Sometimes it’s easier to bare your soul than it is the soles of your feet. Don’t worry if you’ve neglected your feet during the long winter months. There’s still plenty of time to get your feet in shape for sandal season.
Grooming the feet is a key part of personal hygiene that many people overlook. Even if you clean your feet regularly, the feet take quite a bit of abuse on a daily basis. Usually, by the end of winter there’s plenty of overgrown cuticles and thickened skin.
Most complaints about the feet are minor. Things like corns and calluses are easily remedied by visiting your local nail salon for a pedicure. Sometimes, if the skin on the heel becomes thick enough, it may crack. While this is unattractive, it’s not dangerous unless the crack is deep and starts to bleed. This can lead to infection. A good home remedy for cracked heals to apply shortening or a thick grease like Vaseline or Vicks VaporRub to freshly washed feet. Wear a pair of cotton socks to bed. Repeat over several nights and the heels should improve. For maintenance, find a glycerin-based moisturizer to apply daily.
If you’d like to try a pedicure at home, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you have thickened calluses you may be tempted to use a shaver. This isn’t a good idea. In fact, you should not use sharp instruments at all—especially if you are diabetic or have a medical condition affecting the feet. You’ll get the best results from a home pedicure if you soak your feet in water. This will soften the cuticles and skin. There are many foot scrubs to help exfoliate your feet. You can find a good selection at your local pharmacy. Once your cuticles are softened, push them back with an orange stick—don’t cut them. Clip and file your toe nails and add your favorite color of polish. No one will know how you abused your feet all winter.
There are several things you can do to keep your feet healthy:
- Buy shoes that fit. If this means special ordering extra narrow or extra wide, do it and save your feet some pain.
- Avoid backless shoes if you’re prone to heel calluses.
- Avoid going barefoot in public. You expose your foot to viruses that cause warts and infections from cuts.
- If you have a problem that over-the-counter medications have not helped, see a podiatrist.
- See a podiatrist to have orthotics made to support your feet.
Now what if your have healthy feet, but your feet are just ugly? Not to worry. There is cosmetic surgery for feet. The shape of toes can be changed, bunions can be shaved, and you can have happy feet.
