One of the most neglected parts of our bodies is our feet, while you do everything to take care of the other parts, you often forget about the health of your feet. You do not necessarily need to have a foot problem to visit the podiatrist, just as people visit their dentist twice a year, the same way going to the podiatrist helps in keeping your feet healthy. Your feet take more load than any part of the body, causing your ankle, knee and back to ache. So, if you go through this, then it is time that you go to the podiatrist. To help you out, here are some tips of how you need to take care of your foot.
- Wash your feet every day with soapy water – Give them a couple of minutes’ wash! Be sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes to prevent infection. In summer, it is essential that you dry well between the toes as moisture trapped between the toes are the perfect place for infection or bacteria to develop.
- Cut your toenail – Be careful when you are cutting your toenail, don’t go down the edges or you risk to have ingrown toenail later. And you really don’t want that pain!
- Moisturise and file your feet every day – Use a good quality foot cream to moisturise your feet, especially in summers. Do go for a foot cream that has tea tree oil as it has anti-fungal and moisturising properties. Remove hard skin and calluses with a pumice stone or foot file. Be careful though not to be too rough as it could damage the fresh skin underneath.
- Do limit wearing high heels – If you are someone who loves to wear high heels, then this is for you. Always take a pair of good running shoes and change into them if you are going for a walk or going out for lunchtime.
- Buy shoes in the afternoon – It is recommended to purchase shoes in the afternoon as throughout the day our feet swell, resulting in the shoes to pinch you by nightfall. It will fit comfortably then.
- Change your socks daily – We lose up to ¾ to 1 cup of sweat a day and mostly it is through our feet! Do wear socks in your sports shoes as the bacteria living on your sweat will create stinky shoes. So better change your socks every day!
- Rotate your footwear – You do not need to have a separate wardrobe for your shoes, but yes, you do need to change it occasionally. Use those pairs on alternate days and leave the pair that you are not wearing out so that they can dry out.
- Your feet should be comfy – Do not ignore any foot pain or discomfort regularly as it could result in a chronic long term problem.
If you have any foot problem or concerns, get in touch with My Podiatrist in Melbourne, Victoria. They provide optimal care for all age groups and have the best care plan.
