How to Care for Your Feet and Toenails

Your feet are two of the most abused often used parts of the body, what with all the walking and running that you do everyday. This being said, you should make sure to give your feet the attention and care they deserve every so often. Taking good care of your feet will prevent you from getting foot conditions such as Athlete's foot or other fungal infections. No matter what the season is, it is always important to keep your feet and toenails in tip-top condition. During the hotter months, for example, your feet are constantly visible due to footwear choices such as sandals and slippers, so it would be a good idea to keep them looking fabulous and presentable. But even during the winter months when you feet are bundled up in socks and boots, it would still be advisable to take extra measures in keeping your feet well-cared for. Some of these feet and toenail care tips are applicable not only to women, but to men as well. Don't overlook the advantages of having nice-looking and cared-for feet

Here are some useful steps in taking care of your feet and toenails, which will get you to putting your best feet forward -- literally -- in no time.

STEPS

1) Make sure to wash your feet daily. With all the running about from place to place that most people do everyday, the feet would have been exposed to a lot of dust and dirt by the end of the day. If you take showers in the morning and not at night, at least make feet-washing a part of your nightly routine when you get home. Lather up with soap, and pay extra attention to the spaces in between the toes. Wipe the feet gently with a towel afterward. Aside from being a mark of good hygiene, doing this would also ensure that you do not step onto your bed with dirty feet, and thus prevent from bringing dirt to your place of rest and relaxation.

2) Give your feet a pedicure every two weeks. Painting them does not necessarily have to be part of every pedicure routine, but regular pedicures really make a difference in keeping your feet soft and free from dry and rough skin, and your toenails clean and neat. You don't need to spend a lot of cash to have your pedicure professionally done in a salon, and with a few tools, you can do your own pedicure right in the comforts of your own home. Here's how to do one:

• Soak your feet for about 5-10 minutes in a large bowl with lukewarm water. As an added treat, you may also wish to infuse the water with a few drops of essential oils or Dead Sea salts, to keep the feet smelling good and to soften hard skin respectively. The soaking time indicated here is merely just a suggestion -- you may choose to soak your feet for much longer if you want to relax, or if the hardened skin on your feet need extra hydration.

• Exfoliate your feet with a foot scrub to slough off dry and dead skin, and to moisturize your feet as well. Massage the scrub in circular motions, and rinse off afterward. To exfoliate the hardened skin on the heels and bottom part of the feet, use a foot file or a pumice stone. Make sure to use a gentle filing motion, and to never rub too hard.

• Cut your toenails straight across, as opposed to a curved shape, to prevent ingrown toenails from occurring. If you would really prefer a rounded shape instead of a straight square, use a nail file to smooth-en the ridges and to give the edges a bit of a curve, so you would end up with a square shape with rounded edges. Ensure that the nails are cut and filed to just the right length -- short, but not too much that you end up hurting yourself.

• Remember to include your cuticles too. Apply cuticle oil to your toenails to soften and moisturize the hardened edges, and push the cuticles back with an orange-wood stick to create a smooth, open area ready for your polish. Make sure that you do not push too hard, or you might risk cutting the

3) If desired, apply polish to your toenails. Do this after you have done your pedicure, so that you have a smooth, clean base for the polish to go on to.

• Before painting, clean the nail plates by wiping over them with nail polish remover. This removes excess oils as well as old polish from the nails, so your new colour will go on smoothly and last well.

• Use toe separators to keep your toes apart. This makes the process of painting easier, and prevents a freshly painted toenail from staining another toe.

• Always use a base-coat - a clear layer of polish - under your colour to prevent staining and to ensure your polish goes on smoothly.

• Using the nail color of your choice, apply the polish to your toenails. Try to follow the "three stroke method", which consists of using one stroke on each side and a stroke in the middle. This ensures that the polish is evenly applied on the whole nail. Apply two coats of polish to your toenails.

• After around 10 minutes, use a topcoat to achieve the smoothest, longest lasting results and a high-shine finish.

