Foot care should be an essential part of a daily health care regimen. Feet work hard during every day while supporting the body during standing, walking or running. Being confined in shoes and socks that retain moisture, or in sandals-type shoes which roughen skin, feet are prone to problems such as bunions, a painful enlargement at the joint of the big toe; corns or calluses caused by pressure on the skin of your foot resulting in hard, sometimes painful, patches of skin; plantar warts, which result from an infection by a virus; and fungal or bacterial infections such as athlete’s foot that occur from an excess of moisture common in the foot area which allows the fungus to grow.
Great tips
Different methods
There are many different ways to keep your feet healthy and prevent any problems with your feet. Out of all the methods ranging from buying over the counter products to visiting the doctor, the best way to treat your feet is a natural way. Using various easy home remedies you can cure your feet from many common types of conditions. And by using homemade preventive remedies you can ensure that you never get these types of conditions again. However, in extreme cases such as athlete’s foot, it would be a good idea to consult a doctor, as you might need to take oral medication along with application medicines.
Over the counter
There are many over- the- counter products available to treat the common ailments of the foot. Lotions are used to treat dry and cracked skin, and often contain oils such as peppermint, to cool and soothe the feet and condition skin. Calluses can be treated using a pumice stone or similar device, which when rubbed gently on the affected area, removes the dry, dead skin so the fresh skin underneath is exposed. The alternatives to the pumice stone are foot files and loofah products that work much like the stone in removing old skin. There is a wide array of lotion and oil products available to use in combination with the files, stones, and loofah, making the sloughing off of dead skin more beneficial and easier to do. Liquid soaps and lotions also may contain pumice-like materials which exfoliate the feet. Prior to using these techniques, it is good idea to soak feet first in a bucket of water or utilize a store-bought foot bath to make the skin softer and removing hard skin easier. Foot baths are often electric and generate heated water and relaxing bubbles that bring relief to tired feet and legs and helps with the circulation of blood. Products such as foot powders and sprays aid in the reduction of moisture and help keep feet dry and odor-free while wearing shoes and socks.
Proper toenail
Proper toenail care is also an important part of maintaining foot health. Regularly trimming nails prevents painful ingrown nails which may lead to infections. Professional pedicures performed in beauty salons are often added to weekly or monthly foot care regimens. Pedicures typically incorporate massage, nail care, and skin care at relatively inexpensive prices. For treatments at home, salon style tools and products can be purchased and used for regular foot care maintenance.