4 Easy Ways To Look After Your Feet and Why!

You guessed it! Today we’ll be talking about…your feet. While it’s not the most pleasant subject to discuss, we wanted to put together a few ways to care for them and why.
Despite what you may think, they are very important and can indicate the onset of diseases like heart disease or diabetes.

The reason why your feet are so important and why you should care for them as much as any other part of your body is something physicians and podiatrists have been studying for thousands of years.

In fact, did you know that the average American will walk over 75,000 miles on their feet before hitting 50? Although small, your feet are a masterpiece of engineering. Besides getting us from place to place, they endure years of pressure and strain, especially if we gain weight.

Here are a few ways to show your feet, and your client’s feet, some much-needed love! Pay more attention to how you clean your feet:

Foot health begins with good foot hygiene.

Make sure you shower carefully and wash between your toes. Check for cracked or peeling skin, which can be an indicator of fungal infections like athlete’s foot. You can also develop a fungal infection after walking around germy areas like a public pool or on a dirty carpet in a hotel. Make sure you check your toenails as discolored, thick toenails can indicate a nail infection. Above all, make sure you use baby powder or Gold Bond powder to keep your feet dry. The wetter the skin, the higher the risk of a nasty fungus getting comfortable!

Pamper and prep!

Did you know the foot contains over 250,000 sweat glands? This creates the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Make sure you are maintaining the skin and toenails, especially during the winter months when we tend to neglect our feet the most. Use pumice stones to scrub off dead skin. One thing you can do it treat both yourself and your client to a pedicure before breaking out their favorite spring sandals. Avoid cutting your toenails in a round shape, keep them straight and square. When you’re done with all of this, kick back with a relaxing foot bath and lather them in lotion. This will soften and moisturize the skin while you relax and unwind.

Also, the next time you’re buying new socks, opt for synthetic fibers rather than cotton or wool to help wick moisture away keep them dry!

Stick to smarter footwear!

Making sure you wear proper footwear is key to preventing painful blisters, not to mention if you or your client have bunions that can cause extreme discomfort over time. Here’s a tip! When buying shoes, shop at the end of the day when your feet are largest and look for rounded toe shoes with good arch support that feel like they mold to your feet. Your client or loved one may wear supportive footwear that helps circulation. However, make sure you check if there is an index finger width of space between their longest toe and the tip of the shoe, and that the back of the shoe doesn’t slide up and down on their heel.
Appreciate the work your feet do The foot contains over 50 bones, 60 joints, and 200 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Thus, over time, our feet break down, leading to foot pain and discomfort ranging from minor problems like bunions to major problems like foot sores and reduced blood flow caused by diabetes and health disease. If you’re experiencing persistent discoloration, pain, redness, or swelling, heed the warning signs and see a podiatrist before the condition worsens.