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Foot Care

Our feet work hard every day to support us and carry us where we want to go. They bear our entire weight, put up with being crammed into narrow, unsupportive, or high-heeled shoes, and absorb the shock from hard surfaces like pavements. That’s why practicing good foot care is so important for our overall health. From using special cream for foot to wearing the right shoes, there’s a lot we can do to help keep our feet happy and healthy.

This article goes into more detail about feet care, including how to tackle common foot complaints such as cracked feet treatment and foot blister care. It also makes some suggestions for how you can use active foot care to prevent such issues from arising in the first place. Some additional points for elderly foot care and diabetic foot care are then discussed, along with advice on when to visit a foot clinic or consult a foot care specialist.

Table of Contents

Foot care at home

If you experience a problem with your feet, it can have a negative impact on your quality of life. Whether it causes pain, discomfort, or is simply unsightly, a foot complaint may hinder your ability to go about your daily activities.

Luckily, in the majority of cases, it’s possible to use a cracked skin between toes home remedy or over-the-counter blister treatment feet for a quick and effective recovery. For instance:

  • Corns and calluses can be treated by soaking your feet in warm water for about 5-10 minutes and then using exfoliating socks such as Footner to remove the hard skin. You can also help to soften the skin by using the best foot cream for calluses or a foot acid peel.
  • Dry skin can be treated by using Footner Exfoliating Socks in combination with a foot cream for dry skin. Also, drinking plenty of water to help hydrate your skin.
  • Hard skin can be treated by using Footner exfoliating socks to get rid of the thick dead skin on your feet and reveal soft and smooth skin beneath. After the peeling is complete, use a foot moisturiser to ensure the results last as long as possible.
  • Cracked heels can be treated by using an exfoliating socks such as Footner followed by a specific foot cream for cracked heels, such as vaseline cracked heel foot cream. Soaking your feet in warm water first can make these treatments more effective, as well as keeping up daily usage of the best foot moisturiser afterwards.
  • Blisters can be treated using a simple blister dressing to protect them from further friction. Once covered, the best treatment for a blister on the foot is simply to let it heal naturally.
  • Ingrown toenails can be treated by soaking them in warm, salty water to soften the skin and help prevent infection, then allowing the toenail to grow out
Female relaxing bare foot in bed

Top tips for foot health

Even if you don’t suffer from foot problems such as those described above, it’s important to practice good foot care to make sure it stays that way. There are lots of simple steps you can take to keep your feet healthy. Remember that foot care for men is just as important as foot care for women, so the following total foot care tips apply to everyone.

Best foot care habits

Many people don’t look after their feet as well as they could. You can change that by:

  • Using the best feet peel, such as Footner exfoliating socks, every 2-3 months to peel off the old dead skin and reveal smooth and soft new skin
  • Moisturising feet every day, for example, before you go to bed. Be sure to use a specific cream for the foot, as these tend to be denser than those we use on other parts of our body to compensate for the thicker skin
  • When using a moisturising cream for feet, it’s best not to put it between your toes as you want the skin there to stay dry to prevent infection and ensure you have a healthy toe
  • Using a foot exfoliator on a regular basis to help get rid of dead skin before it builds up. This could be anything from exfoliating foot cream to an electric foot exfoliator
  • Washing your feet thoroughly and drying them carefully using a towel
  • Checking your feet every day for any cuts, sores, or signs of conditions such as calluses and cracked heels. Catching potential problems early makes them easier to deal with, whether you need toe blister treatment or foot crack treatment
  • Cutting your toenails straight across and not too short to help prevent ingrown toenails
  • Not sharing pedicure utensils such as electronic foot files with anyone else in case of infection
  • Rolling a tennis ball or golf ball underneath the soles of your feet to stretch and massage them
  • Not walking around outside barefoot. This increases your risk of injury and infection, plus causes the skin on your feet to thicken as a protective measure – leaving you in need of feet repair cream

Shoes and foot health

The footwear you choose has a big impact on your foot health. Show your feet some love by:

  • Wearing shoes that fit you properly. If they are too loose or too tight, the material can rub against your skin, and you might end up needing callus or foot blister treatment
  • Choosing shoes that are cushioned and supportive
  • Avoiding high heels where you can, as these put extra pressure on your feet
  • If you do need or want to wear high heels, use gel insoles to make them more comfortable, and choose pairs with broad heels for extra support. There are also men’s gel insoles for other types of shoes
  • Trying not to wear open-backed shoes too often, as these can cause the pad of the heel to expand sideways and make it more likely that you’ll need to use the best foot cream for cracked heels
  • Replacing shoes promptly when they get worn out or damaged
  • Choosing socks made from breathable and moisture-wicking materials to allow sweat to evaporate. Trapping moisture near your feet can cause skin damage and result in the need to use foot crack cream
  • Wearing soft socks that are not too loose or tight, to prevent the fabric from rubbing against your skin
  • Trying not to wear flip-flops and similar styles too often, as they don’t offer much support
  • Not wearing the same pair of shoes every day
  • Always wearing appropriate shoes for the activity you’re doing – such as hiking boots for long walks and trainers for sports – so that you don’t end up having to visit a foot care clinic or emergency podiatrist!

