Foot care in Gatineau

Podiatric Foot Care

Many people categorize foot care in the same way as a salon pedicure. This is where the confusion begins. In a podiatric clinic, foot care is healthcare: we examine, make a podiatric diagnosis, and treat real problems: corns, calluses, thick nails, nail fungus, ingrown toenails, dry or cracked skin.

It’s not always clear to many people, who often wait until it hurts before consulting. However, these problems affect a large part of the population: active people who put strain on their feet, seniors whose skin thins, and people with diabetes, for whom foot maintenance becomes a matter of preventing disease-related foot complications. At Médecine podiatrique du Plateau, in AGORA Gatineau, your feet are evaluated by a podiatrist and care is provided by our auxiliary nurses in a clinical setting. Here’s what that means concretely.

What happens in the foot

Behind a corn or callus, there is almost always a history of pressure. When an area of the foot undergoes repeated friction or pressure, the skin defends itself by producing more keratin and thickening. This is hyperkeratosis. A corn is this reaction concentrated at a specific point; a callus is the same thing spread over a larger surface. As long as the pressure remains, the problem returns — hence the importance of looking at why it appeared, not just removing it.

With age, the foot changes. The plantar fat pad, the fatty cushion under the sole, thins. The foot loses some of its natural protection, and pressure areas become more vulnerable. This is one reason why corns and difficult nails are more common in older people.

Thick nails follow a similar logic. Repeated trauma, a fungal infection, or reduced circulation can alter nail growth, causing it to thicken and harden. Once thick, a nail tends to remain so; regular maintenance then serves to reduce pressure and discomfort.

Removing a corn without correcting the pressure that created it is treating the consequence, not the cause. That’s why clinical foot care begins with an examination and may include recommendations on footwear or orthotics to redistribute pressure.

How we proceed at the clinic

At Médecine podiatrique du Plateau, foot care doesn’t start with the instrument; it starts with questions. The podiatrist evaluates your medical history, footwear, activities, and general health. If necessary, the examination is supported by laboratory tests such as a sample of a small part of the nail to identify a fungal infection, X-rays, or ultrasound available on site. The objective is simple: to make the correct diagnosis before treating, because a corn, a thick nail, and a fungal infection are not managed in the same way.

Once the situation is understood, our auxiliary nurses provide care following the podiatrist’s plan: thinning and debridement of corns and calluses, maintenance of thick nails, adapted trimming, care for dry or cracked skin. All of this is done with sterilized equipment in our clinical rooms. These treatments are generally comfortable and well-tolerated.

Some situations require ongoing follow-up rather than a one-time treatment. People with diabetes benefit from regular follow-up to check skin integrity and detect an emerging problem early. Seniors who can no longer care for their feet also find adapted follow-up. For nail fungus, the approach deserves its own explanations — diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention of recurrence.

Doctors Émile Carrier, Sandra Gendron, and Stephen Davis, podiatrists, supervise this care. Depending on the problem, the plan is personalized after evaluation. There is no single recipe. The podiatrist’s role is to unravel this.

When a corn or callus constantly returns, the care doesn’t stop at removing it. We look at what creates the pressure: the shape of the foot, the footwear, the way of walking. Depending on the case, shoe recommendations, silicone protection, orthoplasty (toe orthosis), or custom-made foot orthotics can redistribute pressure to space out recurrences. This is the difference between providing relief today and reducing the problem’s return.

Common problems

Nail fungus is a fungal infection of the nail. Your podiatrist will be able to carry out the necessary diagnostic tests and prescribe the medication required for its management.

Ingrown toenails can be due to poor nail cutting, trauma, bad footwear or genetics. Our podiatrists can offer you temporary or permanent solutions (minor surgery) for this problem, all from our fully equipped treatment rooms.

Plantar warts are caused by a virus that is most commonly caught by walking barefoot on a contaminated surface, usually in a public place such as the edge of a swimming pool or the floor of a gym. It is a contagious virus that can, when it spreads through the skin, create pain. Our podiatrists will suggest several treatment options to get rid of them.

Find out more about plantar warts and treatments

Corns, or partridge eyes, are often linked to significant pressure points under the feet or between the toes. Corns can cause pain when walking. Our podiatrists will know how to relieve you by debriding them. In some cases, your podiatrist will introduce you to the use of prefabricated or custom-made digital orthoses.