Taking care of your feet is important for keeping them looking good, avoiding pain and staying mobile long into old age. It’s even important for your mental health! From wearing the right footwear to using clippers correctly, there are many footcare recommendations worth following. Below are 10 of the most important tips for protecting your tootsies.
Don’t live in heels
While not as common a trend as it was 30 to 40 years ago, there are still many women (and men) who regularly wear heels. While stilettos and platforms can add height, make legs look longer and make many people feel more confident, there are many health problems that come with chronic high heel usage. As a result of shifting weight away from the balls of the feet to the toes, issues like bunions, plantar fasciitis and shortened achilles tendons can develop. It’s therefore highly recommended sticking mainly to flats and reserving high heels purely as a shoe for special occasions.
Invest in the right shoes for sports
Footwear is also very important to consider when taking part in sports. Activities like running and jumping can be very strenuous on our feet if we don’t have enough cushioning and arch support – running shoes are recommended when running for this reason and can greatly reduce fractures and other injuries, while wearing basketball shoes is recommended when playing basketball. Hiking shoes are meanwhile designed to provide superior grip and protection when stepping on uneven rocky surfaces, helping to prevent injuries when taking on mountains or rough coastal paths.
Go shoe shopping in the afternoon
Wearing the wrong size shoes is a major cause of foot issues ranging from blisters to ingrown toenails. What a lot of people don’t realise about their foot size is that it can change – not just just as age, but even throughout the day. Studies show that daily activities can cause our feet to swell, making them much larger in the afternoon. As a result, in order to make sure that shoes are not too tight, it is worthwhile going shoe-shopping in the afternoon.
Wash feet every day
While bathing/showering every day isn’t always necessary, you should ideally be soaking your feet each day – particularly if you lead a physically active life. Not only does washing your feet stop them from getting smelly, but it can reduce the risk of infections. Bacteria can breed on sweaty feet, as can fungal diseases like athlete’s foot. A daily rinse and a bit of a scrub can get rid of sweat, bacteria and fungus.
Dry feet carefully
While washing your feet is important for preventing disease, it’s also important to dry them thoroughly afterwards. Fungal diseases thrive in moist conditions – even though you’ve just cleaned them, a single leftover spore will quickly multiply on a wet food, leading to an infection. Dry your feet carefully after washing them or going in a pool, taking particular care to dry in between your toes with a towel. If you suffer from overly sweaty feet, consider using an anti-perspirant on your feet each day and change socks regularly (bring a spare pair with you wherever you go so that you’re not wearing wet socks).
Trim toenails correctly
Are you trimming your toenails correctly? Poor toenail trimming technique can lead to ingrown toenails and other nail problems. First, start by making sure that you are using the right toe nail clipper. If you have thick toe nails, consider looking into specialist clippers from companies like Swissklip. Soak your feet before clipping to soften the nails (the best time is after/during a bath or shower). The most important rule: avoid the temptation to cut in a semi-circular shape, instead cutting straight across. This will discourage nails from growing out to the sides (which is what an ingrown toenail is). Make sure to clean your clippers after use.
Moisturize
A lot of us moisturise our face and possibly our hands – but are you moisturising your feet? A daily moisturising routine can help to prevent dryness and cracks. It’s particularly worthwhile doing if you’ve already started to get painful cracks, as over time the moisturiser will soften up the tissue. Use a thick oil-based cream (check out this foot cream guide at The Independent) and apply after washing and drying your feet.
Consider using a pumice stone
For those that already have callused feet, it could also be worthwhile using a pumice stone to help remove dry skin. When you rub this rock against your feet, it will remove the top layers of skin without causing irritation. The best time to use a pumice stone is when your feet are wet. Many people find that they’re particularly effective for removing dead skin from the heel, however they should be avoided near bony parts of the feet such as the ankles.
Stay physically active
Exercise strengthens muscles and joints in your feet, which can reduce the risk of developing foot-related mobility problems later in life. It also promotes healthy circulation to reduce swelling and help foot injuries heal. On top of this, exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, which can reduce your risk of developing health problems like diabetes and gout. Develop an exercise regime that gets you on your feet – whether it’s jogging, martial arts or trampolining. Even exercises like cycling, swimming and yoga are good for your feet simply getting them moving.
Now when to rest your feet
Of course, it’s important to do everything in moderation. You can damage your feet by over-exercising them – something that many runners, dancers, avid walkers and gymnasts are prone to. Having days of rest can help you to prevent you from developing injuries. If you’ve developed a foot injury, you may need to take a break for several days/weeks to let it heal, so that you don’t turn it into a permanent injury. Never ignore pain: it’s your body’s way of telling you that you’re overdoing it. If your job requires you to be on your feet for long hours, make sure to rest on days off and make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes with lots of padding.
