Your feet are the most worn and abused part of your body, especially with all the walking and running you do every day. However, when it comes to beauty and health routines, her feet and nails are usually forgotten. In any season, you should always take care of the health of the feet and nails. Learn how to take care of your feet and nails by maintaining a good hygiene routine, dealing with fatigue and calluses, and seeking medical help when needed.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Practicing Good Body Hygiene
Step 1. Make sure you wash your feet every day
Feet are easy to get dirty and sweaty when compared to other parts of the body, so you must maintain good body hygiene. If you shower in the morning but not at night, at least wash your feet when you get home. In addition to being a marker of good body hygiene, washing your feet also prevents dust from getting into the bed.
- Wash your feet with warm soapy water. This way, your feet will be free from sweat, dirt, and bacteria that may grow. Pay attention to the spaces between the toes. Clean with a soft towel afterwards.
- Also keep your toenails clean. If you walk in sandals in the summer, your toenails may get dirty. Take the time to clean them every time you wash your feet.
Step 2. Moisturize your feet daily
Wear lotion or foot cream as part of your cleansing routine. One way to get moist and soft feet is to apply lotion/petroleum jelly before bed, and use socks. When you wake up in the morning, your feet will be super smooth and dry free! Just make sure you don't over-moisten the area between your toes to prevent fungus from growing.
Step 3. Wear proper footwear
Your feet are healthier when you wear footwear designed to keep them clean, dry, and at a comfortable temperature. You dress for comfort in a variety of weather conditions, so make sure you do that on your feet too.
- Keep your feet cool in the summer by wearing sandals and revealing footwear. If you wear shoes that overheat your feet, your feet may smell or develop a yeast infection.
- Keep your feet warm in winter by wearing waterproof boots and socks. If you wear shoes that don't keep your feet warm, you are more susceptible to frostbite.
Step 4. Get rid of foot odor
Foot odor is a problem that many people face, as feet produce more sweat than any other part of the body, and tend to harbor bacteria that cause bad odors. If your foot odor is getting worse, take a few steps to immediately make it smell better.
- Try changing socks more often. If your feet sweat a lot throughout the day, bring an extra pair of socks to help reduce the smell. Change socks when they are damp from sweat.
- Keep shoes clean. Sometimes, the smell will be worse when sweat and bacteria collect in the shoe. Every time you wear these shoes, your foot problems will get worse. Wearing socks, cleaning shoes regularly, and buying new shoes when needed are all good ways to reduce foot odor.
- Try foot powder. There are many products designed to keep feet dry and odor free. Try sprinkling foot powder, baby powder, or talcum powder on your shoes before you put them on.
Step 5. Keep feet dry
Athlete's foot and other foot fungus tend to grow in damp conditions. A few adjustments in your hygiene routine can prevent you from developing unpleasant conditions, which often cause itchy rashes. Do the following to keep your feet clean and dry:
- Change socks frequently. This is the best prevention method for all foot-related problems, from odor to fungus. Wearing damp socks means you are providing the perfect environment for mold growth. So, change socks often, especially if you sweat easily.
- Use foot powder. Many people sprinkle powder on their shoes to keep their feet clean and dry.
Step 6. Take a shower safely
If you shower in locker rooms or other public places, take steps to prevent yourself from catching other people's foot fungus. Showers are usually damp and can grow mold and bacteria. Do not bathe in a public shower without protecting your feet.
- Wear slippers or shower shoes when you use the shower in locker rooms and other public places.
- Don't share shoes with other people. If you are an athlete, do not share footwear and other sports equipment.
Step 7. Trim the toenails properly
Every few weeks, trim your toenails to keep them healthy and strong. Cutting in the wrong way can result in ingrown toenails and pain. Cut straight instead of following the curve. You also shouldn't cut it too short, as this could lead to ingrown toenails or infection.
If you prefer a circular shape instead of a straight one, use a nail file to smooth out the edges and create a slight curve, so that your toenails are square but the edges are circular
Part 2 of 3: Doing a Pedicure
Step 1. Have a pedicure every two weeks
Painting your toenails doesn't have to be part of your pedicure routine, but regular pedicures can really make a difference, as your feet will be soft and free from dry, rough skin. In addition, the nails will also remain clean and neat. You don't have to spend a fortune to have a professional pedicure treatment at a salon. With just a few tools, you can do your own pedicure at home.
Step 2. Start with a foot massage
If you use your feet a lot to get tired, massage them before starting a pedicure. While this step is not mandatory, it is a good way to pamper yourself. If you've already made time for a pedicure, why skip it?
- Massage the palms. Use your thumbs to press down on the soles of your feet in a circular massaging motion. In this way, the tense muscles will relax.
- Stretch your toes. Pull one toe at a time to stretch and relieve stiffness and pain.
Step 3. Soak your feet for about 5-10 minutes in a large bowl of warm water
As an added treatment, you can also use a few drops of essential oil or Dead Sea salt to make your feet smell nice and hard skin soften. The soaking times listed here are just a suggestion – you can soak your feet a lot longer if you want to relax, or if the hardened skin on your feet needs extra hydration.
