6 Tips For Foot And Nail Care

The feet are responsible for caring our whole weight around and we rarely pay any attention to them, which is a shame. Our feet and toenails need proper care just like the rest of our body in order to function as they should.

Credit:grabyourhealthy.com

Here are 6 steps that will help your feet function properly and make them look great as well:
Smoothen them out

You should smoothen your feet regularly with the help of a pumice stone of foot file. This will help them stay smooth by removing dead skin cells and preventing damp heels or calluses. Plus, smooth feet look great in open shoes. Soak your feet in water for 15 minutes to soften the skin, then start rubbing your feet with a pumice stone. Some podiatrists recommend a warm foot bath made of black tea which will reduce the risk of bacterial infections. Removing dead skin cells from your feet can also be done with natural foot scrubs such as sugar or crushed fruit pits. Make sure to apply a high-quality moisturizer in the end to keep your feet smooth. If you need to soften harder calluses, you can use salicylic acid creams.

Keep your feet hydrated
In order to prevent dry and cracked heels, you need to keep your feet hydrated. This can be done by applying a heavy cream which will moisturize your skin. Find creams rich in petrolatum or lactic acid which can keep the moisture in the skin.

Eliminate fungi

There are many lotions and creams which can fight fungi on your feet and prevent infections such as athlete’s foot. However, most of these products also contain chemicals which can do a lot more harm than good. According to Dr. Isaac Tabari, a New York podiatrist, tea tree oil is the best natural remedy against fungal infections on the feet. If you’re sweating too much, you can use medicinal powder or foot spray that will keep your feet dry and prevent infections.


Furthermore, make sure to dry your feet nicely after showering as the dampness allows fungi to grow and raises the risk of athlete’s foot.

Sunscreen

When applying sunscreen on your body, you should never forget the feet. Use a 30 SPF sunscreen for best results.

Proper support
Standing for a prolonged period can put too much strain on your feet and make them sore, which is why wearing proper shoes is important. Insoles can provide great support for your feet and reduce the risk of back pain.

Don’t forget the toenails

You may hate pedicure, but it’s the best gift your feet can receive. Pedicures will allow proper nail growth and prevent ingrown toenails which can be pretty painful. If you must do your toenails on your own, get curved clippers which follow the natural curve of the toenail.

Over time, the toenails will get brittle, and using store-bought nail polish can make things worse. This is why you should always use nail polish free of formaldehyde, toluene and alcohol as well. Finally, keep your toenails hydrated by rubbing them with vitamin E oil and petroleum jelly regularly.