A Closer Look At Having Healthier Feet

If you want to stay active and feel your best, then it is best to have healthy feet. Sadly, if you don’t take care of your feet, then you will likely experience a variety of foot-related issues according to Elizabeth Kurtz who is a Chicago based podiatrist. She is also the spokesperson for the APMA ( American Podiatric Medical Association).

The good news is that it is relatively simple to care for your feet and keep them healthy. We will now take a closer look at these tips so that you can always ensure your feet are pain free and in the best condition possible.

Always make sure that your feet and dry and clean

Having good hygiene is essential and you should regularly scrub and clean your feet when you shower, every day. You should use both soap and water to scrub your feet as well as dry them when you’re done. This will help to prevent fungal issues since fungus actually thrives in moisture, by keeping your feet dry, it will prevent any fungal issues. You should be careful to dry each one of your toes as well as in between them.

Regularly check your feet to see if there are any issues

Checking your feet at least once per week is essential and you can do so when you take a shower. You should look at the soles of your feet as well as your toes to see of there is any scaling or peeling. If you do see such issues, then this may be athletes foot. You should also check the nails of your toes and if there is discoloration, then this may mean you have a toenail fungus. In the event that you also suffer from diabetes, then you should look at and examine your feet every day since this illness typically makes you more susceptible to getting foot infections and foot sores.

Always take care when cutting your toenails

You should always cut your toenails properly so that you cut straight across the nail and make sure you don’t cut the skin. You should also avoid rounding out the corners of your toenails too much or use nail polish to hide your toenails that are discolored or ugly. If you put nail polish on a toenail that is infected or crumbling, then this can actually make the issue a whole lot worse.

Always wear footwear when you are in public spaces and don’t share your footwear

You should always wear shoes or shower shoes when you’re at the gym, public pools and washrooms. These spaces have a lot of fungus and bacteria which could cause you to easily get an infection or foot fungus. You should also avoid sharing your shoes, slippers or other footwear. If you do wear other people’s socks or shoes, then you can actually get an infection by doing so according to Dr. Kurtz. This also applies to footwear rentals and you should definitely use your own footwear in order to ensure good foot health.

Be wary of sweaty feet

You actually have 250,000 sweat glands in each of your feet and this means that your feet can sweat a lot. This provides the perfect space for bacteria and fungus to grow, so you should always keep your feet dry by wearing socks. It is best to wear socks made up of synthetic fibers since these actually remove moisture much faster than socks made out of wool or cotton. Wearing pantyhose should be minimized and avoided if possible since it tends to trap sweat.

Always wear footwear that allows your feet to breathe

You should wear leather shoes since these tend to help air circulate around your feet. If you have very sweaty feet, you should use shoes made out of mesh fabrics. Take care when choosing slippers, they too should be supportive, try Orthofeet Slippers.

Always wear proper fitting shoes

If you wear shoes that are too tight, then this can eventually cause problems. You should wear shoes that are comfortable and maybe a little on the larger side since most people’s feet swell in the latter part of the day. The shoes you choose should have a wide heel that provides stability as well as round toes. Pointy shoes should be avoided since they cause issues such as calluses, ingrown nails and more.

If you have a painful foot or other foot issues, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. According to Dr. Kurtz, there are many people who try to fix their foot issues themselves, which often results in worsening the problem. If you have any pain, discoloration, cracking or other issues, you should see a podiatrist as soon as possible. Most foot problems can be fixed with the right medication or even a simple procedure. So, be sure to see your doctor if necessary in order to prevent worse foot issues.