Podiatry for children
Looking for a children’s podiatrist?
Do you have concerns about your child’s feet?
Maybe your child has a verruca, an ingrowing toenail or unexplained foot pain. Maybe you’re worried their feet aren’t growing properly, or they seem to be walking awkwardly.
Whatever your concern, Hatt Clinic’s podiatrists and Foot Health Practitioners can help. From treating common foot conditions and developmental issues, to giving advice on foot care and footwear.
Our friendly team are experienced in working with children of all ages and will do everything they can to make sure your child feels relaxed, comfortable, safe and secure.
Contact us to book a consultation at our foot clinic in Devizes, Frome or Marlborough.
Foot conditions in children
Our foot care specialists have access to advanced treatments and technologies, which will treat your child’s foot conditions more effectively than anything you can buy over the counter.
Verrucas in children
Verrucas are contagious plantar warts, caused by the human papillomavirus. They typically have hard skin build-up, sometimes with a crusty, silvery appearance and have multiple dark spots in the centre. They can be extremely painful and uncomfortable or totally asymptomatic.
If you think your child has a verruca, it’s best to have it clinically diagnosed and treated early. The longer you leave verrucas, the more stubborn they can be to treat and the more likely they are to spread. We offer the most effective treatments on the market and will recommend the best option for your child.
Ingrown toenails in children
An ingrown toenail happens when the toenail starts to grow into the surrounding skin. If you think your child has an ingrowing toenail, getting it treated quickly can prevent it from becoming infected.
Depending on how ingrown the toenail is, treatments can be either non-surgical or surgical, using local anaesthetic.
After treatment, our team will be happy to advise you on the best nail-cutting techniques and footwear to prevent any further issues.
Fungal toenails in children
If you’ve noticed your child’s toenail has become discoloured, brittle and painful, it could be a fungal infection.
Fungal nails are contagious, meaning the fungus can spread to your child’s other toenails. They also increase the risk of your child and others in your household contracting athlete’s foot.
If a fungal infection is left untreated, it could cause long-term trauma to the nail(s) and change the way they grow for the rest of your child’s life.
If you think your child might have a fungal nail infection, it’s important to get it treated properly, because it won’t get better on its own. Our team use a multi-pronged approach to clear the infection and stop it recurring.
See a podiatrist for your child
If your child has a foot condition and you’d like our help, it’s easy to make an appointment for a consultation.
Call: 01380 730473 to speak to our friendly team.
Foot growth and development
If your child is having problems with their foot growth and development, Hatt Clinic’s multidisciplinary team and coordinated approach will give you all the support you need, under one roof.
We can help with podiatry biomechanics and orthotics to restore their balance and correct their walking gait. And with exercises to help build strength and relieve pain.
Conditions we can help with include:
Sever’s disease
This is a kind of growing pain, affecting children and adolescents. It causes inflammation around the heel, which makes it painful to walk and run.
Flat feet in children
Most children will outgrow flat feet as their feet grow and their natural arches form. But if your child also has pain or poor balance when walking, it’s advisable to seek help.
Hypermobility
Hypermobility can cause your child a range of problems, such as rolling ankles, balance issues, uneven shoe wear, and pain in the feet and lower legs.
Get the support your child needs
If you’re concerned about your child’s foot growth or development, it’s worth having consultation to see how we can help.
Not every issue needs orthotic or clinical intervention. There are lots of things you can do at home and we’ll be happy to advise you.
Call: 01380 730473
What to expect from your child’s podiatrist appointment
Book
Book an initial Podiatry appointment and come in to meet your foot specialist
Learn
We’ll make your child comfortable so we can discuss the issue and examine their feet.
Diagnose
We’ll give you a proper diagnosis and explain the treatment options available.
Treat
We’ll put together an effective treatment plan that will get the issue under control.
Support
We’ll give you all the support you need and, where necessary, advice to follow at home.
What it’s like to be a patient at Hatt Clinic
Our Foot Clinics
Devizes
Book a children’s podiatrist appointment at our Devizes foot clinic in Couch Lane.
Call: 01380 730473
Frome
Book a children’s podiatrist appointment at our Frome foot clinic in Wallbridge.
Call: 01373 452604
Marlborough
Book a children’s podiatrist appointment at our Marlborough foot clinic in Hughenden Yard.
Call: 01672 516580
Children’s podiatry FAQs
Why shouldn’t I just use over-the-counter treatments for my child’s verruca?
Over-the-counter treatments can be extremely destructive to the delicate tissue on your child’s feet and they don’t have any clinical backing.
Most parents who come to us tell us they’ve tried everything to treat their child’s verruca. But the treatments either didn’t work or the verruca came back after a couple of weeks.
Our treatments are effective, non-invasive and backed by scientific study.
What treatments do you offer for verrucas in children?
We offer three non-invasive verruca treatments, all backed by scientific study.
Treatments will be prescribed based on your child’s age, health, medication, verruca and cost.
The treatments are:
- Silver nitrate, a topical treatment, which is very effective in young children
- Verrutop: a topical liquid treatment
- Swift: a microwave-based treatment.
My child is walking awkwardly, what can you do to help?
Our podiatrists will do a biometric assessment to diagnose the specific issue and observe how it’s affecting your child. They’ll then recommend a suitable and proportionate course of action.
This could be something as simple as getting better-fitting shoes or custom insoles to support your child’s feet. It might also involve exercise to build muscle and realign the body.
At Hatt Clinic, we have a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who will help your child get exactly what they need to correct their gait and restore their balance.
How can I make sure my child’s feet develop properly?
The most important thing you can do as parents is to buy the right footwear for your children.
You should make sure the footwear is the right size and shape for your child’s feet, that it provides proper support and doesn’t squash their toes. You should also check the sizing of the footwear regularly as your child is growing.
Buying the right shoes doesn’t need to be expensive. We have several shoe makes we recommend for children, including styles that are suitable for school.
If you have any concerns about your child’s feet, walking gait or balance, see a podiatrist for a biomechanical assessment. This will diagnose the problem so corrective action can be taken.
What if my child is nervous or has special needs?
It’s important that all our patients feel relaxed, safe and confident about coming back to the clinic.
When it comes to children who are nervous or have special needs, our friendly podiatrists are very accommodating. Children are welcome to bring things that make them feel more comfortable and secure, such as books, iPads or headphones.
If you have any concerns, you’re welcome to call the clinic and speak to a member of our team before you book.
Devizes: 01380 730473
Frome: 01672 516580
Marlborough: 01373 452604