- You can often leave a lasting impression with the
way your feet look; hence it is necessary to have clean and healthy
looking feet.
- Cleanse, scrub and massage them regularly.
- Begin by soaking your feet in a tub of warm soapy water, this will relax your feet and soften the dead skin on your foot.
- With the help of a foot scrubber or pumice stone, scrub of the dead skin cell from your feet.
- Finally massage them with a moisturizer to keep them soft.
- You can end with cutting and filing your toe nails.
- Always keep your feet protected even at home by
wearing socks or a pair of soft rubber slippers. Follow these tips and
keep your feet healthy looking and clean.
How to deal with your odorous feet
- Foot Odour is a common problem that affects many
people. Since it’s a big cause of embarrassment, most people never
bother getting it treated. Here are some pointers you can follow to keep
smelly feet at bay.
Causes
- The main cause of foot odor is the buildup of sweat and bacteria.
- Moisture on feet causes fungal infection.
- Smelly feet are also caused due to socks worn for long time.
- Choosing the wrong footwear causes foot odour, especially if worn for long hours.
Remedies
- Make sure you maintain good foot hygiene by washing
your feet every time you step out of your shoes. Pay special attention
to areas such as those between your toes.
- Keep your feet cool and dry by applying some foot
powder or antifungal spray before you step into your shoes or after
you’ve just washed your feet.
- Change your socks regularly. Opt for socks that are comfortable and allow your feet to breathe. Choose materials such as cotton
- Pay special attention to the shoes you wear. Canvas and open toe shoes that allow free movement are very beneficial.
- To dry out the insides of your shoes, sprinkle some baking powder and leave them out for a couple of days.
- You can try some good old home remedies such as
soaking your feet in black tea (the tannic acids help pores open up and
kill bacteria) or kosher salt water for about twenty minutes every day
for one week, to deal with foot odor problems.
Do's & Don'ts for in growing toe-nails
- In-grown toe nails are a very common foot problem
that affects quite a few people. It takes place when one rather sharp
corner of a nail digs its way into skin; thus causing an infection. More
often than not, this condition is predominant in the big toe but none
the less, can affect other toes as well. Here are a few do’s and don’ts
to prevent in-grown toe nails.
Do’s
- Trim your toe nails well to prevent the corners from
digging into the skin. It is suggested that the nails be trimmed
straight across and not rounded.
- Ingrown toe nails are common among sports people. In
case of any injury or fungal infection near your toe nail, make sure
you get it checked.
- If the toe is hurt, take preventive measures and try
some home remedies. Soak your foot in warm water about four times a day
for a while. This would help reduce the chances of infection.
- Wear comfortable fitting sandals or sneakers that play easy on your feet.
Don’ts
- Refrain from wearing tight fitting shoes or very
high heels since these can put pressure on the toe nails to bite and
grow into the surrounding skin.
- Avoid wearing socks that are tight and synthetic.
Opt for skin friendly materials such as cotton that allow your feet
breathing space.
- If you are suffering from in-grown toe nails try to stay away from strenuous physical activity for a while.
Tips for dealing with medical conditions>
Fungal and Bacterial Conditions
Cause:
- Shoes worn for longer period due to humidity lead to fungus.
Symptoms:
- Dry skin, Itching, Peeling, Redness, Blisters.
Remedies:
- Keep your feet clean and dry – especially the area between your toes.
- Change your shoes and socks often
- Use anti-bacterial talc for feet regularly
Dry skin
Cause:
- Age, Improperly fitting shoes, Psoriasis, Thyroid
disease, Diabetes, Certain skin conditions, Household heat that reduces
humidity and dries out the skin.
Remedies:
- The problem could be dealt by using moisturizing lotion on the legs and feet everyday.
- Make sure feet are well covered before going out in socks.
Corns and calluses
Cause:
- They are caused by friction and pressure when the bony parts of your feet rub against your shoes.
Remedies:
- It is recommended that you wear shoes that fit better or use special pads.
- Corn and calluses cannot be treated at home so see a doctor.
Warts
Cause:
- They are generally caused because of viruses. They could be painful and contagious if not treated
Remedies:
- Consulting a doctor is the only solution that can burn or freeze the wart without surgery.
Ingrown toenails
Cause:
- Ingrown toenails are caused if a piece of the nail breaks into the skin.
- Improper cutting of nails also increases the risk of ingrown toe nails
- People with large toes typically are prone to this discomfort.
Remedies:
- One can prevent this by cutting toenails straight
across and level with the top of the toe properly to prevent pus and
other complications.
- A doctor can remove the part of the nail that is cutting into the skin. This allows the area to heal.
Shoe Care Tips
- Cleaning & Polishing your shoes.
- To protect leather shoes, choose a liquid, cream or
paste form of polish. However it is better to use the cream and paste
form, as liquid polish often dries out shoe leather and causes cracks.
- Clean the shoe with a damp rag to clear all the mud and dust from it,
- Next you can apply the polish in a circular movement with a dry rag.
- Lastly it is necessary to waterproof your leather
shoes, use protective sprays or creams that have bee wax as this
protects it from water.
Treating leather with care
If you are a leather aficionado, protocol demands
that you know how to take care of it. Now, different kinds of leathers
come with different levels of maintenance. However, here are some
standard tips to ensure your leather stays longer.
Cleaning & Conditioning
- Clean your leather with the help of a cleaner that has been already tested on a garment.
- It is essential to choose a cleaner that doesn’t leave any residue behind since this can act as a breeding ground for bacteria.
- To clean leather shoes, you can use walnut and olive oil with a soft cloth.
Polishing & Protection
- For that glossy finish, opt for a good polishing agent. Banana peel is said to be a quick home remedy to polish leather.
- Protect your leather by using moisture barriers; the quintessential tool to ensure that your leather stays protected.
Leather Ailments & Storage
- Leather ailments such as mildew, dampness and stains
are very common. Attend to them immediately. You can use mild soap and
water to clean them out or opt for common chalk powder as well.
- Since leather is a natural product it must be stored
in a dry and cool place; away from places that make it susceptible to
moisture and bacteria.
Store your shoes the right way
- Shoes require care and maintenance to make it stay for a longer time. You can use the following tips to store them properly.
- First, discard any shoe that is damaged or too shabby to be worn again.
- Clean the shoes to be stored with a duster or a dry household cloth. Remove any dust or mud sticking to it.
- Place a shape holder inside your shoes especially
leather shoes. A de-odorizing shape holder could be great as it keeps
the shoes odour free.(For knee-high leather boots, use an old magazine. A
tightly rolled magazine could be inserted in the top to maintain the
shape.)
- Wrap your shoes in tissue paper, cotton towels or clean plastic bags. This would protect the shoes from dust and from abrasion.
- The next step is to put the shoes in boxes. You can store your shoes in the boxes that they came in.
- Tag the boxes. You can put stickers on the boxes to explaining what shoes are in it.
- Lastly, store the boxes according to your
preference. The shoes that are required often should be kept in a way
that they are easily accessible. This simple exercise can help you store
your favorite shoes for a longer period and as good as new.