Many people don’t know how impactful the health condition of their feet is to the whole of their body. Your feet are the foundation of the body and as such, should be kept healthy always.
While some may understand the significance of the healthiness of the feet to the whole body, how to take care of the same and ensure they are at all-time healthy, eludes them.
In this post, we will talk about 12-foot health tips that everyone must know and follow strictly to have a healthy and disease-free foot.
Your feet aid your mobility and allow you to perform your duties quite easily. There is a big connection between the health of your feet and your overall well-being. It is known in the medical world that early discovery of problems in the lower limbs can indicate the onset of other if not life-threatening medical issues which may include heart disease and diabetes.
Talking about foot health, you need to understand that some changes may be normal and you should expect the same as you age.
Even though feet can show health problems, it’s not all changes are health-related, they are just normal changes feet undergoes as we age, these are;
- Your feet become longer and wider.
- The fat pad on the bottoms of the heels thins out. This may cause a loss of natural padding and spring in your step.
- Your feet and ankles become stiffer, losing some of their normal range of motion.
- Loss of balance while walking.
Though all these changes can be normal in their rightful sense, but may likely be problematic too.
Now to the issue at hand, the health tips necessary for healthy feet:
Wash Your Feet Regularly
Your feet are the closest part of your body to the ground and as such are more susceptible to accumulating dust over time. Also, as for most of the part of the day, your feet are either covered in socks or tucked inside a shoe. All in all, the sweat and the dust take a toil.
Ensure you wash them thoroughly twice daily, using lukewarm water and mild or antiseptic soap. Making use of hot water will strip the natural moisture from your feet, this will make them excessively dry, so don’t use that.
The gentle heat of the lukewarm water will help loosen the accumulated dead skin on your feet and the soap will assist you in removing all traces of sweat, germs, and grime.
After washing, let your feet dry in the air or you can dab them with a clean towel. You should properly be ensured that your fret is rid of moisture, especially between your toes as damp skin tends to breed bacteria and fungi which. may cause infectious diseases.
Exfoliate Twice A Week
As said earlier, your feet carry the whole weight of your body and also rub against the floor as you move about. This makes the skin of the feet gradually wear out.
This can lead to the hardening and thickening of the skin in the areas that are weight-bearing or high-friction, resulting in the formation of corns (small round bumps) or calluses known as irregular raised patches on your feet.
This makes exfoliating your feet necessary. Exfoliation helps remove dead and dry skin from the surface of your feet and prevents the formation of corns and calluses.
To exfoliate your feet using the DIY method:
- Get half cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of almond oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 2-3 drops of tea tree oil.
- Mix everything in a bowl to form a paste.
- Dip your feet in lukewarm water for 10 minutes to soften the skin.
- Apply the paste to your feet and let it stay for five minutes.
- Wash the paste off with cool water and dry with a soft towel.
Moisturize Your Feet
Your feet can become very dry and rough during the arid season. Dry skin is less elastic and highly susceptible to tearing.
The sole of your feet is more prone to this kind of skin damage, resulting in cracked heels.
You must moisturize your feet properly at least twice a day to keep them soft and hydrated. Treat your feet with a moisturizer and a foot cream at bedtime so that those products will help repair your skin overnight. Also, you may choose to wear socks after applying the moisturizer to ensure that they don’t get wiped off by your bed linen while you’re sleeping.
Wear Well Fitted Shoes
Wearing comfortable, well-fitted shows will ensure that your feet are breathable while you work. This is largely depending on the size, texture, fit, design, and material of your shoes.
Trim Your Toenails Regularly
Overgrown nails collect dirt and are likely to breakage over time which may be injurious and painful. So you should make sure to cut your nails with a nail clipper.
Take Good Care Of Your Sweaty Feet
Sweat in itself is odorless, but it can aid the buildup of foul-smelling microorganisms on your feet.
This can trigger a microbial overgrowth that may cause foot infections.
Wear clean socks every day. Change damp socks or shoes immediately.
Soak Your Feet Regularly
Soaking your feet in a relaxing bath can be a great way to unfold after a long stressful day. This will help remove the dirt, germs, and dead skin from your feet while also reducing the foot odor. It also brings down any swelling in the feet and overall, gives a calming effect.
Massage Your Feet Daily
Massaging your feet between 5-10 minutes daily will help improve blood circulation and relieve any pain or inflammation.
Examine Your Feet Daily
Check for cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling every day. This way, you will be prompted to take the necessary steps if you notice any abnormalities.
Don’t Hide Your Toenails In Polish
A discolored, thick, cracked or crumbling nail could be a symptom of a nail fungus. Applying nail polish to cover up the ugliness of an infected nail could make the problem worse.
Don’t Share Footgear
Avoid sharing footwear. This is to prevent infection as you can get fungal infections by wearing other people’s shoes as well as socks. Try to always wear your footgear to keep your feet healthy.
Understand When You Need To See A Doctor
Never make attempts to self-treat any painful foot issues. This will likely complicate the issue. Never attempt bathroom surgery because that will possibly make the problem worse.
If you notice any pains, discoloration, redness, or swelling that persists for days, you know better that your next step is to visit a podiatrist.