Seeing a foot health practitioner

In some cases, you may find that you have a foot health problem that you are unable to alleviate with a cream for the foot or the best foot scrub. If you find yourself suffering from severe symptoms that don’t improve with foot care at home or over-the-counter foot care products, then it’s a good idea to book an appointment.

In addition to visiting your doctor, you have the choice to book an appointment at a foot clinic with either a podiatrist or a chiropodist. There is no real difference between the two – both terms refer to a foot doctor. They may treat you at a specialist foot health clinic or at a more general healthcare location such as a hospital. A simple Google search for ‘foot care near me’ or ‘podiatry services near me’ will give you a good idea of where you can go.

There’s also the option of utilising a mobile podiatrist or another type of mobile foot health practitioner who will treat you in the comfort of your own home. If this appeals to you, do a quick online search for ‘mobile foot care near me’ or ‘visiting chiropodist near me’ and see what’s available in your area.

Conditions a foot health professional can help with

The sort of foot problems that a foot health care practitioner or doctor can assist you with include:

  • Dealing with stubborn corns and calluses that don’t respond to exfoliating feet treatment
  • Prescribing anti-fungal medication for conditions such as athlete’s foot, which is a particularly common issue in men’s feet care
  • Prescribing painkillers to alleviate your symptoms as the underlying issue is treated
  • Recommending gel insoles for flat feet, gel insoles for plantar fasciitis, and those designed for other foot problems
  • Treating serious wounds on the foot
  • Conducting wart on toe removal and similar operations
  • Showing you the best way to treat a blister on foot, particularly ones which are large, infected, or have other complications
  • Foot problems related to diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, and other underlying health conditions
  • Surgically removing bunions, ingrown toenails, and similar foot problems
  • Dealing with severe cases of heel fissures that don’t respond to the best cream for cracked heels

If you’re unsure of whether or not a foot health care practitioner can help you or you need to see a GP instead, contact the foot clinic or mobile chiropodists in your area and get their advice.

Elderly foot care

Thanks to charities such as Age UK, foot care for older people has started to receive greater attention. This is important because as you age, you are at greater risk of developing certain foot conditions such as arthritis. Not only that, if you have problems with your feet, it can impact your balance and put you at a higher risk of suffering a fall.

As you get older, it’s key to check your feet regularly for any changes or damage. In addition, you should be sure to wear cushioned footwear, moisturise your feet daily, and keep your toenails short. If you find it challenging to take care of your feet, you can always make use of the Age UK podiatry service or a normal mobile foot clinic. Search online for ‘foot health practitioner near me’ and see if you can find a foot care clinic that specialises in elderly foot care.

Diabetes and foot health

Having diabetes puts you at greater risk of suffering from problems with your feet, in addition to which they can have serious complications. This is because long-term high blood sugar levels can both lower blood flow and cause nerve damage, making it extra important to practice active foot care.

As a diabetic, you should wash your feet daily and inspect them closely to check for any changes or damage. It’s also a good idea to moisturise your feet every day – ask your doctor whether you should use Eucerin diabetic foot cream or another type. If you notice any problems at all with your feet, you should make an appointment with a doctor rather than try to treat it by yourself.

Foot Care FAQs

Which cream is best for feet?

The cream for foot you should use will depend on the specific foot care problem you’re trying to fix. For example, the best foot cream for athlete’s foot will not be the best foot cream for dry skin. Look for a product that’s specifically designed for the issue you have, whether that’s a cream for hard skin on feet or foot balms for heel fissures. Check reviews online, but remember to make sure they’re recent – the best foot cream for cracked heels in 2019 won’t necessarily be the best foot cream for cracked heels in 2020!

What is best for dry feet?

With dry feet, you essentially want to remove the buildup of dead skin cells and add moisture to the area. This can be done with a peeling sock such as Footner exfoliating socks, followed by a special dry skin foot cream. Soaking the feet in warm water beforehand helps to make sure that you get even better results when using the best foot exfoliator.

How do I remove hard and dead skin from my feet?

Buildups of hard and dead skin should first be softened and then gently removed. You can do this by soaking your feet in warm water, then using a peeling sock such as Footner exfoliating socks. Follow this up by using the best foot cream for hard skin on a regular basis. You can also prevent hard skin from forming in the first place by wearing shoes that fit well, not walking around outside barefoot, and moisturising feet every day.

When should I see a foot care practitioner about my feet?

In most instances, you will be able to solve your foot health problems at home by using remedies such as Footner exfoliating socks, the best cream for cracked feet, or dry foot cream. However, if any of the following apply, then you should seek advice from a doctor or the foot care clinic:

  • Your symptoms are severe (for example, very painful or preventing you from carrying out daily activities)
  • Your symptoms are getting worse
  • Your symptoms are not improving even with foot care at home
  • You think you might have an infection (for example, if you notice swelling, redness, pus, or warmth in the area)
  • You have diabetes (even if you just want to know the best foot cream for diabetics) or another relevant underlying health condition

Links & Sources

Footner Exfoliating Socks

Barefoot Ready
Rec. price £ 9,99
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