Your feet are the last part of your body you’re worried about — until they start hurting. However, they are too vital to overlook: with some 26 bones and a complex framework of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, your feet absorb the pressure of your entire body weight every step of the way, keeping you balanced and upright in the process. So, your feet do need pampering and care.
Your feet need a lot of energy. After all, they are the body’s workhorses, taking an average of 5,000 steps a day. That’s 2.5 miles! Not to mention that every step of the way, your feet have to carry the weight of your body. Those hard-working legs deserve a little more consideration than you’re currently paying them.
You don’t need lavish spa treatment to take care of your feet. Only spending a few minutes a day on foot care and finding the right shoes will keep you away from complications that can lead to pain and even disability.
Here Are Eight Ways Of Keeping The Feet Looking Their Best All Year Long:
1. Keep Your Feet Clean and Dry
Healthy feet begin with good hygiene. Clean your feet thoroughly with soap and water after you bathe. Dry them well afterward. Fungal species love moisture, so depriving them of all moisture would make it more difficult for them to survive. Dr. Kurtz says, “Be careful to dry properly between the individual toes. Any extra moisture between the toes would create the perfect environment for a fungal infection.”
2. Examine Your Feet for Problems
Perform a foot self-examination once a week while you take a bath or a shower, Kurtz suggests. When you dry your knees, take a close look at the soles for any scaling and between the toes for the peeling areas. That could signify the foot of the athlete. Often, look for the discoloration of the nails, which could indicate the fungus of the nail. If you have diabetes, you should check your feet every day as diabetes leads to a higher chance of foot sores and infections.
3. Prepare A Diy Foot Scrub
DIY foot scrubs made with sea salt or sugar can exfoliate the skin and make it look healthy and radiant. Try these foot scrubs of olive and coconut oil and mineral oils that will add to scrubs’ benefits for ultimate care. If you massage your feet when you apply the scrub, it will help relieve your feet and release any stress you can feel after a long working day.
4. Try A Nourishing Foot Mask
What could be better than a soothing, relaxing, and nourishing foot mask after a hard day at work? Try the Oatmeal and Brown Sugar Foot Mask for Foot Care:
This foot mask is almost healthy enough to feed. Pulse together a quarter cup of rolled oats and a quarter cup of brown sugar in a food processor. Switch to a small bowl and stir in a quarter cup of honey, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a tablespoon of olive oil. Divide the mixture into two Ziploc bags and put your feet in the bags. Massage the paste in the feet and wait for 10 minutes. Rinse the paste with warm water.
5. Get Rid Of Cracked Heels
The skin around the heels is usually thicker and drier than the rest of our skin, and we need to wash our feet properly in warm, soapy water to get rid of cracks.
- Apply a liquid bandage available in drug stores to cover cracks to avoid further cracking to infection.
- Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties make honey a safe treatment for broken heels. Use honey as a scrub or use it as a foot mask.
Heel fractures are not always severe and can be handled at home. However, there are instances where medical problems can cause these fractures. If you have serious heel cracks, you should visit your doctor.
6. Moisturize The Skin
Coconut oil is the ideal natural moisturizer for dry feet. Use coconut oil alone to moisturize the feet, and apply some sugar or salt to make a DIY foot scrub. You can also use a few drops of essential oils to cure the infection. Be sure you don’t use moisturizers between your toes, as excess moisture will cause fungus and infections to develop. If you have extremely dry skin problems on your feet, use a moisturizing treatment overnight: Just rub your feet with cocoa butter and then put on your favorite pair of cotton socks. Your feet will be much softer when you get up in the morning.
7. Prevent Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails can be caused by trauma, improper shoes, improper trimming, and other problems. To prevent this from happening, make sure you don’t cut your nails too short or rough at the edges. And, pick shoes and socks that fit well – you should be able to move your toes freely.
8. Take Care Of Your Feet to Treat and Prevent Swelling
Swollen feet is an issue that all of us face after long journeys or standing on our feet for too long. To minimize the swelling, bring your legs up or lay on your back with your legs lifted and pressed against the wall. If you also have swollen feet and ankles, try wearing compression socks that you can find at any drug store. These socks can release discomfort and prevent fluid from collecting in your feet.
9. Soothe The Pain
High heels, heavy shoes, or standing for a long time will make your feet hurt. There are a variety of ways to soothe your aching feet at home. For example, soak your sore feet in a hot water basin with Epsom salt. Another way to reduce the stress that the feet experience throughout the day is to take comparison baths. Keep the feet under running water and switch with one minute of hot water and one minute of cold water, repeat the cycle many times, and finish with cold water.
10. See A Doctor for A Perfect Foot Examination
Don’t try to self-treat the pain on the foot. A pediatric physician should examine the discomfort, redness, swelling, or discoloration that occurs. Usually, the condition can be resolved with a prescription drug or a minor in-office operation. Allowing a specialist to take a look will help prevent small problems from being major ones. Taking care of your foot health can help you have healthy feet.
Final Thoughts
Trepal says, “Feet appear to mirror the body as people mature. We see complications such as diminished breathing, thinning of the skin, brittle bones, muscle atrophy, arthritis, etc. Many of these disorders can initially be manifested in the foot and ankle.”
Keep an eye on your feet for changes, discomfort, irritation, and something else. Again, be mindful of what you put on your legs.
Younger people compromise pain and function for style. Don’t wait for the suffering and discomfort to catch up with you later in life.
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[…] final step in a well-spent spa day: a foot mask. We’ve been on our feet all day, so it’s important not to neglect our feet! Until you get to bed, lather your feet […]
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