Foot Health
Healthy feet are part of a healthy body, and a little preventative foot care goes a long way to maintain good foot health. From nail trimming and foot bathing, to sock wear and shoe protection, these helpful tips can help to keep you in step with good foot health.
Cutting Nails
Cut nails carefully, and always straight across
Trimming nails too short or tapering them at the edges often leads to ingrown toenails.
Foot Hygiene
Keeping your feet clean can prevent infection. It is important to hydrate your skin following bathing with an appropriate skin conditioner, as bathing can strip natural oils from the surface of the skin.
Inspect your feet daily
Check your feet for cuts, blisters, scratches, redness and swelling. Catching these problems early can help prevent more serious complications later.
Moisturize your feet — but not between your toes
Moisturizing your feet will prevent dry skin, which is more likely to crack and become infected. Moisturizer trapped between your toes can breed fungus and also risk the skin breaking down due to the damp conditions it finds itself in. Your feet should also feel lighter and more comfortable when the tissue is more flexible.
Consult your podiatrist about problem skin issues such as corns and calluses
Off shelf caustic agents and home use corn and callus treatments can increase your risk of infection. Ask your podiatrist to treat these appropriately for you.
Wear clean, dry socks
Keeping your feet clean and dry is the first step to avoiding infection. Socks should be free of significant seams and stitching — and made of moisture-wicking materials. Avoiding heavily compressive stitching will help comfort.
Avoid loose or tight-fitting socks
Socks that are too loose can cause friction inside your shoes, which can lead to blisters and other irritations. Socks that are too tight can restrict blood circulation.
Wear socks to bed
Wearing clean, comfortable socks to bed is the best way to keep your feet warm at night. Never use a heating pad or hot water bottle.
Shake out and inspect the inside of your shoes
Always be sure the inside of your shoes are free of irritants and loose debris that might irritate your feet.
Shoe Health
Fungus and infection thrive in damp, dark, moist environments and your shoes are the perfect spot. Regularly airing and cleaning your shoes will help to prevent this. The use of socks and shoes as opposed to barefoot will also help avoid things like athletes’ foot and also reduce odour.
Don’t smoke
Smoking impairs blood circulation. Maintaining healthy blood circulation to their extremities is key to preventing amputation for people with diabetes.
Take care of your diabetes
Responsible diabetes management will reduce your chances of developing the complications that can lead to amputation.
Get regular foot exams
Visit a podiatrist if you’re experiencing symptoms or you have any questions at all about the health of your feet. Your podiatrist will recommend how often you should have follow-up appointments.
