Our feet are what literally get us from one place to another; they are there to support us every step of the way. When we walk, run, jump or do any other kind of activity that involves using our feet, we use our bones, joints and ligaments that are intertwined throughout our feet. With this said, it is important to treat our feet once in a while and to take good care of them. A little care can go a long way in maintaining your feet. Many people don’t look after their feet properly and don’t give them the love and care they deserve. It might be time to give some attention to the most mobile part of your body. There are simple and easy steps you can take to keep your feet healthy and reduce the risk of foot problems. Healthy feet are essential for feeling good and staying active. If you neglect your feet, it can lead to unnecessary pain. You should take the time to regularly check your feet for problems. Taking a look and examining your feet can allow you to take preventative measures for any arising problems or getting early treatment before the condition becomes worse. Any scaling or peeling could indicate a foot problem. Any discolouration of the nails could also indicate a problem such as a nail fungus. If you have diabetes, you should check your feet every day. This is because diabetes leads to a higher risk of foot sores and infections.
The number one rule to remember is to always keep your feet clean and dry. Healthy feet start with good hygiene. Hygiene is every aspect is important. If you keep your hair, teeth, clothes, or room clean, why not add feet to the list? When you shower or bathe, thoroughly clean and scrub your feet with soap and water. Lightly scrubbing and exfoliating your feet will remove dirt and dead skin cells, leaving your feet soft and smooth. Afterwards, allow them to completely dry. You may already know this, but fungal organisms thrive in moisture; therefore, eliminating any wetness will make it more difficult for them to grow. Be sure to dry in between each toe as well, this is a perfect place for a fungal infection to start. A common type of fungal infection that results in damp feet is tinea pedis (also known as athlete’s foot). It is a contagious skin infection that causes scaly, itchy and cracked skin. In order to keep your feet infection free, dry your feet thoroughly after washing. Taking another step further to care for your feet is to regularly moisturise your feet. You may be a culprit of moisturising your legs but stop at your ankles! Keep going! Don’t leave your feet looking dry. Moisturising them will maintain the beautiful soft skin on your feet and prevent your heels from becoming hard or cracked.
Wearing proper shoes is another crucial step if you want to keep your feet in healthy and great condition. Shoes that fit your foot shape, length and size will eliminate potential issues that can develop over time from ill-fitting shoes. Choosing shoes that fit properly will not only help maintain your feet, but also feel more comfortable to wear; especially during long periods of time. Shoes that are too tight can cause long-term foot problems. Most of you would agree that you’d much prefer to wear comfortable, so why not invest a little bit more into supportive and well-fitting shoes? When shopping for shoes try and choose shoes that compensate for foot swelling that occurs at the end of the day, and wear the same type of socks or hosiery you’ll be wearing with the shoes. You may have noticed that your feet swell up by the end of the day when walking in a pair of shoes (for a long time) that may have perfectly fit you at the start of the day. It is natural for your feet to swell after a long day but it will eventually cause discomfort. Wearing high heels can also make your feet swell quicker. A lot of women love the look of high heels. It can elongate the legs, be the finishing touch to an outfit, and great to wear for special occasions such as weddings and birthday parties. However, when your feet swell up, it could make you wish you choose those pair of flats over your heels. Heels that are your exact size will eventually feel tight and uncomfortable. If you know you’re going to be wearing high heels for longer period of time, consider going at least one half size up to prevent the pain of wearing shoes that are too small for your feet. It is recommended to shop for shoes later in the day and get assistance from a shoe fitting professional who will ensure you get the most comfortable fit. Tight heels and stiletto high heels can become extremely uncomfortable when wearing them for long periods of time. If you are someone that regularly wears high heels, it is very important to commit to finding heels that fit your feet properly. If you have foot pain, blisters, calluses or any other type of foot problem, wearing high heels can worsen the condition and increase your pain. If you are someone who loves wearing high heels and cannot go without them, opt for thicker heels rather than stilettos with a skinny heel. Thicker heels will more evenly distribute your weight rather than forcing all your weight on a small area with stilettos. Overall, when choosing shoes to wear, a broad, rounded shoe, it will give your toes plenty of room. You don’t want your toes squished and cramped. With this said, try and limit the wear of pointy shoes; this only cramps your toes and can cause calluses and ingrown toenails. No one wants to deal with the pain that ingrown toenails can inflict; they are unsightly and cause a huge amount of discomfort. Choosing breathable footwear is another thing you can keep in mind when buying shoes. Wearing shoes made from leather will help keep your feet dry and healthy as leather allows air to circulate. If you are prone to excessively sweaty feet, look for shoes made of mesh fabrics that allow for maximum breathability. Here’s a fun fact: your feet have 250,000 sweat glands in each foot! That’s a lot of sweat glands that can produce a whole lot of sweat. Perspiration creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. It is good to let your feet breathe every once in a while, by wearing sandals, especially during the summer. But try not to wear sandals and thongs all the time. Wearing thongs to the beach or to run a few quick errands, sure, but wearing them all day walking around at the shops or in the city? Not very ideal. You will probably regret your choice of footwear when your feet start to become sore without the support of proper shoes. As the saying goes, wear with care! Wearing socks that keep your feet dry will also help keep your feet healthy. Socks composed of synthetics fibres tend to wick away moisture faster than wool or cotton socks. Furthermore, it is recommended to avoid wearing extremely tight pantyhose as it traps moisture.
Aside from choosing your footwear carefully, simple steps such as cutting your toenails properly can prevent the cause of ingrown toenails. When cutting your toenails, it is recommended that you cut them straight across and avoid trimming too close to the skin or drastically rounding the corners of the nails. If you are self-conscious about your toenails because they are discoloured, cracked, thick or crumbling, don’t cover it up with nail polish! Your toenails could be infected with a nail fungus and applying polish could make the problem worse. See your local podiatrist and seek treatment if you want your toes to look beautiful again. Protecting your feet in public areas can also reduce your risk from infections. Places such as public pools or locker rooms tend to be breeding grounds for fungi. Another tip to avoid infections is to only wear your own footwear. Sharing shoes and socks can lead to fungal infections. Even if you don’t share your footwear with family or friends, think about the many times you borrowed socks from shoe stores when trying on a pair of closed shoes, borrowing socks (or not wearing any socks!) for bowling shoes, or renting out a pair of ice skating shoes. When you really think about it, you may start to realise how many other people have put their feet in those same socks or shoes you are borrowing.
Hopefully these tips will make you think twice about your feet and give them the attention they need. Don’t attempt to treat painful foot problems yourself because you may make the problem worse. Usually the problem can be treated with prescription medicine or a minor procedure by a professional podiatrist in Wynnum. Know when to seek treatment and at Mint Foot Care – Wynnum podiatry, we provide you with a new level of foot care. From the treatment of complex foot problems to luxurious foot soaks and paraffin wax foot baths, we treat your feet to the highest standards. You’ll be expertly cared for and pampered. Keep your feet pain-free and healthy!