This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
EB foot care: podiatry advice and guidelines
Podiatrists specialise in foot, ankle and leg healthcare. They improve people’s mobility, independence and quality of life, and the expertise they offer can be beneficial to people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
This page offers some practical advice on how to look after your feet if you’re living with EB, as well as information on where you can find additional resources and support.
Contents
1. How to find a qualified podiatrist for EB.
2. Guidelines for EB foot care. This includes helpful guidelines of footwear advice for adults and children with EB, dystrophic nail care, other ways to look after your feet, and more.
3. Tips from our members. See advice from our members about their favourite footwear brands, ways to prevent blisters, dressings to use, and more.
How to find a qualified podiatrist for EB
If you are under the care of an EB specialist healthcare team, then you can ask to be referred to a podiatrist.
Your EB healthcare team or GP might consider referring you to local NHS community podiatry services for ongoing treatment. However, different areas of the country have different eligibility criteria which may lead to your referral being rejected. If this happens for you, it can sometimes be useful to try and find a local private podiatrist to assist with your footcare needs.
To ensure your podiatrist is appropriately qualified, please ensure they are registered with The Royal College of Podiatrists (RCPod).
If you are under the care of a podiatrist at your EB centre in Birmingham or London, they may be able to liaise with your local podiatrist on how best to look after your feet.
Guidelines for EB foot care
There are several helpful guidelines for EB foot care on the DEBRA International website. These guides share practical information in an easy-to-read format on the following areas:
- Footwear advice for adults living with EB
- Footwear advice for parents caring for a child living with EB
Our podiatry fact sheet for EB feet. - Dystrophic nail care
- Hyperkeratosis (callus) care for adults living with EB
Our podiatry fact sheet
We’ve also created this fact sheet on how to look after EB feet from EB Podiatrist Dr Khan, the project lead for developing an EB podiatry training programme. This fact sheet includes an overview of advice on shoes, socks, and other ways to help with EB foot health.
Tips from our members
Our members with lived experience of EB recently shared some of the things they found helped in a workshop at our DEBRA UK Members’ Weekend event. We want to keep developing the sharing of these lived experiences and advice for EB foot health, so please do get in touch with us at feedback@debra.org.uk and share what works for you. It could make a difference for other members of the EB community too.
These can be a very individual choice. Seam free and natural fibres, with a padded sports style sole, are most popular as some of the best socks for people with EB. The following are some of our members’ favourites:
- Toe Socks
- Bam Bamboo socks – (other bamboo socks are available on the high street)
- Silver socks – carnation
- Merino Wool Socks or merino wool between toes
While we cannot recommend brands, as we know everyone is different and always suggest you try on new shoes first and follow the guidance in the footwear guides mentioned above, we can share suggestions from the EB community that may be able to help you.
Our members have shared some of their favourite brands of shoes when it comes to EB-friendly footwear. Some of these makes can be expensive and high street alternatives may be available. We may also be able to consider awarding you with a one-off contribution to trying a different shoe through our DEBRA UK support grants:
- Barefoot
- Hoka
- Sketchers
- Ugg
- Crocs
- Geox
- Nike
- FitFlops
- Foot bath in ice (before or after walking)
- Fan or gel mat under desk with shoes off
- Keep shoes/socks in fridge
- Using cornflour as ‘talcum powder’ – Healthcare professionals and patients have also reported the benefit of using cornflour on the soles of the feet and in between the toes to help control excessive moisture and reduce friction. This can help control blistering on a daily basis.
- Coolsorb insoles – insoles that fit any shoe size and help to keep feet cool and more comfortable with increased shock absorption and cushioning.
- Dry skin lotion (gold bond) – a lotion to help soothe skin and reduce friction.
The following bandage and dressing companies can all support people living with EB and are popular with our members. However, you should always talk to your EB healthcare team for advice that’s right for you. Please visit our managing medical care page if you aren’t already under the care of a specialist EB healthcare team to get help with a referral.
- Bullens (bandage delivery) – Bullens have the UK licence for Spycra, a friction prevention dressing, which is available on prescription.
- Silipos Gel Tubing – One of our members has suggested that this gel tubing is particularly helpful in reducing friction when wearing boots.
- Mepilex Border – These flexible dressings are only available on prescription.