Your feet move you through the world, help you stand up to your day, and ground you. Foot care should be part of our daily routine - as automatic as brushing our teeth. Our feet will walk many thousands of kilometers in a lifetime, so we should look after them, help them feel good always and look their best.
Facts about feet
Each foot consists of 26 bones, supported by a network of ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and nerves. Feet contain 250, 000 sweat glands and perspire more than any other part of the body, and fungal infections like athlete’s foot thrive in warm, wet conditions. In new born babies the foot bones are merely soft cartilage which can be damaged or distorted through tight bedclothes or socks. Never push your children to walk before they are ready, and it is good for them to wear as little as possible on their feet. Make sure their shoes are fitted carefully and checked regularly. Socks and tights should also be roomy enough for movement.
Choosing the best shoes
How many of us wear the best shoes for our feet? Fitting shoes can hasten the onset of any problems and aggravate existing ones. The bones in the foot do not fully set until we are 18 years old, and the shoes we wear as children are vital to future foot health.
The best exercise
Walking is good exercise for the feet, it helps the muscles and ligaments to work more efficiently and helps keep them supple and flexible. Try to walk briskly for at least 30 minutes every day and wear the right foot wear.
Common foot problem
When normal feet turn into problem feet, it is best to seek professional help. The most common foot problems are corns and calluses, bunions, in growing nails, warts and athlete’s foot. Several of these difficulties are to an extent inherited, though made worse by badly fitting shoes, and some are caught from others.
General tips
Facts about feet
Each foot consists of 26 bones, supported by a network of ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and nerves. Feet contain 250, 000 sweat glands and perspire more than any other part of the body, and fungal infections like athlete’s foot thrive in warm, wet conditions. In new born babies the foot bones are merely soft cartilage which can be damaged or distorted through tight bedclothes or socks. Never push your children to walk before they are ready, and it is good for them to wear as little as possible on their feet. Make sure their shoes are fitted carefully and checked regularly. Socks and tights should also be roomy enough for movement.
Choosing the best shoes
How many of us wear the best shoes for our feet? Fitting shoes can hasten the onset of any problems and aggravate existing ones. The bones in the foot do not fully set until we are 18 years old, and the shoes we wear as children are vital to future foot health.
The best exercise
Walking is good exercise for the feet, it helps the muscles and ligaments to work more efficiently and helps keep them supple and flexible. Try to walk briskly for at least 30 minutes every day and wear the right foot wear.
Common foot problem
When normal feet turn into problem feet, it is best to seek professional help. The most common foot problems are corns and calluses, bunions, in growing nails, warts and athlete’s foot. Several of these difficulties are to an extent inherited, though made worse by badly fitting shoes, and some are caught from others.
General tips
- Make it a habit to use a pumice stone or foot file on damp heels and calluses. Doing so will keep your feet looking good in open-back shoes. soak your feet in water or a foot bath for 10 to 15 minutes to help soften the skin. Then gently remove the thickened skin with a pumice stone.
- Moisturizing foot scrubs made from botanicals such as crushed fruit pits, sugar, or chemical exfoliators also help remove dead skin. After you scrub, apply a rich foot cream or balm containing shea butter or cocoa butter.Look for creams containing petrolatum, an emollient, or a humectant such as lactic acid, which draws moisture into the skin.
- Wear sunscreen on the tops of your feet. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your feet when you're going barefoot or wearing open sandals.
- Standing for a long time can make your feet sore. Wearing insoles can help make shoes more comfortable.Look for insoles that have a plastic shell at the bottom. .
- If you do your own nails, look for nail “nippers” that have a curved handle and a cutting jaw shaped to follow the natural curve of nails.Your nails naturally become more brittle with age. Ingredients in some nail polish and polish remover can speed the process, drying out your nails. Use nail polish that is free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate and nail polish remover free of alcohol.To moisturize your toenails, use cuticle cream or petroleum jelly.
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