Forgot your feet this winter? Have you gotten dry and sad feet? Don’t worry. We have the tricks on how to take care of your feet so you can proudly start waving your toes in open shoes.
It is very important to take care of your feet, but unfortunately, they tend to not get the focus and care that they need and deserve.
Taking care of your feet is not only important in order to make them look beautiful, but also for the sake of your health and wellbeing. By taking care of your feet, you prevent foot problems such as onychomycosis, ingrown nails, and cracks. The sooner you detect these problems, the easier it will be to fend them off. But making it a habit to take care of your feet is also important from a prevention standpoint.
Causes to dry feet and foot problems
There are many reasons of foot problems such as dry and cracked feet. One of the most common reasons is tight and too-small shoes. Choosing the right shoes is therefore extremely important. The goal is to find shoes that sit well, are stable, and allows your feet to breathe. Too tight shoes is never a good idea for the health of your feet.
The simple reason for hard skin on feet, known as foot callus, is intermittent pressure. With that said, since walking is a common activity in most people’s life (the average person walks 6000 steps a day), everyone may experience foot calluses at some point during their life. This is particularly true if you are an avid runner, which causes even further intermittent pressure on the feet.
A more serious foot issue is hallux valgus. This is a deformity of the big toe which means the toe tilts over towards the smaller toes and a bony lump appears on the inside of the foot. By avoiding tight shoes, and having shoe inlays, you can prevent the feet from “bending” inwards.
How to get nice and beautiful feet
Begin by cutting and polishing the toenails. This is most easily done if your feet and nails have softened in the shower or in a foot bath. Use a good nail clipper or nail scissors. If you have thick nails, remove any bumps and even on top of the nail – use the fine polish surface. Here you will find all foot care.
Exfoliation
Removing dead skin cells is the most important step toward a pair of fine and lean feet. Ultimately, it is the dead skin that prevents your feet from being baby-soft.
Fortunately, today there are plenty of good tools – both electric and regular foot files. After you have carefully filed your feet and removed the hardness and dead skin, massage a body scrub all over your feet and up to your ankles. This increases blood circulation and provides a smooth and fine finish.
Foots love a long foot bath as it softens up the skin and also helps remove dead skin further. Lavender oil can be a good idea as it calms and soothes the skin. Make it a habit to wash and scrub your feet daily, as these tend to be sometimes forgotten when you shower.
Moisturizers
After removing all old skin, your feet are extra susceptible to moisture. Moisturize plenty and use a cream that is just right for your feet. For those who have problems with foot cracks, it is especially important to use a greasy foot cream that gives a softening effect.
If you get cracks in your feet, it means that the skin is so dry that the outer layer of skin cracks. These can be difficult to get rid of, but there are solutions. You can reduce the issues by bathing your feet regularly, polishing them, and, as mentioned using a foot cream regularly. Prevent this issue by using a shower oil instead of soap to clean your feet.
A bonus tip is to give your feet an ice bath to increase blood circulation. Drain ice-cold water and put in some ice cubes. Lower your feet for a few minutes. It gets down the swelling and blood circulation increases. Your feet become more vibrant and healthier. But be careful so you don’t freeze them.
Bonus tips for soft, beautiful, and healthy feet
Wear the right shoes
To elaborate on the importance of wearing the right shoes, this is really the foundation of healthy feet.
To begin with, never walk barefoot, as this causes stress and damage to your feet. The best shoes are wide at the toes and give support under the foot. Ideally, you should have good shoes with custom-made inlays made exactly for your foot shape. This will give the best support and prevent skin to build up.
Ideally, you should also wear running shoes, as these are soft and give perfect support. Avoid, as much as you can, shoes that have a completely flat sole.
Foot massage
Foot massage is heaven for your feet. This both feels amazing but also does wonders for your feet. A food massage increases blood flow and removes tensions. As you walk, the feet are subject to a lot of stress and weight during the day, so it is particularly good to massage on these areas to remove pain or tensions.
Treat your cracked heels
The heels is often what tends to crack the easiest. The heels are subject to a lot of weight and pressure when walking.
To solve this, foot ‘masks’ will be able to penetrate deep into cracks and provide nourishment. You can make many different DIY treatments at home, but two of our favorites are vaseline and coconut oil. Massage these into the heels carefully and into the cracks. To allow them to work better, you should tie a bag around each foot or let the feet rest without walking for one hour.