Health is all about the feet.
Movement all day, put to the test during sports, photographed on the beach to show we’re on vacation… our feet are at the center of our daily lives.
Be careful not to forget to take care of them!
Thick skin, cracks, corns on the feet: how can you limit them?
Corns, calluses, and hard skin are thickenings of the skin on the feet. They are painful and often caused by excessive compression of the foot or repeated friction while walking.
Sometimes, these thickenings can crack and become infected, which can be dangerous for your health and become very difficult to move around.
To avoid them, it is therefore advisable to wear shoes that are wide enough and well-fitted to the shape of your feet.
How can you avoid warts and other fungal infections on the feet?
Known as foot fungus, skin fungal infections and plantar warts are easily caught. These infections must be treated promptly.
Fungal infections and plantar warts are caused by excessive foot perspiration.
They often appear due to viral skin contamination in a gym, public shower, or swimming pool. They can occur more frequently after swimming in heated water, as the latter softens the skin on the feet and promotes viral penetration.
To prevent the risk of warts, you can:
- Avoid walking barefoot around swimming pools, locker rooms, gyms, and public showers by wearing suitable sandals or flip-flops;
- Dry your toes and feet after showering or bathing (especially after swimming in a public pool).
- Invest in some disposable pedicure kits to avoid contracting viruses.
How can I relieve my bunion?
Bunion is an outward deviation of the big toe.
It is caused by several factors such as heredity, age, or wearing high-heeled shoes.
If the deviation is significant, hallux valgus can be very painful.
To prevent or relieve it, you can:
- lose weight if you are overweight;
- choose flexible shoes to prevent the bunion from rubbing against your shoe;
- wear shoes with low heels (3 cm) or flat shoes (high heels transfer more body weight onto the forefoot);
- isolate the bunion if necessary by wrapping it with a special bandage;
- if the bunion is inflamed, apply an ice pack to the painful area and wrap it in a cloth to avoid burning the skin;
- treat corns, calluses, and calluses that appear on the weight-bearing areas of the forefoot, consulting a podiatrist if necessary.
How to prevent ingrown toenails?
Is your toenail growing into your skin? Be careful, an ingrown toenail can be very painful if not treated in time.
Improper nail clipping is the most significant factor in the occurrence of an ingrown toenail.
How can you best cut your toenails? A square-cut nail should extend two to three millimeters beyond the free edge of the toe. If the nail is cut in a semicircle, too short at the edges, the skin will cover the edge of the nail, and it will grow deeper into the dermis.
I’m diabetic. Why should I take care of my feet?
Well, to avoid the risk of infection!
Diabetes is a disease that tends to change the sensitivity of the feet. This phenomenon is known as neuropathy.
When neuropathy appears, the sensation of the foot on the ground is reduced, which increases the risk of sores and pressure injuries.
To avoid the risk of infection, you can wear orthopedic insoles specially designed for diabetics.
The orthopedic insoles prescribed for diabetics are both flexible (to prevent blisters, corns, or calluses that could dangerously become infected) and rigid (to properly support the foot).
What’s the connection between my feet and my back, hip, or knee pain?
It’s simple. Since your entire body weight rests on them, your feet play an important role in the rest of your health.
If you have foot pain, foot deformities, or asymmetry, your body adopts less natural postures and its weight is no longer distributed properly. This phenomenon then leads to back, hip, or knee pain.
To prevent this pain, take care of your feet and ask your doctor or podiatrist for advice, who may consider wearing orthopedic insoles. They can help properly distribute body weight, relieve certain pressure points, or even compensate for asymmetries.
What about foot reflexology? It’s a foot massage that helps release accumulated tension, whether physical or psychological. A reflexologist is not part of the healthcare or paramedical sector; they are professionals specializing in counseling, stress management, and support.
Read also: How to find the best professional nail file?
