Best Foot Care Products

Statistics show that almost 98% of people are born with normal feet, but they eventually suffer from some form of foot disorder. As early as two years of age, a child may begin to show a foot defect, and this is mostly due to improper care. Here are a few of the issues that most people experience with their feet:

Athlete’s foot:

This is a fungal infection of the skin. It begins with a tiny blister, which then busts and dries up, and then causes the skin to flake, itch, burn and even crack.

If the sores do not heal even after one week, ensure to see the doctor.

Bunions:

This is caused by misaligned joints, and it results in swollen and tender areas that normally develop into an overgrowth in the bone.

Corns and calluses:

These are extremely common in most people, and they are hard and thickened skin which is very painful and results in a burning sensation. Corns will form on the top of your toe, just above the center joint or in the sole of your foot.

Calluses normally form on the ball or heel of your foot.

Foot cramps:
These are sudden pains at the arch of your foot, and they are mostly as a result of fatigue and stress.

If this pain persists after the simple treatment, ensure to consult a doctor for further analysis.

The condition in which your feet are in is also critical to your emotional and physical wellbeing. This is why your feet will need to be kept strong comfortable and healthy. Because of constant use, your feet are highly susceptible to injury, and this is the reason why we are talking about taking care of them.

Proper care includes the maintenance of your feet, and here are a few things you can do to ensure that your feet are well taken care of:

Always keep your feet clean and dry:

We simply cannot reiterate this more. In order for your feet to always remain dirt and disease free, you must always ensure you clean them often, and dry them completely.

You must ensure that every day after work you have soaked them in some warm water to get rid of the dirt you may have accumulated during the day, and in addition, ensure you use a clean and dry cloth to get rid of all the water.

The reason behind this is that wet feet attract moisture which in effect attracts the different diseases that can infect your feet as a result of a fungus that grows due to the moisture.

Proper washing:

We may have mentioned washing in the earlier point; it is not just about putting them in water and then taking them out. No! Cleaning our feet will involve getting down and dirty.

Use a good quality and mild soap to clean in between the toes, and use a simple soft brush to remove all of the dirt from under your feet.

Use a long shower brush also to lean your feet under the faucet. You must ensure that no dirt is left unattended in your daily cleaning process because dirt is the breathing ground for bad odor, athletes’ foot, fungus, and bacteria.

Do not use Epson salts:

You may be tempted to get in some relaxation time when cleaning your feet by using some Epson salts which are soothing and relaxing especially if you are using some warm water after a long tiring day, but these salts are in fact too drying and may not offer you the medical benefits you so desire.

Just use your plain warm water and some little liquid soap, or even dishwashing soap to clean your feet thoroughly and carefully. These products contain skin softeners which means that they will take good care of your feet and ensure they remove the dirt within.

Moisturize your feet:

Using basic lotions and creams on your feet goes a long way. This will keep them shiny, and prevent flaking frequently. When you clean and moisturize your feet, you also avoid any fungus and bacteria from growing on them, as some of these creams contain some product of medicine to prevent all of this.

If you also have dry skin, moisturizing helps. But, do not apply the cream in between the toes, as these are closed off all day long, and may cause you to attract some unwanted diseases as a result of the moisture.

File and cut your toenails often:

Ensure not to maintain very long nails on your feet, because this is the breeding ground for unwanted skin infections.

Regardless of whether you wear shoes all day long, or you do open shoes once in a while, keep your nails clean and short. This also makes it easy for you to deal with unwanted infections, and you can also get to remove some corns and calluses in the process, leading to a nice and clean environment at all times.

while at it, always cut the nails straight, and never in a straight angle, as this will cause you to end up having some ingrown toenails.

Shoes:

When it comes to shoes, a lot can be said. Many people go wrong in the shoes they wear, and as a result, It ends up causing unwanted problems in your feet. Here are a few rules when it comes to shoe wear and how to ensure you are doing the right thing at all times;

Never wear tight shoes:

Almost everyone with feet related problems is guilty of this one sin. We always want to look nice and smart, and therefore we end up wearing very tight-fitting shoes. To tell the truth, they are the most comfortable and look nice, plus, they give you peace of mind that the shoe isn’t coming on and off all of the time which can be a weird scene.

You should, however, know that wearing very tight shoes worsens the presence of bunions and can lead to a distortion of your toe shape and cause painful foot growths. That is enough to cause you to worry about your feet.

Therefore, ensure to wear shoes that are fitting of course, but also shoes that aren’t too tight especially tight enough to cause damage to your toenails.

Wearing high heels:

There are very many rules when it comes to high heels, and most women do not like to hear these rules, because they believe that they are most beautiful in heels, which is true, to some extent. Beauty is not only defined by how you look, but also how you feel.

If you tend to wear high heels all the time, you may be causing more harm to your feet than good, and there is nothing attractive with a foot filled with bunions, ingrown toenails, and calluses. All of these are made worse by extended use of high heels;

Here are some rules with it comes to heels;

• Limit the length of time you wear your heels – you should only wear your heels on special occasions. This is because heels tend to damage your posture and feet.
• Wear heels that are not higher than 5cms – This is because the heels vary your height, and by wearing heels that are very high, they will end up damaging your feet in the process and causing a problem with your posture.

When shopping for your shoes, you need to be extra careful not to put style above your comfort. This is however what happens in most cases, and especially when it comes to women, they are more interested in the latest trends, than their feet.

