What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

https://argyll-foot-clinic.au1.cliniko.com/bookings#service

Argyll Foot Clinic Irvine, 45 Bank Street, Irvine (2026)

03/03/2026

❗Week Beginning 16th March - Appointment Availability❗

⭐We currently have evening availability with Fiona for Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th March and our waiting list is open for daytime appointments with Frazer and Graeme⭐

If you'd like to book an upcoming appointment, please get in touch.
✉️ Send us a message on Messenger
📞 Call or text us on 07904 237004
🌐 Book online at https://argyll-foot-clinic.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

03/03/2026

❗Tuesday 10th March - Appointment Availability❗
⭐We now have some availability for next week with Frazer! Our next availability after this is Wednesday 18th March⭐
If you'd like to book an upcoming appointment, please get in touch.
✉️ Send us a message on Messenger
📞 Call or text us on 07904 237004
🌐 Book online at https://argyll-foot-clinic.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

28/02/2026

Saturday Spotlight - Fungal Nail Infection

Fungal Nail Infection of the nails are also known as onychomycosis. The fungi here is similar to the fungi involved in athlete’s foot and in most cases the infection can begin as athlete’s foot (dermatophyte fungi). In athlete’s foot the fungi live in the keratin that makes up the outer layer of the skin, but they can also invade the hard keratin of which nails are made.

Some causes:

🦶🏼 Poor foot hygiene
🦶🏼 Damage to nails from dropping objects on them
🦶🏼 Poor footwear
🦶🏼 Contagious so sharing towels/shoes with family members can spread the infection
🦶🏼 Poor diet and lifestyle
🦶🏼 Poor circulation
🦶🏼 People who smoke
🦶🏼 Immunosuppressed
🦶🏼 Fungal Nail Infection Symptoms:

At the start, there are usually no symptoms. Later the nails may become so thick that they hurt when they press on the inside of a shoe due to additional pressure. The infection can spread across the whole nail or just a part down the side or at the top end. The infected areas turn white or yellowish, and become thickened and crumbly. Not all discoloured nails have a fungal nail infection.

Fungal nail infections are sometimes difficult to trim without professional equipment. We use water spraying drills to reduce the thickness of the nail allowing it to be trimmed, pain free and more effectively. This also ensures the best possible chance for any treatment to pe*****te your nail bed where the infection lies.

Diagnosed:

Many nail problems can look like a fungal nail infection – for example the changes seen in psoriasis, or after a bacterial infection or an old injury. The diagnosis of a fungal infection should be confirmed before treatment starts. In most cases your GP will take a piece from a crumbly area of your nail and send it to the laboratory to check if a fungus can be seen under the microscope or grown in culture. This process can take time and be costly so in some cases your GP or podiatrist will prescribe some form of treatment depending on the appearance of the nail and their clinical knowledge.

Treatment Options:

🦶🏼 Research suggests that the most effective treatment for fungal nail infections are a tablet (such as Terbinafine) from your GP. The usual adult dose is 250 mg once a day for three to six months for toenails as well as painting a lacquer on during this same period. In some cases this medication can interact with other medicines for other conditions so a tablet is not always prescribed. Treatment success rates are between 60-80%
🦶🏼 Natural products such as tea tree oil or certain vinegars are sometimes effective
🦶🏼 Nail surgery may be necessary if the nail is painful and a continuing problem. We can perform total or partial nail surgery under local anaesthetic and apply a chemical (phenol) to prevent regrowth of the nail (97% success rate of preventing regrowth). We will work with you through the whole process including dressing appointments until the toe has fully healed
🦶🏼 Lead a healthy lifestyle – exercise/ good hygiene and healthy diet
🦶🏼 There are a number of exciting new products coming on to the market including laser therapy and clearanail (a drill that drills tiny holes in the nail to allow deep pe*******on of ointment). Success rates are positive but it is too early to tell if they are more effective than traditional methods.

Any treatment will require patience and consistency on your part to give the nail the best possible chance of recovery. Unfortunately, even when the infection has been cleared, some nails may never gain the same appearance as before the infection.

