Assessment
A full history and a thorough examination of the skin, nails, circulation and, where relevant, your gait. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a plan agreed with you, not handed to you.
What We Treat
Calluses & Cracked Heels Treatment in Canary Wharf, London
Calluses are areas of thickened, hardened skin (hyperkeratosis), the skin's natural, protective response where the foot takes repeated pressure and friction. Unlike a corn, which grows deeper, a callus sits in the surface layer of the skin, but on a dry heel it can split into a painful crack, a heel fissure, that may bleed or let infection in: a particular danger if you have diabetes. Callus and cracked heel treatment in Canary Wharf, London with our HCPC-registered podiatrists pairs comfortable scalpel debridement with moisturising and offloading, so we treat the cause rather than just smoothing the surface.
What you're seeing
The concern
A callus (hyperkeratosis) is a diffuse area of hard, thickened skin that develops where the foot is repeatedly loaded: most often across the ball of the foot, the heel, or the side of the big toe. It is the skin's natural, protective response to pressure and friction, and unlike a corn, which grows inward to the dermis, a callus remains primarily in the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis), so it is usually broader and less sharply defined. That thickening protects at first, but it can become uncomfortable, and on a dry heel a thick callus can split to form a fissure, which may deepen, bleed, and allow infection in. Our HCPC-registered podiatrists assess why the skin is overloading, debride the hard skin comfortably with a sterile scalpel, and pair it with moisturising and offloading so we address the underlying cause: footwear, foot mechanics, or skin dryness, and it does not simply return. You can self-refer; no GP letter is needed to book at our Canary Wharf or City Dock (Wapping) clinic.
Excellent
From 4 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
Christine is the feet whisperer, she is marvellous! I should have gone to her before I actually did. If you have any issues with your feet, do not hesitate — book an appointment to see her. Highly recommended!
Had been in pain for many weeks. As soon as I went to Canary Wharf Podiatry I was taken care of excellently and sorted out, by the kindest staff. This was my best ever medical experience. Thank you so much!
Had a great experience with Hinson the podiatrist — extremely patient and thorough in explaining the different treatment options. I really appreciated how professional and reassuring he was throughout the appointment.
Christine was very gentle and took the time to answer all of our questions. She explained everything clearly and educated us with so much patience. We will definitely be coming back.
Our callus and cracked-heel care can help to:
Relieve painful hard skin on the ball or heel of the foot
A callus is thickened, largely insensitive skin, so a podiatrist can pare it back with a sterile scalpel, usually painlessly. Most people feel immediate relief as the pressure on the tissue beneath is released.
Treat and prevent cracked, fissured heels
A thick callus on a dry heel can split into a deep crack, or fissure, that may bleed and let infection in. We debride the hard skin and pair it with a moisturising, emollient regime so the skin stays supple and the crack can close.
Find and offload the pressure so it does not just return
Callus is the skin protecting itself against load, so it rebuilds until that load is reduced. We look at footwear, foot mechanics and pressure points, then use padding, insoles or custom orthotics to offload the area and treat the cause.
Keep your feet comfortable between visits
A medical pedicure combines hard-skin reduction with heel-skin care and light fissure work, and a simple home emollient routine keeps skin soft. We treat feet the way a dentist treats teeth: a regular check keeps small problems from becoming big ones.
Care safely for hard skin if you have diabetes
If you have diabetes, poor circulation or reduced sensation, never cut hard skin yourself or use acid corn plasters, which can cause ulcers and infection. We check your circulation and sensation first, then reduce the hard skin safely.
Why it happens
What drives it
- Repeated pressure and friction from footwear: shoes that are too tight, too loose, or have thin, unsupportive soles
- Foot mechanics that overload specific areas, such as high arches, flat feet, prominent metatarsal heads, or an altered gait
- Dry skin and reduced natural oils, which make heel skin brittle and prone to splitting into fissures
- Prolonged standing, walking, or repetitive activity, particularly on hard surfaces, concentrating load on the heel and ball of the foot
- Open-backed shoes, flip-flops, and sandals that let the heel pad spread and the skin dry out
- Reduced cushioning in the fat pad with age, increasing pressure on the underlying skin
What does a podiatrist do at your first appointment?
Your initial consultation covers a full history and a thorough examination of the skin, nails, circulation and, where relevant, the way you walk. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis with you.
Where it is safe to do so, treatment starts the same day, and you leave understanding the plan and the options in front of you.
"I wish I had known about you sooner." We hear it constantly. Feet are easy to ignore until they hurt, so we treat podiatry the way a dentist treats teeth: a regular check and a little maintenance keeps small problems from becoming big ones.
- Two London clinics: Canary Wharf, inside LycaHealth at 1 Westferry Circus, and City Dock in Wapping.