• For fall, choose browns, oranges, and reds. Dark green also looks good.

• For winter, try not to go too festive. For December, either go with red or dark green, but not both. Other colours for winter include dark blue and white. You can really use any colour though because your feet are not seen a lot.

• For spring, bring out the pastel colours Soft greens, pinks, purples, and blues are a great touch!

• For summer, use bright natural colours Other colours that work are light blue, turquoise, yellow, and white. If you have naturally fair skin and like to tan, coral accentuates it nicely.

• If you can't decide on a colour, remember that a French polish (nude or pale pink polish with white tips) suits everyone and goes with all colours of clothing and skin. But feel free to be bold with toenail colours -- on the fingernails, some colours can look garish and tacky, but on the toenails, pretty much anything goes!

5) Moisturize your feet everyday. Put lotion or foot cream on as a part of your routine. One way to achieve soft, moisturized feet is to rub on some lotion or petroleum jelly before bed, and slip on some socks. When you wake up in the morning, you'll find that your feet are very soft and are free from dryness! Just remember to never let the area between toes become over-moisturized, as this will cause fungus. 

TIPS

• Always use an acetone-free nail polish remover, as acetone can dry the nails and the skin/cuticles.

• If you don't have toenail separators for when applying nail polish, you may also use twisted tissue paper woven between the toes.

• Use the tips of an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton and soaked in nail polish remover to help clean up small spills and polish "bleed" around the cuticle or on the skin around your toes.

• When your healthy, glamorous feet are ready for the summer, show them off in some beautiful flip-flops, or cool sandals in a colour you like.

• You can learn a lot from the professionals, so treat yourself to a pro pedicure when you 'need' it -- and ask questions and pay attention!

Warning

If you have diabetes, take extra care when exfoliating, cutting your toenails or when pushing back your cuticles during a pedicure. Make sure that you do not injure yourself to prevent the risk of any infection.

Things You'll Need

• Large bowl
• Towel
• Essential oils
• Dead Sea salt
• Foot scrub
• Foot file or pumice stone
• Nail clipper
• Nail file
• Cuticle oil
• Orangewood stick
• Cotton balls
• Nail polish remover
• Nail polish colour of your choice, basecoat, and topcoat
• Foot cream, lotion or petroleum jelly

Article Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Your-Feet-and-Toenails

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Treat Your Feet to Some TLC with Ayurveda

BY: Shreelata Suresh

Our feet are often the least pampered parts of our bodies. Here are some suggestions from ayurveda, the ancient science of healing from India, for taking care of your feet on a regular basis:

1. During your pre-bath ayurvedic massage (abhyanga), pay special attention to your feet. Massage the feet, each toe, the ankles, the heels and the soles in turn with the warm oil, gently stretching the feet and toes as you massage them and using circular motions around your ankles and heels. (Pat excess oil off your soles with paper towels before you step into the bath or shower and watch your step because oil can be slippery). This daily foot massage enhances lubrication and circulation, and helps draw toxins to the surface for release. Using massage oil that has been fortified with nourishing ayurvedic herbs provides added support to help keep your feet strong and flexible.

2. During your bath or shower, let your feet enjoy warm water for a few minutes, then cleanse with a gentle, non-irritating cleanser and a footbrush or washcloth, working between the toes and scrubbing the heels to slough off dead skin. Use a neem based cleanser to help rid feet of odor or bacteria. After your bath or shower, pat your feet dry and apply a moisturizing body lotion if you use one anyway, otherwise massage a little plain shea butter or coconut oil on your feet before slipping on a pair of cotton socks.

3. Once a week, apply a natural exfoliating mixture on your feet, especially on the heels and soles, when you cleanse, to remove hardened dead skin. Make your own exfoliating mixture of 2 parts coarse oatmeal, 2 parts chickpea flour (available at Indian grocery stores) and 1 part rose water. Add warm water as needed to form a thick paste. Apply on your feet and scrub gently, then rinse off with warm water. Pat dry and follow with an application of coconut oil, shea butter or natural body lotion.

4. Follow basic rules of comfort. Wear footwear that fits properly and is roomy enough so that no part of your foot feels pinched. Do not wear high heels except when you absolutely have to. Replace shoes before they wear out or become lopsided with use. Wear cotton socks indoors to protect your feet from the cold. When the temperature is comfortable and you are indoors, walk barefoot occasionally to allow your feet to breathe. Sit, stand and walk with an erect posture. If you work at a sedentary job, take breaks every hour or so and walk around a little. Use a footsie roller at your workstation.

5. A nightly foot and lower leg massage not only relaxes the feet, it also helps promote restful sleep. Use a light, non staining oil such as almond or jojoba, and if you like, you can add 4-5 drops of a relaxing essential oil such as lavender or sandalwood to every 2 oz. of base oil. Take a very small amount of oil, just enough to offer lubrication, in your palm and gently massage your lower legs and feet for 3-4 minutes each until the oil is absorbed by your skin. Use soothing strokes and breathe deeply as you massage. No need to wash the oil off--you can go to bed as soon as you are done.

6. For tired, stressed feet, try a foot soak. Either of the following two recipes will have you sighing, "Ah, this is bliss," as you soak the tension away.

Herbal foot soak:

1/4 cup lavender flowers

1/4 cup lemon peel

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

2 tablespoons fine oatmeal

2 tablespoons almond meal

Wrap the ingredients in a cheesecloth and tie with a string. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop the herb sachet in and turn off the heat. Let steep for 15-20 minutes. Combine the herbed water with enough comfortably warm water to immerse your feet up to your ankles, and soak your feet for about 15 minutes. Stay relaxed as you soak, either just sitting in silence and breathing deeply or hearing relaxing instrumental melodies. Pat you feet dry and rub on some lotion or shea butter.

Aromatherapy foot soak:

1/4 cup sea salts

1 tbsp Epsom salts

1 tsp baking soda

2 drops essential oil of lemon

2 drops essential oil of sandalwood

2 drops essential oil of coriander

Combine well all of the above in enough comfortably warm water (about 2 quarts) in a foot basin or bath-tub to immerse your feet up to your ankles. Soak your feet in the mix for about 15 minutes. Stay relaxed as you soak. After you're done, pat your feet dry and apply some moisturizing lotion or shea butter. Mmmm!

7. If your feet tend to perspire a lot or to help your feet stay fresh in warm weather, dust them lightly with the following natural powder:

1/2 cup arrowroot

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 tsp baking powder

2 drops essential oil of peppermint

2 drops essential oil of lemon

Pass the dry ingredients through a sieve two or three times to mix well. Add the essential oils to the mix, stir well, and sieve again. Store in a dry container.

Notes:

1. If you have any medical condition, please consult your health professional for proper care. Foot soaks, Epsom salts and essential oils, for example, are not recommended in certain conditions.

2. Exercise proper care when using salts and essential oils.

Disclaimer: The above article is educational in nature, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.

Article Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ss_feet.html

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Care for Feet Every Step Of The Way

Foot Care Tips Help Prevent Complications of Diabetes

(ARA) - With winter just a few weeks away many people are starting to feel the itchy effects of dry skin, but for people with diabetes, dry skin is not simply a minor annoyance -- it may lead to more serious complications if not properly treated.

Severe dry skin may result in deep and painful cracks in the skin's surface, especially in the feet.

Approximately 60 percent of people with diabetes suffer from a complication called neuropathy, or nerve damage, and may not be able to feel those painful cracks on the soles of their feet. Left untreated, wounds may become infected and create greater complications.

More than 16 million Americans have diabetes, and each year more than 86,000 of them have amputations resulting from foot ulcers or chronic wounds, many of which begin as a small cut or blister.

Doctors estimate that nearly 50 percent of amputations may have been prevented through a combination of awareness, prevention and intervention.

"People with diabetes have the opportunity to significantly improve their condition by taking proactive measures to care for themselves," says Dr. Maria G. Dill, regional medical director for Curative Health Services and medical director at the Valley Baptist Wound Care Center in Harlingen, Texas. "Simple steps can be taken to prevent complications from arising."

The following preventive measures may help people avoid or minimize the severity of injuries, sores and infections to their feet:

Never walk barefoot.

Check feet every day for injury.

Wash feet daily in warm, soapy water.

Moisturize the soles of feet with unscented lotion immediately after bathing.

Avoid scented lotions, as they contain alcohol that may dry the feet.

Check shoes to make sure they are free of stones and sharp or lumpy objects, like a child's toy.

Wear loose socks in bed if feet are cold -- do not use hot water or heating pads to warm cold feet.

Make regular visits to a podiatrist.

Without proper treatment, injuries caused by neuropathy may become serious wound problems, resulting in chronic infections, gangrene and possibly amputation. More than 6 million people in the United States suffer from chronic wounds, which are commonly defined as wounds that show little or no improvement after four weeks of best practices, or do not progress toward healing in eight weeks. Curative Health Services (Nasdaq: CURE) operates a national network of more than 100 Wound Care Centers(R), which follow an interdisciplinary approach when treating patients suffering from chronic wounds. Nutrition, wound prevention, and education play key roles in all treatment plans. The program has healed more patients with chronic wounds than any other wound specialty program, and consistently averages a 90 percent patient satisfaction rate throughout the nation.

If non-healing foot ulcers occur, consult with a physician. For more information about foot care tips for people with diabetes or treatment for non-healing wounds, call the nearest Wound Care Center at (800) 991-HEAL (4325).

Article Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ara-footcare.html

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Healthy Feet Are Happy Feet

By Cynthia Soguero

It has been estimated that over a lifetime, the average person will walk 50-100,000 miles. When our feet are healthy, it is easy to take them for granted. Healthy feet allow us to sustain an active lifestyle. More importantly, feet that are healthy and pain-free contribute to good balance which may prevent falls, a major cause of injury and hospitalization in seniors. Keeping an eye on our feet can provide early warning signals for other health concerns such as diabetes, arthritis, poor circulation and nerve damage.

Many foot problems can be avoided by using some basic foot care techniques. It is important to examine your feet daily. Have someone else look at your feet if you have difficulty seeing them or use a mirror. Check for dry, cracked skin. Look for blisters, cuts, ulcers, or other sores. Observe any redness or tenderness when touching any area of your feet. Check for ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses. Wash your feet every day using warm (not hot) water. Pat feet dry and make sure to dry well between your toes. Keep your feet soft and smooth with an unscented lotion. This will help prevent cracks which can lead to infection. Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft. You may want a podiatrist or foot care nurse to cut your toenails and reduce corns and calluses, especially if you have diabetes.

Always protect your feet by wearing shoes or hard-soled slippers or footwear. Avoid walking barefoot, even indoors. Avoid shoes that expose your toes or heels (such as open-toed shoes or sandals). These types of shoes increase your risk for injury and potential infections. If you get a blister or sore from your shoes, leave it intact. Apply a bandage and wear a different pair of shoes. Try on new footwear late in the day and wear the type of socks you plan to wear with the shoes. Inspect the insides of your shoes before putting them on to make sure there are no foreign objects or rough areas. Avoid tight socks and choose natural-fiber socks to prevent sweating. Wear special shoes if your health care provider recommends them. Wear shoes/boots that will protect your feet from various weather conditions (cold, moisture, etc.). Make sure your shoes fit properly.

Maintaining healthy feet will help you stay safe, active, and comfortable. Preventative foot care is the best medicine. If you need help with toenail and foot care, please contact your local foot care nurse or your health care provider.

Cynthia Soguero, RN, CFCN

Owner/RN Professional Foot Care

Estes Park, CO

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cynthia_Soguero

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Great Natural Remedies For Dry Feet

By Alex Greenwood II  

Often, due to the dry, cold winter weather, our feet become dry, cracked or callused. This common problem can escalate from red, itchy and blotchy skin to painful cracks and calluses in the heels which in turn can lead to infections.

