Posted on June 29, 2007 in Foot Care Tips
An easy, daily foot care routine goes a long way in ensuring feet stay healthy. Keeping feet dry, washing them everyday and changing into a clean pair of socks daily gives them time to dry out and stay fresh. These simple foot care remedies help control and prevent diseases, disorders and disabilities of the foot or ankle, which affect the quality of life for many Americans. The American Podiatric Medical Association supports the tips given here and these help keep feet healthy.
Foot care tips for everyone: APMA guidelines
- Healthy feet need daily efforts to prevent the many foot conditions that may occur. However, those suffering from diabetes need to consult a state registered Chiropodist for other precautions or treatment, as they will have special needs.
- Washing feet daily in lukewarm soapy water and drying them thoroughly, especially in between the toes is part of a healthy foot care routine that can be followed by application of moisturizing cream all over the feet, except in between the toes.
- Regular inspection of feet and changes in color and temperature of feet should be reported to a chiropodist and this consultation is important if nails become thick, tough and discolored also.
- Monitoring of Foot corns and peeling of the skin, excessive dry skin is important and needs immediate treatment, preferably with advice from a chiropodist.
- Itchy feet may signal fungal infection of the skin and doctor’s advice is beneficial for quick relief.
- While trimming toenails, it is important to use a good nail trimmer and cut them straight across and not too short. Cutting down the corner may lead to in-growing toenails and chiropodists advise against it.
- For all those wanting to buy new shoes, it is recommended that they plan the purchase during mid-afternoon or later in the day as this is the time when feet tend to ’swell’ and be at their largest.
- It is important to buy good-fitting shoes that do not pinch or hurt the feet. Foot pain needs to be monitored and must not be ignored as it could mean more serious injury to the feet, if it goes un-treated.
- Carrying out any form of bathroom surgery, like cutting out a corn with a pair of scissors or picking at the sides of the toenails for dirt with tips of the scissors/nail file can be very dangerous and can lead to further complications for the feet.
- For those whose feet are prone to injury/infection, it is necessary to stem the urge to walk barefoot.
- A good quality sun block cream on the feet as well as the rest of the body protects and controls any probable occurrence of foot problems while at the beach.
The APMA recommends that women should avoid wearing restrictive nylon tights and men stick to wearing cotton socks, as they are the best foot coverings that absorb moisture and let feet breathe.
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