5 Ways To Take Care Of Your Feet
It can be easy to forget about your lowly feet, hanging down at the bottom of your body. However, your feet are really important to your overall health and well-being. Your feet are what drive your body and keep you going, and you need to make sure that you take good care of them. If you have been experiencing hygiene issues with your feet or have been dealing with foot pain recently, here are a few ways to take care of your feet.
Clean Your Feet
Just because water and soap fall downward when you are in the shower does not mean that your feet are clean. You need to actually clean your feet and scrub them with soap when you are in the shower. Clean your feet between your toes and don't forget about the back of your heel as well.
When you get out of the shower, dry your feet off really well. Be sure to dry between your toes as well. If you have been having issues with fungal infections, the root cause is often due to a lack of properly washing and drying your feet.
If you work out, you should wash your body and your feet after your workout.
Cut Your Toenails Straight
When you cut your toenails, try to cut in a straight line going across your toenails. Do not cut your nails so short that they are right up against the skin, and try to avoid rounding the corners of your toenails. Getting too close to your skin can be painful and rounding your toenails when you cut them can lead to ingrown toenails.
Be Careful in Public Areas
When you are in public areas, such as the locker room, gym, or public pool, be careful with your feet. There are areas where you can easily pick up a fungus that can infect your foot. Always wear proper footwear in these locations, and if you have to go barefoot for some reason, clean your feet as soon as you can.
Don't Share Footwear
Keep your footwear to yourself. You and your best friend may have the same size feet, but that doesn't mean that you should be sharing shoes. Keep your shoes to yourself, as well as your socks. Sharing shoes and socks is an easy way to pick up a foot fungus.
Keep Your Feet Comfortable
Make sure that you keep your feet comfortable. Do not wear shoes that feel too tight or that hurt your feet. Wearing shoes that are too tight can cause serious damage to your feet. Make sure that your shoes provide you with plenty of room to move around.
If you have sweaty feet, look for shoes that are made with breathable materials. There are lots of tennis shoes and athletic shoes that are made to be breathable. For more formal occasions, shoes made of leather are usually really breathable.
Finally, if your feet start to hurt, make an appointment with your podiatrist. If you notice your toenails turning a funny color or you notice something on your foot that you can't identify, get to your doctor. Don't try to take care of the issue on your own. Your doctor can prescribe you medication or recommend an in-office procedure that will clear things up.
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