Unlike the rest of the skin on our body, our feet don't have oil glands which naturally dry our feet out. In order to keep our feet from completely drying out on their own, we rely on the sweat glands of our feet to provide natural skin moisturizing. Most people, especially seniors and diabetics require extra attention when it comes to foot care.

Just like the rest of our body, our skin dries out more during the winter because of the cold temperatures and the dry heat of home and office heating systems. Using non-moisturizing soap along with having very hot baths and showers also contributes to dry skin. There are also medical conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis and eczema which will exacerbate skin that is already dry. Other natural enemies of our feet can be age and spending too much time in the sun or walking on hot, dry surfaces.

As mentioned, there is a wide range of severities with different symptoms and remedies for each. Mild symptoms can range from itchiness and red, rough or peeling skin to calluses and cracks or fissures in our heels. Rashes are quite common, usually brought on by scratching due to the itching. When our feet get to the point of cracking, additional complications may arise. Walking can become difficult and spending time on your feet may have to be limited. More serious skin conditions may develop, such as psoriasis or dermatitis which may have to be treated with prescription creams or drugs.

If your feet are at the mild stage of dryness there are many natural ways to relieve the unpleasantness of dry feet.

You can add all sorts of things to a warm foot bath to help soften your feet and get rid of dry, dead skin through exfoliation.

Lemon juice works well because the acidity of the lemon helps dissolve the dry skin for easy removal with foot brush or loofa. Soak for 10 minutes, dry then exfoliate.

Add to your foot bath a cap full of baby shampoo along with a cup of white vinegar. Or try a few tablespoons of Epsom salts or baking soda, or a cup of milk.

A great natural moisturizer can be made by combining olive oil and lemon juice, along with a couple of drops of lavender, or which every type of essential oil you prefer. This mixture can be made by the batch and stored in a container for everyday use. Just be sure to shake it before application.

For relief while you sleep, slather on a mixture of Vaseline and lemon juice, then don a pair of socks (so you don't stain your bedding) and leave on overnight.

you're sitting in front of the TV, slather on a banana mash and sit with your feet up for half an hour, then rinse.

The natural healing recipe that I like best is an overnight deep moisturizer. Before bed, first soak your feet in Epsom salts, then butter up your feet with cocoa butter and wrap in a plastic bag (the ones from the produce department in your grocery store work great). You might want to also put on a pair of light socks to help keep the plastic wrap in place.You'll see a difference the next morning, but keep doing it for 3 days in a row for best results, then whenever necessary.

If your dry feet do not improve after following these tips for a few weeks, perhaps you should consult your doctor. He/she may refer you to a podiatrist for further medical assistance. It is a podiatrist that you should see and not a dermatologist, as many people believe since podiatrists are trained for skin conditions specifically for the feet.

I hope you enjoyed this article and found the natural remedies helpful. If you'd like to discover more simple and organic ways to cure common skin conditions, or for loads of natural skincare tips, please visit my website, Natural Skincare Secrets Simplified. While there, sign up for the newsletter and have interesting and informative skincare tips and tricks sent to you by email.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Greenwood_II

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How to Get Rid of Stinky Feet

By Sergey Kalitenko

Are you embarrassed because your Stinky feet? Have you tried over-the-counter remedies only to find they didn't work? Are you afraid that your foot odor will be noticed by your spouse or friends?

Even though conventional medicine is very well aware that smelly feet is a problem, it does not offer a long-term solution. Sometimes prescription drugs like Dry Sol work, but they can't be used for extended periods of time. Needless to say, over-the-counter solutions don't solve the problem in the long run. Why it is so difficult to do something about the smell? We have the Internet and computers, we went to the Moon, we decoded the human genome, but we can't do something about stinky feet?