- Rated 5.0 on Google, with an HCPC-registered team and evidence-based care led by an Oxford-trained Clinical Director.
- Founded in 2021 and grown almost entirely by word of mouth across two London clinics.
Callus treatment fees and insurance
You can self-refer and book online, with no GP referral needed. Many patients claim treatment back through private health insurance: cover varies by policy, and some insurers ask for a GP or consultant referral first, so please check your plan before booking.
- Self-referral: book directly online, no GP letter needed
- Detailed invoices and procedure information provided for insurance claims
- Claimable with insurers such as WPA, Aviva and Vitality, subject to your policy
- One transparent price list across both London clinics
Your journey
with us
Everything starts with an accurate diagnosis. We find what is really causing the problem, treat it, and help you keep it from coming back, so you can stand, walk and train on comfortable feet.
Treatment
The care your foot problem actually needs, from painless skin and nail work to nail surgery under local anaesthetic, using sterile technique. Where a procedure carries real risk, we talk you through it and take consent first.
Advanced care
Where it helps, we draw on on-site MRI and X-ray, custom orthotics made in our own lab, and treatments such as laser and shockwave, so the right tool is matched to the right problem rather than a one-size-fits-all fix.
Maintenance
We address the underlying cause, footwear, pressure or load, so the problem is less likely to return, and offer routine reviews and medical pedicures so your feet are looked after before there is a problem, not only once there is one.
What our podiatrists and chiropodists treat
- Nail surgery for painful, recurrent ingrown toenails
- Skin and nail conditions: verrucae, corns, callus and fungal nails
- Evidence-based fungal nail treatment, including laser
- Biomechanics and custom orthotics made in our own lab
- Musculoskeletal and heel pain, with shockwave therapy
- On-site MRI and X-ray for same-day diagnosis
- Medical pedicures and routine foot-care maintenance
- Prescribing podiatrists: medication started promptly when it is needed
Treatment approach
How Christine treats it
Callus & Hard Skin Treatment
Price on enquiryComfortable scalpel debridement removes the hard skin for immediate relief and lets a cracked heel begin to close. We combine it with moisturising and offloading and identify the pressure causing the callus, so it builds back more slowly rather than simply returning.
See treatment detail →Medical Pedicure
Price on enquiryA clinical, podiatrist-led treatment that suits moderate callus, corns, and light heel fissuring. It pairs hard-skin reduction and light fissure debridement with an emollient regime to keep skin supple, and works well as regular maintenance so problems are managed before they build up.
See treatment detail →Initial Podiatry Consultation
Price on enquiryIf it is your first visit, an initial consultation is the place to start: a full history and examination of the skin, circulation and, where relevant, your gait, so we confirm the cause, check it is safe to treat, and agree the right ongoing plan. This matters especially if you have diabetes or reduced sensation.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Will having my calluses removed hurt?
Callus is thickened, largely insensitive skin, so a podiatrist can usually pare it away with a sterile scalpel without discomfort, and most people feel immediate relief from pressure. Tell us if anything feels tender. If a heel has cracked deeply or become inflamed, we treat the area gently and dress it to help it heal.
Why do my calluses and cracked heels keep coming back?
Calluses are the skin's protective response to pressure and friction, so they return until the underlying load is reduced. Footwear, foot mechanics, dry skin, and prolonged standing all play a part. We pair hard-skin removal and a moisturising heel-care regime with offloading, so we address the cause rather than just the symptom.
Which appointment should I book for hard skin or a cracked heel?
If it is your first visit, or you are unsure what is causing the hard skin, book an initial consultation so we can assess the cause and treat it safely. If you have seen us before and it is moderate callus, corns, or light heel fissuring, a medical pedicure is usually right for comfortable reduction and maintenance.
Can I treat calluses and cracked heels myself at home?
Mild dry skin often responds to a daily urea-based foot cream and well-fitting, cushioned footwear, as the NHS advises. However, you should never cut hard skin yourself or use over-the-counter acid corn plasters. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or reduced sensation in your feet, do not self-treat: book a podiatrist instead.
I have diabetes: is it safe to treat a cracked heel?
Treat any foot skin problem cautiously and have it assessed by a podiatrist. People with diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or neuropathy must not self-treat or use acid corn plasters, as these can cause ulcers and serious infection. A deep, bleeding, or fissured heel needs professional care; book with our HCPC-registered podiatrists for safe debridement.
When should I seek urgent medical help for a cracked heel?
Seek same-day medical care if a heel fissure shows signs of spreading infection: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, a bad smell, or red streaks, or if you feel unwell or feverish. People with diabetes or poor circulation should act on any open wound urgently. Contact NHS 111, your GP, or A&E if symptoms escalate quickly.
Related What We Treat
Get Started
Book a podiatrist
in Canary Wharf.
Canary Wharf Podiatry • 1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks