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Pamper Your Feet!
It is amazing how much we take our feet for granted. We don’t consider how much about the way we walk, the shoes we wear, the level of cleanliness it receives, the overall treatment it gets. Here are some eye-openers and tips on total foot care.
A Good Scrub
It’s always a good idea to spend the first few minutes in the shower or bath paying a little attention to cleaning your feet. With the aid of a pumice stone and some soap or a delectable foot scrub, gently scour away the day’s grime.
Exercising Your Feet
Just because we’ve been ‘on our feet’ the whole day, we think that we’ve exercised them. This is far from the truth. At the end of the day, most times, our feet are dead tired. They need proper exercise to relax and strengthen. The best time to exercise is at the end of the day:
• Sit upright and clench your toes, then relax them – repeating 4-6 times.
• Draw circles in the air with your feet. Do one foot at a time, first clockwise, then anti-clockwise – repeating 5-6 times.
For immediate relief on tired or swollen feet, lie down flat without a pillow. Now place your ankles on the edge of a pillow and raise your feet. Hold that position for at least 15 minutes.
A Sign of Neglect
Cracked feet, corns and other common ailments often occur because of lack of hygiene and oversight. Here are a few suggestions to deal with the common problems:
Cracked Heels
Cracked heels are the first signs of sheer neglect. Daily cleaning and moisturizing will help. Before bed each night, soak your feet in warm soapy water for 15 minutes. Once dry, rub a mix of Vaseline and lemon juice till thoroughly absorbed. A mixture of glycerine and rosewater will also help.
Calluses
Essentially accumulation of dead skin, calluses can easily be kept at bay with regular exfoliation and moisturizing. Use a loofah at least twice a day to get rid of the dead skin.
Athletes Foot
A common ailment, it usually spreads through dampness (contact with wet socks, bedding on bathrooms or swimming pools). The best thing to do is keep your feet dry.
Corns
These are caused by friction and pressure when the bony parts of your feet rub against your shoes. It’s advisable that you change your footwear immediately. Exfoliate, take warm footbaths, and moisturize regularly. It is also advisable to seek the advise of a doctor.
Shoe Bites
This occurs when you are wearing new or tight shoes. It’s best to ‘condition’ new shoes before use. Try rubbing a little coconut or castor oil inside your shoe to soften them.
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