The ugly truth about pretty shoes

Splashed across magazines and gleaming seductively in shop windows – sky high summer heels are everywhere. This year, it’s hardly a heel unless you’re teetering at least four inches above what you’re supposed to. While high heels are great for lengthening the appearance of legs and achieving a perkier bottom, there is an ugly truth to these pretty shoes.

Carnation Footcare podiatrist, Dave Wain, says high heels are the main cause of women’s foot problems.

“Heels that are around one and a half inches high are the most comfortable and healthy for feet. Anything over two inches can start causing problems - feet are not designed to be kept at steep angles for long periods of time, and the downwards pressure onto the ball of the foot will eventually result in tired and aching feet.

“Wearing high heels can also lead to more serious problems, like blisters, corns and bunions, which look unsightly and can be very painful,” says Dave Wain.

It’s a familiar warning – and one many women tend to ignore. Research carried out by Carnation Footcare has revealed that one in four women would wear uncomfortable shoes simply because they look good. So, how can women wear their beloved heels without sacrificing their feet?

“If you must wear heels, prepare your feet properly then only wear them for limited periods of time. Have 'heel breaks' wearing flatter shoes at least every other day," says Dave Wain.

Face up to the truth and prepare your tootsies for their high heel excursions by following these twelve simple steps:

- First things first, get rid of any existing foot nasties: Carnation Corn Caps are proven to remove corns within ten days

- Strengthen your feet and toes by consciously straightening your toes, then wiggle them around

- Increase foot flexibility: stand facing a wall about two feet away. Place your foot against the wall, 3/4 inches from the floor, keeping your heel on the floor. Gently move your knee towards the wall until you feel a slight stretching. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat five times and then do the same with the other foot.

- Stretch your heels by standing with your back to a wall with your feet shoulder width apart. Take a step forward and bend the front leg, keeping the back leg straight.

- Hit the beach! Walk in sand whenever you have the opportunity, which keeps feet smooth and also gives them a thorough workout

- For strong ankles do twenty ankle rotations per foot per day - ten in each direction. Make sure you keep your leg as still as possible and rotate the foot from the ankle joint.

- Whilst sitting, roll your feet backwards and forward over a tennis ball or a plastic bottle (filling it with sand can help). Concentrate on rolling on the arch area of your feet.

- To improve circulation, line a basin with marbles and fill with cold water. Immerse your feet and move them over the marbles, then give your feet a good rub and put on some warm socks

- File away unsightly hard skin with the Carnation Corn and Callous File. Finish your mini-pedicure with Carnation’s Cracked Heel Cream to leave your feet soft and silky.

- If your feet have already been rubbed raw by this season’s heels and you’re suffering from nasty blisters, use Carnation Blister Care before slipping on your heels. The medical grade hydrocolloid dressings protect blisters and help prevent the ‘barefoot walk of shame’ that blisters inevitably induce.

- Use the Carnation Tip Toes range. Inserting the Invisible Gel Pads will help prevent the balls of your feet from aching, and Invisible Gel Strap Strips, Heel Shields and Spots can be used to cushion areas of your feet where heels rub, stopping corns and bunions before they start.

- If you already have a bunion make sure you protect it with a Carnation Gel Bunion Protector. Heels shouldn’t be worn for more than an hour or two.

If this year’s catwalks are anything to judge by, women may never be prepared to ditch their stilettos in favour of those sensible one-and-a-half-inch heels. It’s a good thing that, with a little forward planning and some TLC, you can still show off those gladiator stilettos and platform sandals without your feet falling victim to fashion.

For Carnation stockists go to Carnationfootcare.co.uk.