21/02/2026

Saturday Spotlight - Cracked Heels

Dry, cracked heels can not only be unsightly, but can often be source of pain and embarrassment. Most minor cracked heels are able to be treated at home but in some cases you may need to see a podiatrist to get you started. If there is an excessive amount of thickened skin on your heel, that needs to be debrided (shaved off) by using a sterile blade. Ideally, this should be done by a HCPC registered fully qualified and insured podiatrist.

What are Cracked Heels?

Cracked heels are caused by cracking or splitting of the skin. This splitting may be due to dryness or thickening of the skin (callus) that cracks and breaks under pressure. When the skin around the heels becomes thickened or dry, it loses it’s suppleness and elasticity, and can split under simple pressures such as that from walking.

Causes:

👣 Walking around barefoot or in footwear such as flip flops or open backed sandals which dry’s out the feet
👣 Long standing at work or home, especially on hard floors
👣 Increased weight which causes increased pressure on the heels causing callus. With increased weight the heel is also required expand more and hence can often crack more.
👣 Poorly fitting shoes or sandals.
👣 Poor foot hygiene
👣 Unhealthy, dry scaly skin that can be caused by climate, such as low humidity during dry summers or cold winters
👣 Poor nutritional diet.
👣 Circulation problems
👣 Can also be caused by other health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems or psoriasis and eczema.
👣 Ageing process with less supple skin and reduced circulation

Treatment Options:

In addition to cleaning the dead dry skin from your heels for you, we aim to treat the underlying causes to your cracking as well as giving you the right advice on how to keep your heels in great condition.

👣 Using a heel balm or oil based moisturiser twice daily. Using a heel balm in the morning is very important as it increases the elasticity of the skin on your heels before you get moving for the day and assists in decreasing the occurrence of cracks.
👣 A pumice stone or a foot file can be used to reduce the thickness of the hard skin.
👣 Wear closed in shoes and good socks when you can.
👣 Drink plenty of water to keep you and your the skin hydrated.
👣 Essential fatty acids within your diet (e.g. Omega 3 fatty acids) and a good diet may assist.

If cracks start to bleed apply an antiseptic to prevent infection and keep clean with a dressing as needed. See your GP or podiatrist if in doubt.

14/02/2026

Saturday Spotlight - Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy is a term for a group of conditions in which the peripheral nervous system is damaged. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves that lie outside the central nervous system. It includes different types of nerves with their own specific functions, including:

⭐ Sensory nerves – responsible for transmitting sensations, such as pain and touch
⭐ Motor nerves – responsible for controlling muscles
⭐ Autonomic nerves – responsible for regulating automatic functions of the body, such as blood pressure and bladder function

Symptoms:

Damage to the peripheral nerves can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the specific nerves affected. The foot can be the first place to be affected and may present as:

⭐ Numbness and tingling in the feet or hands
⭐ Burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas
⭐ Loss of balance and co-ordination
⭐ Muscle weakness, especially in the feet

These symptoms are usually constant, but may fluctuate. The sooner peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed, the better the chance of limiting the damage and preventing further complications. If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is important to see your GP as soon as possible.

Diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Poorly maintained blood sugar levels can damage the nerves. Controlling your blood sugar better, stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol may help. There are also some links with obesity and peripheral neuropathy so weight loss and leading a healthy lifestyle may help.

Treatment Options:

Treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on the underlying cause and the type of symptoms you are experiencing. Only some of the underlying causes of neuropathy can be treated. Nerve pain may be treated with special prescribed medication as standard painkillers don’t usually work.

As podiatrists we do not specifically treat peripheral neuropathy but we treat the effects caused by the condition such as callus, corns, ulcers and concentrate on helping you prevent further complications. We can offer regular nerve assessments to monitor the progression and offer foot health advice to assist you in dealing with this condition.

12/02/2026

⭐ We have one appointment left for tomorrow with Graeme at 12pm. ⭐

Our next availability after this date would be Tuesday 3rd March in the evening with Fiona.

If you wish to book you can do it online or give us a call!

07/02/2026

Saturday Spotlight - Blisters

Blisters are small pockets of fluid that usually form in the upper layers of skin after it’s been damaged. The damage is usually caused by excessive pressure from new shoes, poorly fitted shoes or a sudden increase in exercise. Fluid collects under the damaged skin, cushioning the tissue underneath. This protects the tissue from further damage and allows it to heal. Most blisters are filled with a clear fluid (serum), but may be filled with blood (blood blisters) or pus if they become inflamed or infected.

Treatment options:

Most blisters heal naturally after three to seven days and don’t require medical attention. It’s important to avoid bursting the blister, because this could lead to an infection or slow down the healing process. If the blister does burst, don’t peel off the dead skin. Instead, allow the fluid inside the blister to drain and cover the area with a dry, sterile dressing to protect it from infection until it heals. We may release the fluid using a sterile blade and then dress it to reduce possibility of infection and allow it to heal quicker. We also stock a range of blister prevention plasters/pads and advise on ways to prevent them happening.

It is important to contact your GP if you think the blister is infected. The sign of infection may be

⭐ Increased pain
⭐ Recurring
⭐ Yellow or green pus present
⭐ Increased heat

❗ Do not ignore any sins of infection as it may lead to further complications.

What causes blisters?

Blisters can be caused by:

⭐ Friction to the skin
⭐ Heat – for example, from sunburn or a scald
⭐ Contact with chemicals, such as detergent or creams
⭐ Some medical conditions

Prevention:

There are a number of things you can do to avoid getting blisters caused by friction. For example, you can:

⭐ Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes
⭐ Help keep your feet dry with thicker socks or talcum powder
⭐ Break footwear in gently over a number of days
⭐ Don’t ignore any signs of pain
⭐ Use a small amount of Vaseline on areas of increased pressure

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!!

03/02/2026

❗Appointment Availability❗
⭐We have some late night availability with Fiona tomorrow evening or some appointments during the day on Friday with Greame⭐
If you'd like to book one of these, please get in touch.
✉️ Send us a message on Messenger
📞 Call or text us on 07904 237004
🌐 Book online at https://argyll-foot-clinic.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

01/02/2026

❗Appointment Availability ❗
⭐ We still have some appointments for Tuesday with Frazer ⭐
If you'd like to book one of these, please get in touch.
✉️ Send us a message on Messenger
📞 Call or text us on 07904 237004
🌐 Book online at https://argyll-foot-clinic.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

31/01/2026

Saturday Spotlight - Callous and Corns

Callus & Corns are areas of hard, thickened skin that develop when the skin is exposed to excessive pressure or friction. They commonly occur on the feet and can cause pain and discomfort when you walk.

Callus

Hard, rough areas of skin that are often yellowish in colour. They can develop in any area where there is an increase in pressure. The most common areas are:

💙 Balls of the foot
💙 Under the metatarsals
💙 Sides of the foot
💙 On the toes (under, top or apex)
💙 Around the heel

Calluses are larger than corns and don’t have such a well-defined edge. As skin is thickened, it’s often less sensitive to touch than the surrounding skin. They develop when the skin rubs against something, such as a bone, a shoe or the ground and can be painful or pain free.

Other possible causes of include:

💙 Excessively dry skin
💙 Reduced fatty padding under feet – elderly people have less fatty tissue in their skin

Treating Callus

A sterile blade is used to debride (shave) away the damaged/thickened skin or filed using a water spray drill. As with corns the prime objective is to remove the cause of pressure to the affected area and therefore reducing chance of reoccurrence.

Corns

Small circles of thick skin that usually develop on the tops and sides of toes or on the sole of the foot. The cause is again increased pressure and/or friction. They differ from callus as the nucleus is still present which makes it feel like walking on a stone and usually more painful. However, they can occur anywhere.