Because conventional medicine does not offer an effective solution for smelly feet and because my patients were asking for help, I had to run my own investigation. To get to the bottom of the problem I had to find out why feet smell in the first place. Is it really an offensive odor, or is it just our perception? Some people can't tolerate even perfume because of an increased sensitivity to any odor. The most likely cause of this problem is an inflammation in the area where smell receptors are located. Normally, we sense a smell by special receptors called 'olfactory bulbs', located in the upper part of the nose. The molecule that's responsible for odor binds to this receptor, creating the sense of a certain smell. But if the receptor is damaged (most often by an upper respiratory tract infection or due to an inflammation because of allergies), then even perfume can be sensed as an offensive odor. It's comparable to someone you love caressing your hand. If it's healthy - caressing is pleasant. But what if you have a paper cut or a fractured finger? Then even a gentle caress can cause pain. Same here: a damaged nose cannot process odors properly.

But what if everything is supposedly OK with your nose, yet you still feel that your feet smell. What is producing this offensive odor? From the beginning it looked apparent: the cause of the smell is from the byproducts of the degradation of skin secretions, like sweat, sebum, dead cells, etc., by skin bacteria. Therefore, stinky feet have three components: the sweat itself, nutrients in the sweat to feed bacteria, and the bacteria themselves. But why do some feet smell and some don't? It's perfectly normal to have bacteria on your skin, but it isn't normal for feet to smell. Could it be much more than the simple smell? Could smelly feet portend something else more dangerous than just the smell?

Normally, odor is used for communication - our odor is caused by special substances produced by our body-Pheromone, which triggers social responses. What it means is that smells created by pheromones can attract or make other people run away (alarm pheromones). Pheromones are secreted by the individual himself. Is it pheromone that makes our feet smell? Sounds unlikely, as alarm pheromones are produced to signal temporary danger from an approaching predator, not a constant threat.

Could it be something else?

Scientists believe that there are 7 primary odors:

1. Musky: perfumes.

2. Putrid: rotten eggs.

3. Pungent: vinegar.

4. "Camphor": mothballs.

5. Ethereal: dry cleaning fluid.

6. Floral: roses.

7. Peppermint: mint.

Because stinky feet do not smell like perfume or roses, peppermint or vinegar, may be something is decaying and that's the source of the smell? What it is clear: sweat, dead cells and sebum. But why?

Then I learned something that shocked me. Normally our skin has an acidic environment which kills bacteria. Hence, if it is changed to alkaline, bacteria can flourish and start degrading dead cells, sweat and sebum. If we use soap (which is alkaline), our skin won't be acidic anymore, losing the defense mechanism which protects our skin from a bacterial invasion. I'm not suggesting that soaps should not be used at all, but in my opinion their use should be minimized.

To help with smelly feet we need three things to happen:

1. Decrease sweat production.

2. Remove nutrients that are beneficial for bacteria from the sweat.

3. Kill bacteria.

The first problem does not have an easy solution, because too much sweating can be caused not only by your genes, but most of the time, by hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalances. Classic example: thyroid or adrenal problems. Therefore, you need to consult your family doctor or a functional medicine doctor to find the root cause of the problem. A quick fix would be Botox injections into the foot to reduce sweating. Consult your doctor before deciding about Botox.

The second issue is relatively easy to solve: avoid carbohydrates, because sugar is what bacteria want.

The third solution is easy to say, but difficult to achieve. You could try soaps, that kill bacteria. Another solution was suggested by a friend of mine: "People do not know how to get rid of smelly feet and spend a lot of money on it - but the solution is very cheap: put a half tea spoon of Boric Acid into your socks before going out and see what happens!" What Boric acid does is: kill bacteria. Consult your doctor before considering using Boric Acid or bactericidal soaps for smelly feet.

Bottom line:

1. Reduce your sweating by finding the root cause of it.

2. Stay away from carbohydrates, especially refined.

3. Try bactericidal soaps after consulting with your doctor.

If you have better ideas please share your knowledge and let us know, help other people to get rid of smelly feet. Good luck!

For more information go to http://www.doctorkalitenko.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sergey_Kalitenko

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