallest change to the skin, shape or feel of your legs and feet.

Podiatry service

Act now

  • A – accident

  • C – change

  • T – temperature?

  • N – new pain?

  • O – oozing?

  • W – wound?

If you present with any of these issues, please call the podiatry admin team urgently.

Tel: 0300 303 8630

Out of normal office hours, please telephone 111.

Email: dhc.podiatry.enquiries@nhs.net

Opening times: 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday

Please ask for help from any health care professional or online for further help and advice at: