We take our feet for granted and they are often forgotten when it comes to beauty regimes. From being squeezed into high heels or spending long days inside nylon tights or socks, there are a number of challenges our feet have to go through on a daily basis.
Follow these helpful tips on how to have foot care and keep them happy!
Washing
The skin on our feet is naturally dry and can be made worse by anything from tight shoes, indoor heating and certain medical conditions. What many people don’t realize is that soaking your feet can actually dehydrate them, causing skin to become drier particularly on the heels. Instead of a long soak, massage an intensive foot scrub on your feet 2 -3 times a week, leaving it on for 5 minutes before rinsing off well with warm water. This will help to remove dead skin cells and help smooth the feet.
Ensure that you dry feet well, especially in-between toes to avoid getting a fungal infection like Athlete’s Foot.
Moisturizing
Heels tend to dry out more than the rest of the foot as a lot of pressure gets applied to the heel on a daily basis. Dry skin can lead to cracking which can be painful so it’s important to keep your feet moisturized paying particular attend to the thicker skin on your heels.
For best results, apply oils or moisturizers straight after showering and before bed. Avoid applying foot cream in-between the toes as these areas should be dry at all times. Instead sprinkle a little talcum in between toes to help keep skin dry and avoid any infections.
Cutting toenails
It’s important to keep toenails trimmed. Nails should be cut when they’re dry, so cut them after you have showered and dried your feet properly. Using appropriate toenail clippers or manicure scissors, cut straight across the nail, never cut the nail rounded or too short as this could cause ingrown toenails. File the nail after cutting to smooth the edges.
Wearing High heels
They look great and make your legs appear longer but high heels can also lead to the development of bunions which can over time become rather painful. There are a couple of things you can do to alleviate these symptoms such as:
• Buying insoles will support the arch of your feet while walking.
• Insoles are also great when exercising or running as they provide support for the knees as well as feet.
• Stretch your legs and feet before and after wearing your heels
Buy shoes which are the correct size for your feet. If in doubt, get your feet measured
Preventing Foot Odor
The bacteria which thrive in the moist environment of your shoes are the cause of unpleasant, smelly feet. Try using baby powder in your shoes before wearing them which will help soak up any moisture and odors. Wearing clean socks everyday will also help!