The feet of a person tell a lot about his or her personal cleanliness and hygiene. Hence, the health of one's feet plays a significant role in overall personality. Caring of feet includes scrubbing, washing regularly as well as wearing comfortable shoes, which allow the feet to breathe easily.
Foot skin care is required to be able to stay comfortable and active throughout one's life otherwise, activities as simple as walking or running can also become painful.
Few tips include washing the feet in lukewarm soapy water on a daily basis, followed by rinsing with cold water, drying with a towel and then applying foot cream to soften the rough patches. Whenever you get your feet wet, make sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
One of the highly effective foot care tips is to give the feet a foot bath by putting a cup of marbles in bathing water and then rolling feet on top of these marbles so as to stimulate the nerve endings. You can also try to pick up the marbles with toes, then contract and flex the feet before letting go of the marbles. This would allow the muscles and arches of the feet to stretch.
Another effective way is to keep calluses under control by using an abrasive foot scrub or a pumice stone to remove rough and dead skin. If this skin is not removed regularly then it tends to become harden and thicken, which will result in cracked skin. It also increases the risks of infection, which would make it difficult for the person to walk. An invigorating scrub can be used on alternate day, which cleanses and exfoliates dead skin to smooth the rough edges of dry and tired feet. Massage and gentle scrubbing on rough skin areas make the feet soft and smooth.
It is also advisable to get a foot massage at times with a good moisturising foot balm. This massage can be made even more effective by adding some peppermint essential oil to the lotion. One should use a moisturiser on feet everyday as the skin on the soles of the feet does not have any oil glands to keep them soft. Apply foot balm on your feet before going to bed and then pulling on a pair of socks.
Shoes play a vital role in keeping the feet healthy. While purchasing shoes, first measure your feet correctly while standing as the shape of the feet would change according to pregnancy, daily pressure as well as age, which cause them to lengthen and expand. The best time to buy shoes is later in the day, when the feet are a bit swollen. The shoes that feel comfortable at that time will surely be comfy at all times of the day.
The UV rays of the sun not only harm our skin but the feet also. Therefore, when you go out in the sun wearing sandals, make sure to apply a sunscreen SPF-30 on your feet, just like the rest of your exposed body parts.
Before going to bed, wash your feet thoroughly, dry them with a towel and apply foot balm generously, especially at the heels. However, avoid the area between the toes while applying moisturiser or cream on your feet.
(The expert is Manager, National Training & Communication, JAFRA Cosmetics)
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