Appointments
Everything you need to know about arranging your visit with us.
Please call us on 01273 582999 between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. You can also book through our online booking system.
We do not make appointments via email at this time. You are welcome to email mail@acornpodiatry.co.uk with any queries and we will try to reply as soon as possible.
You can use the chat widget on our website to contact our AI receptionist at any time, day or night. It can help with appointment enquiries. You can also book online or call us by phone. Please use our Book Online link for online appointments.
Yes. Where appropriate, we provide treatment in the comfort of your own home. Some of our podiatrists also visit nursing homes, providing professional foot care to residents, including those who are elderly, disabled or otherwise vulnerable.
Yes. All our podiatrists are degree-qualified, fully insured and registered with the relevant professional and regulatory bodies. Our team brings experience from both NHS and private practice.
Our modern clinic is at 187 South Coast Rd, Peacehaven, East Sussex, BN10 8NS. Acorn Chiropody & Podiatry has been established in Peacehaven since 2005.
Our Treatments
What to expect from diabetic foot care, medical pedicures and nail surgery.
People with diabetes can lose feeling in their feet and develop poorer circulation, often without obvious warning. Regular checks catch those changes early, before a small problem becomes a wound that is slow to heal.
We look at the skin, nails and pressure areas, then carry out two simple tests. A Doppler ultrasound lets us listen to the pulses in the foot and ankle, so we can judge how strongly and steadily blood is reaching the feet. Sensation testing checks whether the nerves are still picking up light touch and pressure.
Both tests are painless and take only a few minutes. Results are recorded over time so any change is picked up early.
The medical pedicure is a core part of podiatry care. Treatment includes nail cutting, reduction of thickened nails, and the careful removal of hard skin and corns. We also give advice on footwear, skin care, and measures that lower the risk of problems recurring.
Many patients attend every six to eight weeks. Regular review keeps the nails manageable, the skin in better condition, and the feet comfortable.
Nail surgery is used when a nail is ingrown and causing ongoing pain or infection. It can also be used to remove thickened or damaged nails. The procedure removes either the affected section of the nail or the whole nail.
A local anaesthetic is given first, so the toe is numb and the procedure itself is not painful. After the nail is removed, a chemical called phenol may be applied to the exposed nail bed. Phenol destroys the nail-forming cells in that area, which reduces the chance of the problem nail growing back.
Healing depends on how much of the nail was removed. Most patients recover within two to six weeks.
Keep the dressings clean, dry and intact for at least two days. Avoid pressure on the treated toe, and do not wear footwear that presses on it. Use prescribed pain relief, and change dressings only as directed. A follow-up visit is arranged to check the toe is healing as expected.
Verrucas
Understanding verrucas and the treatment options we offer.
A verruca is a wart on the foot, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It often looks like a rough patch with small black dots and can feel like a stone in the shoe. The virus spreads easily in warm, damp places such as pools and changing rooms.
Many clear on their own, but a painful or long-lasting verruca can be assessed by a podiatrist. Book an assessment if a verruca is painful, spreading, or has not cleared with treatment you have already tried.
Liquid nitrogen treatment, also called cryotherapy, freezes a verruca to damage the infected skin so the body can shed it. It is extremely cold, at about −196°C, and is applied with a spray for a short time. The area can sting or burn a little during treatment and for a short while afterwards.
Several appointments may be required, depending on how large the verruca is and how long it has been present, and results vary from person to person. Treatment can be repeated every few weeks.
No. Cryotherapy is not suitable for everyone, including some people with poor circulation, loss of feeling in the feet, or certain skin conditions. Your podiatrist will check this before treatment and can discuss other options if freezing is unlikely to help.
Silver nitrate is a chemical treatment used to burn away the surface of a verruca. It is typically used for smaller verrucae, for children, or for those who cannot tolerate or should not have more extreme treatments. It is applied with a caustic pencil, often after the hard skin has been pared down, and can sting for a short time.
The treated area turns grey or black, which is expected and fades as the skin sheds. Silver nitrate can stain clothing, nails and furnishings, so a dressing is applied and should be kept clean and dry for about 24 hours. Multiple visits may be needed.
Needling is a good option for stubborn verrucae that have not cleared with simpler care. It is done in clinic under local anaesthetic, usually in a single visit. A fine sterile needle is used to puncture the verruca many times, pushing infected cells into deeper skin where immune cells are more active. Nothing is injected through the needle.
Clearance is not instant. It can take several weeks to a few months, and a second session is sometimes needed. As with any verruca treatment, there are no guarantees. Read more about verruca needling.
You should not feel the needling itself. Once the anaesthetic wears off, usually within a few hours, the area can feel bruised or sore for a few days. Paracetamol is generally suitable if needed. Anti-inflammatory medicines are often best avoided around the time of treatment, because the inflammatory response is part of how the procedure works.
Keep the dressing dry for the first day, then follow your aftercare advice. Do not drive until the numbness has fully worn off, and arrange a lift home.
Not for everyone. Your podiatrist will check your medical history, circulation and medication before offering it, and will talk through consent, aftercare and other options such as acids, freezing or microwave treatment.
