Best Practices for Foot Health
Our feet are not usually one of the most well-loved parts of our bodies—but they should be! Many of us are on our feet all day. Even if our jobs allow us to sit down at a desk, keeping our feet in great condition is crucial to making walking, running, exercising, and simply standing easier. Here are some tips linked to foot health facts that will help keep your feet in fantastic condition!
Be Mindful of What You Put on Your Feet
Whoever said you have to suffer for beauty probably never had foot problems! Although your shoes should fit snugly, they should never be too tight. This may just seem like an inconvenience now, but tight-fitting footwear can eventually lead to chronic foot problems.
You also want to avoid sharing shoes with anyone. Whether you have a special event coming up and want to borrow a friend’s heels or you’re thinking about renting a pair of ice skates, it’s always best to wear your own socks and shoes. Sharing footwear is an easy way to get a fungal infection. This is also why you should wear shower shoes if you’re using a communal shower such as at the gym or pool.
Don’t Forget About Your Toenails!
Your nails are far more than just aesthetic. Your toenails also play a key role in the health of your feet. While there’s nothing wrong with having your toes painted every now and then, you also want to give your toenails some time to breathe. This also means not immediately trying to mask toenail flaws like cracks or discoloration since these problems could be the signs of a more serious issue like nail fungus. Not only does wearing polish prevent you from keeping a close eye on your nails but it also could aggravate the issue.
You should also make sure you’re cutting your toenails properly. If you cut too close to the skin or try to round your nails, you are putting yourself at greater risk for ingrown toenails. For optimal nail health and by extension foot health, cut straight across and don’t go too short.
Know Your Feet Like the Back of Your Hands
One of the best ways to make sure your feet are healthy is to know what they’re like when they are in optimal health. The only way you can get to know your feet is to give them a full checkup weekly. However, if you are diabetic, you are at greater risk of experiencing foot problems. So you will want to examine your feet every day.
The time when it’s easiest to do this is probably right after you get out of the shower because your feet will be freshly cleaned. This gives you a baseline for how your feet look so if something changes and there is a problem, you can act quickly.