Exfoliate the skin with a foot scrub to get rid of the dead and dry parts and moisturize it. The skin on your feet is thicker, so to keep them soft and supple, you have to exfoliate the dead skin. Massage the scrub in circular motions and rinse your feet afterwards. To exfoliate the hardened skin on the heels and bottom of the feet, use a foot file or pumice stone. Move gently and don't rub too hard. If you have thick calluses, try a callus scraper to remove them from the heels and sides of your toes. This way, the calluses won't get bigger and cause pain
Step 4. Treat your toes
Trimming your nails while they are still soft after soaking will make your job easier. Remember, cut the nails in a straight shape and not too short. Use an orange stick or cuticle pusher to push it back toward the skin. After that, apply cuticle oil on your nails and cuticles to moisturize both areas and prevent tearing.
- Trim your toenails straight instead of following the curve. This is important to prevent ingrown toenails. If you really want a circular shape, use a nail file to smooth and make the edges slightly curved. This way, you have a square nail shape with a circular edge. Make sure your nails are trimmed and filed to the right length – short, but not so much that you injure yourself.
- Make sure you take care of the cuticles too. While you shouldn't trim this section, if you wish, you can use cuticle oil on your toenail to moisturize and soften the hardened edges. Press the cuticle with an orangewood stick to create a smooth open area ready to beautify. Make sure you don't push too hard or the cuticles can be cut and the foot can develop a fungal infection. Some people also choose to skip this step and not touch their cuticles at all – this is perfectly fine.
Step 5. Moisturize your feet
All the heavy work that the feet do requires them to be moisturized from time to time. After the feet have been soaked, exfoliated, and the nails trimmed, apply lotion or cream to protect them. Apply all over the top and bottom of the feet, including the toes.
- If you have a predisposition to calluses, consider a nutrient-rich cream. This helps keep the skin on your feet moist and slows down the growth of more calluses.
- If your heels crack easily in dry weather, wear socks to bed (after you've moisturized your feet).
Step 6. Apply nail polish if you wish
If you want to end your pedicure with a pretty finish, use colored nail polish of your choice. If you want a pedicure that lasts, start with a clear base coat. Let it dry, then add the color you've chosen using the "three strokes method," which involves one dab on each side and one in the center. This way, the nail polish is applied evenly all over the nail. Finish by coating it with a clear liquid so that the nail polish stays on and doesn't break.
- Use the toe separator to separate them. This will simplify the process of staining your nails and prevent your freshly painted nails from staining the other toes.
- Remove the nail polish after a few days so it doesn't stain. If the nail polish stays on your toenail for too long, your nails may look yellowish when you remove the nail polish.
- Acetone, the active ingredient in most nail polish removers, has a severe drying effect on skin and nails. Consider using a nail polish remover that doesn't contain acetone.
Part 3 of 3: Solving Foot Problems
Step 1. Heal the ingrown toenail
Ingrown toenail is a common foot disease that you can treat yourself at home. However, be careful about the equipment you use, because ingrown toenails can easily become infected. Start by cutting your nails straight. Gently lift the ingrown area and tuck a small cotton ball under it to prevent the indentation from getting deeper. Change this cotton every day until your problem is solved.
- Protect your toes while they are healing. You can use a bandage to cover it so the toe doesn't get infected.
- If you see signs of infection, call your doctor.
Step 2. Treat foot fungus
If your feet have a rash and itching, you may have athlete's foot. There are several over-the-counter creams that can be used to treat athlete's foot and other fungal attacks. Use the cream as directed by the manufacturer until the rash disappears and the feet feel better. While waiting, make sure you change socks frequently.
- If your condition doesn't go away after a few days, see a doctor.
- Toe fungus is a different kind of fungus and is much easier to treat. If your toe is brown or yellow and cracked, see your doctor to discuss a prescription that might help.
Step 3. Stop the bunion before it gets out of control
Bunions occur when the bone on the side of the foot is stressed and begins to grow outward. This condition can become very painful if you do not take the necessary steps to address the problem. Bunions are often genetic, but they can also be caused by wearing shoes that are too sharp at the toe (such as high heels or ballet shoes).
- Make sure the footwear isn't causing the problem. Now might be a good time to replace stilettos with comfortable flats.
- Wear bunion pads. These pads can be purchased at drugstores. You should place it over the bunion to prevent friction against the shoe.
- Consider surgery. If your bunion is very painful, consider having surgery, as you won't be able to get rid of it on your own.
Step 4. See a podiatrist if your feet hurt
If you experience pain that does not go away, seek medical attention immediately.
- There are many bones in the feet that fracture easily.
- Walking with sore feet can make your problem worse.
Tips
- Do not cut or peel the cuticles.
- When your healthy and glamorous feet are ready for summer, flaunt them with flip flops or other cool sandals, in your favorite color.
- Don't cut your nails too deep or you may bleed!
- You don't need to get a pedicure and manicure treatment from a "fig professional". You never know if they keep their products clean, so you could develop infections or other health problems.
- If you don't have a toenail separator when applying nail polish, you can also use tissue paper that is twisted and tucked between your toes.
- Moisturize your feet every day.
- Always use an acetone-free nail polish remover, as acetone can dry out your nails and skin/cuticles.
- If you color your toenails, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the surrounding skin. This prevents the nail polish from staining the skin, and keeps the nail polish looking beautiful and neat.
- You can learn a lot from the pros, so treat yourself to a pro pedicure when it's 'needed' – and ask questions and attention!
- Use the tip of an orangewood stick wrapped in a cotton swab soaked in nail polish remover to help clean up spills and smooth out any "blood" around the cuticles or skin on your toes.
- After showering, apply lotion to your feet and cover them with socks to keep them soft and smooth.
- Soak the feet in a little warm water added to shampoo or foot cleanser. If possible, do it for 10-15 minutes. Hot water helps open the pores and cleans better.
