Maintaining Healthy Feet

As the seasons change from winter to spring in the Tri-Valley, sandal and flip flop weather is quickly approaching. Are your feet ready to be exposed for the world to see? If you dropped your foot care routine over the winter or never had one, this list will have your feet healthy, beautiful, and ready for warm weather footwear in no time.

Take Your Time While Washing Your Feet

It’s easy to give in to the temptation to simply give your feet a quick once over while taking a shower. However, if you want clean, healthy, and beautiful feet, a thorough daily washing is a necessity. Your feet typically spend most of the day trapped within the confines of a dark, damp shoe which does not allow proper air circulation. The moist atmosphere is the perfect place for bacteria and fungus to grow.

To kill potential foot bacteria and fungus, wash your feet thoroughly every day. You do not need to buy any kind of special wash. Just make sure you wash each foot completely, especially between your toes. Drying is also an important part of the foot washing process. You do not want excess moisture on your feet and between your toes when you put your socks and shoes on.

Trim Your Toenails Properly

Toenails should not be overlooked when it comes to the health of your feet. Cutting toenails properly will help you avoid ingrown toenails which can get infected and cause huge problems. When cutting your toenails, cut straight across the nail and use a file to curve the sides of the nail. Cutting in a curved pattern can lead to nails growing in the skin and should be avoided.

Treat Fungus

If you do not properly wash and dry your feet and wear fresh socks daily, you may end up with athlete’s foot or toenail fungus. Don’t panic if this happens. There are a ton of over-the-counter antifungal treatments available at your local drugstore. These products come in liquids, lotions, powders, sprays, and pretty much any other medium you can think of. If you tend to have wet feet, a powder is the way to go. If your feet are constantly dry, try an antifungal lotion. Visit your doctor if over-the-counter medications are not solving your problem.

Pedicure

A pedicure is the perfect way to pamper your feet while improving their overall health. A typical pedicure here at Threads consists of nail trimming, a foot massage, callus treatment, moisturizing, and more. Think of a pedicure as an occasional foot tune-up to compliment your daily foot care regimen.

Sunscreen

You know that you should wear sunscreen when going outside, but I’m willing to bet you skip your feet in the application process. If you often go barefoot, wear sandals, or wear open topped shoes, apply sunscreen to the top of your feet to protect them from the sun’s rays. SPF 30 should be adequate.

Moisturize

I know that I have already said that trapping moisture in your shoes is bad for your feet, but that does not mean you should avoid properly moisturizing your feet on occasion. People who live in warm weather climates often end up with scaly, hard, and callused feet. These problems can be treated by moisturizing daily with any common lotion or moisturizer. Just remember not to put a wet foot into your shoe.

Take a Walk      

Exercising the muscles of your feet is necessary to keep them healthy, but how do you do it? It’s not like there are special foot workout machines at the gym. The simplest way to do this is to take a daily walk. By walking each day you will be keeping your foot muscles strong and your tendons and ligaments flexible. Keeping your feet active will help you avoid possible medical issues in the future.

Wear Proper Support

The shoes you wear will ultimately affect many aspects of your overall foot health, for better or for worse. Wearing shoes that are too tight can cause ingrown nails, bunions, and general foot pain. Shoes that are too big and leave too much room for movement will lead to blisters. Finding the right fit for your feet is pivotal. Take your time when shoe shopping. If you can’t find the right fit, you can always modify your shoe by purchasing the correct insoles that match your foot shape. Proper support will help you avoid unnecessary foot pain.

Treat Your Calluses

Even if your shoes fit perfectly, calluses are often developed due to the constant rubbing of your feet against your shoe. Fortunately, calluses can be treated using a pumice stone or a foot file. To begin, soak your feet in water for about 10-15 in order to soften the skin. Once you feel your skin is soft enough, use your pumice stone or file to remove the unsightly thickened skin. If you have a particularly stubborn callus, balms or heel creams that contain salicylic acid can help soften the callus for removal.

 

If you are still unsure of how to take care of your feet, contact the experts here at Threads. We will be happy to assist you with any questions you have, and more than happy to start you off with a great pedicure.