LIFESTYLE NEWS - Help your feet stay fabulous with some tender love and care. Here are some tips.
Make it a habit to use a pumice stone or foot file on damp heels and calluses. Soak your feet in a warm foot bath made of black tea for 10 to 15min to help soften the skin. Then gently remove the thickened skin with a pumice stone. Tannic acid in black tea is a natural antibacterial agent that may reduce the chance of getting athlete's foot.
- Moisturising foot scrubs also help remove dead skin. After you scrub, apply a rich foot cream or balm containing shea butter or cocoa butter. If your heels are very dry and cracked, see a podiatrist or dermatologist for a prescription treatment.
- Fight fungus. Over-the-counter antifungal treatments work best on mild cases of athlete's foot, and probably not at all with toenail fungus, which is difficult to treat. These treatments have one of the following active ingredients, which are all equally effective: terbinafine, tolnaftate, miconazole, ciclopirox, or clotrimazole. Tea Tree oil also works well on mild cases of athlete's foot.
- Wear sunscreen on the top of your feet - at least 30 SPF when you're going barefoot or wearing open sandals.
- Get support. Standing for a long time can make your feet sore. Wearing insoles can help make shoes more comfortable. Look for insoles that have a plastic shell at the bottom. Podiatrists say the shell makes them strong enough to provide real support.
- Don't forget your toenails. Love getting pedicures? The technique matters. Clumsy trimming can lead to hangnails and ingrown toenails. Make sure the nail technician gently pushes back the cuticle rather than cuts it, which can lead to an infection. If you do your own nails, look for nail 'nippers' that have a curved handle and a cutting jaw shaped to follow the natural curve of nails. Use nail polish that is free of formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate, and a nail polish remover free of alcohol. To moisturise your toenails, use a cuticle cream, petroleum jelly, or vitamin E oil. Put it over the entire nail, including the cuticle, and gently rub it in.
Source: www.webmd.com
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