Even minor foot problems can significantly affect your mobility and daily functioning. Because of this, it's essential to care for and protect your feet just as you would your teeth, skin or joints. The health of your feet also is a clue to your overall health, with many diseases and disorders manifesting early symptoms in the feet. Getting healthy feet involves undergoing routine medical checkups, making minor changes to your lifestyle, and protecting your feet from injury and infection.
Step 1
Examine your feet regularly for cuts, blisters, swelling and other signs of injury, especially if you have diabetes or another condition that impairs your circulation or sensation. Check the soles of your feet, the spaces between your toes and examine your nails for cuts, jagged edges and signs of fungal infection.
Step 2
Wear comfortable, supportive shoes that fit properly. Check your shoe size every few years. Poorly fitting shoes can lead to foot ulcers, corns, calluses and bunions. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends choosing footwear carefully--the wrong type of shoes can aggravate foot deformities and cause injury.
Step 3
Wash your feet every day with warm water and a mild soap. Dry your feet thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. Apply sunscreen to your feet after washing them if you intend to spend any time outdoors. Your feet are just as vulnerable to sun damage and skin cancer as the rest of your body, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Step 4
Treat dry skin and calluses with regular moisturizing. Use a pumice stone after bathing to remove areas of hardened skin. Large calluses and dry areas are prone to infection and ulceration, and may interfere with your mobility. Don't use moisturizer between your toes, recommends the American Diabetes Association. Doing so causes your skin to remain wet, which increases your risk of fungal and bacterial infection.
Step 5
Trim your toenails straight across using a clean pair of toenail clippers or scissors. File sharp edges away with an emery board. Do not cut the corners of your nails at an angle--this increases the likelihood that your nails will become ingrown.
Step 6
Wear shoes whenever you go outside, especially if you suffer from diabetes or neuropathy. Extreme heat and cold can damage the tissue on the bottom of your feet and cause blistering. Any disorder that limits your ability to feel heat, cold or pain puts your feet at risk for injury and infection.
Step 7
Improve circulation in your feet by sitting with your legs uncrossed, elevating your legs when sitting for prolonged periods and getting plenty of exercise. Smoking damages the skin on your feet and impairs your circulation by constricting the blood vessels beneath your skin's surface, according to the American Geriatrics Society. If you smoke, stop.
Things You'll Need
- Shoes
- Mild soap
- Soft cloth
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Pumice stone
- Toenail clippers or scissors
- Emery board
