Why Do Feet Develop Major and Minor Damage?

I’ve been practicing podology for over 17 years. For the last 15 of those, alongside my daily clinical work, I’ve also been teaching — sharing my own philosophy of podology. Over the years, I’ve trained hundreds of professionals: nail technicians who wanted to grow beyond the beauty industry, specialists shifting toward medical practice, as well as doctors and healthcare professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of foot health.

From one point of view, that’s a huge achievement. Comparing 2010 to today, the popularity of podology hasn’t just grown — it’s skyrocketed! (Almost like Elon Musk launching a battery-powered rocket into space.)

And yet, podology doesn’t stand still. It continues to evolve, gain recognition, and grow in demand.

So why am I writing about this?Because even today, the title “podologist” is often misused. I see it constantly in marketing — especially in beauty salons, where a basic pedicure with gel polish is presented as a “medical” treatment, and the practitioner calls themselves a podologist.

What Is Podology — and Who Is a Podologist?

Podology comes from the Latin words podo (foot) and logos (science).It is the science of the foot.

Podology includes the study of anatomy and physiology of the foot, dermatology, orthopedics, and minor surgery.

A podologist is not just someone who treats skin and nail problems on the feet.Above all, a podologist must understand how the foot works — its biomechanics, how it functions in static and dynamic motion, and how joints, muscles, and ligaments interact.A podologist also needs to recognize and evaluate biomechanical disorders of the feet.

Beyond external factors, a professional podologist must be familiar with autoimmune diseases that can also affect the skin and nails.

A podologist is a healthcare specialist who doesn’t only treat surface issues, but also collaborates closely with dermatologists, orthopedists, and surgeons to achieve comprehensive results.

The Primary Mission of Podology — Working With the Diabetic Foot

What does this work involve?

• Foot hygiene — and no, this is not a pedicure! The term “pedicure” does not describe the medical nature of a podologist’s work.

• Prevention of complications — the main goal when working with high-risk patients (including those with diabetes).

• Foot assessment — checking circulation, sensitivity, skin and nail condition, and identifying deformities.

• Correction of hyperkeratosis and calluses — safely and gently, using specialized medical equipment.

• Nail care in pathological conditions — including onychomycosis, onycholysis, and nail deformations.

• Treatment of ingrown toenails — eliminating the cause, correcting nail curvature, and preventing recurrence.

• Patient consultation — teaching proper home care, choosing the right footwear, and recommending products to prevent cracks and dryness.

• Collaboration with physicians — endocrinologists, surgeons, dermatologists, orthopedists. The podologist is part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Follow-up and documentation — regular visits, photo history of the case, and continuous evaluation of the patient’s foot condition.

Pedicure vs. Podology — What’s the Difference?

The word pedicure comes from the Latin pes (foot) and cura (care) — literally “foot care.”

Originally, it referred to an aesthetic procedure designed to make the feet look neat and beautiful. Over time, pedicure became a part of the beauty industry — but not of medicine.

In beauty salons, a pedicure is performed for cosmetic reasons — to remove rough skin, shape nails, and apply polish.The goal is simple: make it look nice, quick, and pleasant.But the technician does not perform diagnostics, does not analyze biomechanics, and carries no medical responsibility.

A podological (medical) pedicure, however, is a clinical procedure focused on health and prevention.Here, the podologist addresses the root causes of problems — hyperkeratosis, cracks, nail deformation, fungal infections, diabetic foot, and other pathologies.

Criterion	Beauty Salon	Podology Clinic / Medical Center
Purpose	Aesthetic appearance	Health, prevention, treatment
Approach	Cosmetic	Medical, diagnostic
Instruments	Cosmetic tools	Sterile, medical, autoclaved
Knowledge	Basic nail and beauty care	Anatomy, biomechanics, pathologies, diabetes
Responsibility	For visual results	For patient safety and foot condition
Client relationship	Client	Patient

So, a pedicure is beauty care, while podology is medical science.A podologist doesn’t just make feet look beautiful — they ensure safety, comfort, and prevention of complications.

Why Do Feet Develop Major and Minor Damage?

If you think about it, the foot is the foundation of the human body.We stand, move, and live on it every single day — yet it’s often ignored until it starts to hurt.

Major and minor damage to the feet never appear “suddenly.”They are always the result of how a person lives.

Minor damage is the body’s early warning system.A callus, a corn, a crack, an inflamed nail fold — these are messages from your body saying:

“I’m overloaded.”“I can’t breathe.”“It’s too tight.”“It hurts.”

Major damage happens when those signals are ignored for too long.

Through years of practice, I’ve learned that foot problems are rarely just skin issues — they’re systemic.Improper biomechanics, unsuitable footwear, the habit of “tolerating pain,” and lack of consistent care — all of this turns a small crack into a chronic condition.

That’s why I react so sharply when I see the word “podology” being turned into a marketing slogan, and an ordinary pedicure being presented as medical care.

Podology is not ‘heel cleaning.’It’s the understanding of why the skin began to protect itself, why the nail changed shape, and why tissues lost their elasticity.It’s not cosmetics — it’s medicine.

Foot damage doesn’t begin with shoes or floors — it begins with a person’s attitude toward themselves.As long as someone focuses only on the surface, they treat the symptom — not the cause.But once they start listening to their body, observing its reactions, and noticing the small changes — major damage simply doesn’t have the chance to develop.

For me, podology is not about treatment — it’s about awareness.It’s about the ability to hear your feet.Because the foot is the first to carry the weight of our lives — and the first to warn us when that weight becomes too heavy.

“Big problems always start with small signals. The question is — will we listen to our body in time?”

Foot damage is not just the result of external factors.It’s a reflection of our lifestyle, habits, and self-awareness.

Podology teaches not only how to care for the feet, but also how to understand why they suffer.And when a person begins to truly listen to their feet — they take the first step not toward beauty, but toward health.