As the time comes to put our boots into hibernation and bring out the sandals, it becomes more of an incentive to make sure your feet are fit to be seen by the rest of the world. Often for ladies (but not exclusively!), that means painting your toenails.

Applying nail polish isn’t in itself bad for nails, the problems tend to occur because varnish on the toe is often left on for much longer than fingers. Standard nail polish will generally only last a few days on fingernails as our hands are in and out of water and are much more vulnerable to knocks and scrapes. We therefore generally change our fingernail polish much more regularly. Our nails get a breather, and any problems would be soon spotted. Toenail polish, on the other hand, can last for much longer, and I regularly see toenails where the varnish is growing out, many weeks after application, rather than being removed.

Most polishes contain quite harsh, drying ingredients such as Formaldehyde, Toluene and Parabens, and it's not unusual to see little white patches on the nail’s surface once the polish is removed. To help prevent this there are a few things you can do:

1.  Make sure your nails are in good condition to start with. Use a nourishing oil massaged in and around the nail daily for a week before you start applying polish. We like Flexitol Nail and Cuticle Cream which is now available from the clinic.

2. Use a base coat. This helps prevent staining and good quality ones will contain nourishing ingredients to help protect the nail.

3. Remove nail polish weekly and give your nails a break for a day or two, using the nail oil to help replenish lost oils stripped by the polish remover.

The good news is that there are now ranges of nail polish available that have reduced the harsh chemicals and contain more skin-friendly ingredients. Dr's Remedy and Danipro were 2 of the first to be developed with input from Podiatrists, but many ranges now include some healthier versions. The Danipro range can be purchased from the Simply Feet website. Use the code XQ9B3290 to receive 10% off

Link to Simply Feet