Here are some tips that will help you buy the right shoes:

• Buy your shoes at the end of the day, rather than in the morning, because in the evening, your feet are nice and swollen and as a result, you will end up buying shoes that are a little bit bigger, which means that they will not be too tight.
• Use socks or hosiery when trying out shoes, because again, this will ensure that you buy a little bigger shoe as is recommended, and not too tight.
• Avoid platforms, very high shoes, or clogs with extreme styles, as these will only damage your feet further.
• If you have one toe that is slightly bigger than the others, ensure that the shoe fits perfectly even with the slightly bigger toe.
• Check the quality of the shoe, their durability and strength as well. Look for shoes with good workmanship, which includes a smooth lining, smooth stitching, and finely finished edges.
• DO NOT buy shoes that will require you to break them in.
• DO NOT always go for brand named or designer shoes, because they do not always guarantee you comfort. Some unnamed shoes may end up being much more comfortable for you.

Choosing shoes for Children

You should follow the guidelines above and in addition:

• Get the right shoes that should match your child’s activity levels.
• Buy shoes that will fit him at the current age, rather than buying over-sized shoes with the hope that they will grow into them. This makes it uncomfortable for them and it is also an unsightly seen, watching a child in way too big shoes.
• Avoid hand-me-downs when trying to save money. Each child is different and will have different sized shoes to fit them, and therefore you may end up damaging their feet as a result of trying to save a buck or two.

A special type of people

Not everyone is the same, and there are some classes or groups of people that you must take special attention when buying them shoes because if you do not take good care of their feet, it can be a much more serious situation than you could ever anticipate. These include:

People with Diabetes:

These are people who have poor blood circulation in their feet. An infection can cause a very serious danger and even lead to their death.

Here are some tips when choosing their footwear;

• The first and most important point is to ensure that they NEVER go barefoot.Always ensure that they have some sort of shoes or slippers whenever they want to leave the house. This is because any sort of injury on their feet is potentially life-threatening.
• Ensure that they DO NOT wear garters, tight girdles, or rolled up hoses. In addition, elasticized socks or ace bandages are a no, no. These will only make the situation worse by making the blood circulation extremely poor especially in their legs.
• They must always wear comfortable shoes.
• They should use lotions and creams on their feet often.
• They MUST never treat corns or calluses by themselves and should ensure to see a doctor where necessary.
• They should use lukewarm water when cleaning their feet. They must never use hot water, iodine or heating pads, as these can cause burns. They should also avoid using Epson salts at whatever costs.

The Elderly:

If you have ever bought shoes for your elderly parents or even grandparents, you will admit that it is almost always a daunting task as they never know what is right for them. Keep the following points in check when considering their footwear:

• Buy them properly fitted and not too right shoes.
• It is advisable to go with orthopedic treated shoes, or shoes that have been recommended by the doctor, especially if they suffer from orthopedic related ailments.
• Be extra faithful with their daily foot care.
• Ensure they do not stand for long periods of times to avoid overexerting themselves.
• DO NOT use over the counter medications if they suffer from any feet ailments.
• DO NOT expose their feet to foot ailments.

Infants:

Nothing feels as great as that first pair of shoes for your little one, but this comes with plenty of precautions and extra care. Remember that their feet are tiny and extremely soft, and therefore you must ensure not to overdo it.

Here are some tips:

• Do not buy tight shoes.
• DO NOT force them to start walking too soon, in the new shoes.
• Pay close attention to your child’s abnormalities especially while walking, and report any anomalies to your doctor, even before buying them new shoes.
• Ensure to practice proper care on your child’s feet every day when cleaning them and teach them how to care for their feet as well.
• Check to ensure the shoes you bought them still fit them properly as kids are grown rapidly, and you may end up with super tight shoes.

If you are looking to take good care of your feet often, there are some products that you can buy in order to ensure that you do a good job. In addition, these products will help you get rid of cuticles, loose skin on your feet, dead skin, calluses, etc.

Here are some of the most popular products that you can use;

Callous removers:

Callouses are dead skin that tends to settle at the base of your foot. Traditionally, there have been rough stones which are used for the removal of this dead skin, but technology has greatly advanced, and now you can buy a high-quality callous remover from your local beauty shop or even the big stores.

It will be in good shape as well, for you to hold carefully as you lift your leg and work on the dead skin.

Toe separators:

Toe separators are common in beauty salons where pedicures are done, and they mostly help in separating the toes when applying some nail polish.

They are also known as toe spacers, and most of them are made of silicone or rubber material that is comfortable enough for the middle of your toes. They conform to the shape of your toes and you mostly separate them so that they do not overlap.

Toe separators can also be used to strengthen your toes for better foot health.

Because hot weather leads to excessive skin exposure, if you want to have healthier and better-looking toes, then toe separators can come in handy and helps keep your feet free from moisture, bacteria, and fungus that can be detrimental to your health and comfort.

Toe separators can also be used to treat bunions – bunions are musculoskeletal and are extremely painful especially when you are wearing shoes. They change the angle of your toes and lead to bumps which grow large and may even look like you have a sixth toe.

Pedicure rasp:

This is mostly used when trying to remove stubborn callouses from your feet. They may be a little bit harsh but they work perfectly and give you extremely smooth and soft feet soles.

Look for one that has some good craftsmanship and which is not too tough on your feet, which may lead to more harm.