Your feet always support you and you should return the favour. Your feet are the foundation of an active lifestyle. The chances are you don’t give them the care and attention they deserve.
As you get older, healthy feet become critical for being mobile, active and safe. You should take care of them to prevent problems, reduce pain and avoid injuries.
Keep Your Feet Clean
Wash your feet every day, and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes. Cleaning your feet lowers the risk of harmful bacteria and fungal infections damaging your feet.
The gentle heat of warm water will help loosen accumulated dead skin. Don’t use overly hot water as it can strip the natural moisture from your feet, making your feet dry and brittle.
Manage Calluses
Deep calluses can crack and bleed, causing pain and risk of infection. Use a pumice stone or foot file by CheekyGlo to remove calluses gently. Follow this up with moisturizer.
Trim Your Toenails
Keep your toenails trimmed. Cut them straight across and never at an angle on the sides. Ingrown toenails can be painful and difficult to remedy. If left untreated and unchecked, ingrown toenails can develop into a serious problem, requiring a trip to the doctor.
Moisturize Your Feet
Your feet can become dry and rough due to constant wear and tear. The skin on the soles of your feet is thicker and tougher than other parts of your body. Constant pressure against the ground makes them prone to damage like cracked heels. Ageing contributes to your skin becoming less elastic and susceptible to cracking.
Moisturizing your feet daily, especially at bedtime allows your feet to heal overnight.
Shoes
The shoes you wear have a great deal to do with the health of your feet. Wearing comfortable footwear is important. Well-fitted shoes allow you to move about easily and stay on your feet longer. Shoes that don’t fit properly can make walking painful and injure your feet in the process. Bad shoes can cause or contribute to flat feet.
Avoid shoes that are too tight or too narrow. Tight shoes squeeze your toes and put a strain on your feet, which makes it hard to walk.
If your shoes are too loose, they can cause blisters or other injuries. Loose shoes do not support your feet properly and can lead to all kinds of problems with your gait.
Always wear athletic shoes for sports. They are specially designed to support your feet with extra cushioning and help stabilize your feet during lateral movement, which is common in athletic activities.
High heels change the natural angle between your foot and ankle. If worn excessively, they can lead to problems from your feet all the way to your lower back. Wear them sparingly, if at all.
Foot conditions and injuries are common. If you are experiencing undue pain or a persistent condition, contact a podiatrist.
These doctors are university-trained to treat medical conditions of the feet and lower legs. You can find them in private clinics, community health services or public hospitals.