Corns are often caused by:

💙 Wearing shoes that fit poorly – shoes that are too loose can allow your foot to slide and rub
💙 Certain shoe designs that place excessive pressure on an area of the foot – for example, high-heeled shoes can squeeze the toes

Treating corns

Corns on feet won’t get better unless the cause of the pressure is removed. If the cause isn’t removed (ie: tight shoes), the skin could become thicker and more painful over time. We enucleate (dig out/remove) the corn with a sterile blade and/or water spraying drill and offer advice on how to prevent them in future.

We do not recommend corn plasters due to the damage they can do to surrounding tissues.

Preventing Callus & Corns:

💙 Dry your feet thoroughly after washing them and apply a good quality moisturising foot cream (not body lotion).
💙 Use a pumice stone or foot file regularly to gently remove hard skin. If you use a pumice stone, make sure it dries completely between uses and doesn’t harbour bacteria.
💙 Wear comfortable footwear that fits properly. Always shop for shoes in the afternoon, because your feet swell as the day goes on.

Don’t put up with foot pain as if it’s normal!!

24/01/2026

Saturday Spotlight - Shin Splints

Shin splints is a general term used to describe exercise-induced pain in the front of the lower legs, or shins. The medical term is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS).

The shin pain can be felt during or after activity, particularly running, or sports with sudden stops and starts, such as football, basketball and tennis. The pain is felt along the shin bone (tibia), which runs down the inner part of your shin. At first it can bel a dull, aching pain. If ignored and exercise continued, it can become very painful and you may have to stop exercising altogether.

It’s really important not to “run through the pain” because shin pain could be a sign of an injury to the bone and surrounding tissues in your leg. Continued force on your legs will make the injury and your pain worse and prolong the recovery process.

Causes:

Shin splints have a number of different causes and listed below are some common risk factors:

⭐ Have increased your exercise levels or are just starting to exercise
⭐ Sport on hard surfaces or slopes
⭐ Wear poorly fitting or worn-out trainers that don’t cushion and support your feet properly
⭐ Being overweight places extra stress on your legs and other joints around the body
⭐ Have an arch disorder or your feet roll inwards, as this puts more pressure on your lower legs
⭐ Have weak ankles or a tight Achilles tendon (the band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the calf muscle)
⭐ Have tight calf muscles
⭐ Eating sugary and fatty foods is thought to increase the levels of inflammation in the body

Treatment Options:

You should stop the activity causing your shin splints for at least two weeks. After this time, the pain in your shins should begin to decrease and you can gradually resume the activity. We aim to reduce the inflammation and treat the actual cause of the pain. If the cause of the pain is not addressed then it is likely that the pain will reappear in future. A common cause of this pain may be flat feet (fallen arches), high arched feet and/or heels that are misaligned. An orthotic insole may be necessary to address these issues. In these situations a biomechanical assessment is advised to pin point any structural improvements that need to be made and to find the right orthotic to suit your needs. We have a wide range of custom made insoles that can be made and fitted to your footwear on the day of your assessment.

Other typical treatments:

⭐ Ice therapy as often as required but usually 2-3 x per day for 10-15 mins
⭐ Active rest ie: reducing impact sports while in pain and doing cycling, swimming or other low impact sports
⭐ Training modification – altering the sport, intensity levels or playing surface can help
⭐ Strappings or Kinesiology taping
⭐ Footwear advice – a neutral shoe is recommended (sole that runs parallel to the ground viewed from behind). If a correction to the foot is required, a bespoke orthotic insole can be specifically designed for your needs.
⭐ Lifestyle modifications- dietary changes that can reduce inflammation in the body.
⭐ Stretching and strengthening program.

12/01/2026

We have one appointment left for tomorrow (Tuesday 13th January) with Frazer at 3.30pm.

If you wish to book you can do it online or give us a call!

Argyll Foot Clinic Irvine

03/03/2026

03/03/2026

28/02/2026

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14/02/2026

12/02/2026

07/02/2026

03/02/2026

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31/01/2026

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm