Foot Care Tips

Do you give your feet the attention they deserve? Here’s how a simple, regular foot care routine could help you avoid some of the most common (and painful) foot problems.

Have you given your feet a good pampering lately? Lots of us forget about them, aside from a quick nail trim, but they’re one of the most important parts of our body to take care of. After all, when your feet hurt, you can be in for all kinds of problems. It’s not just the discomfort in your foot that can be an issue – bad feet can seriously affect your mobility and posture as well as cause knee, hip and back pain.

Common foot problems

Most of us have had the odd blister, splinter or painful mishap where our feet are concerned (we’re not sure anything beats standing on an upturned plug)! It’s no surprise when our feet take the brunt of daily life, carrying all our weight and spending most of the day crammed into hot shoes. Some of the most common foot complaints include:

• Verruca – anyone who’s ever had to sit out a school swimming trip because of a verruca knows how painful and limiting these awkward and very contagious viral growths can be.
• Corns – this hard build-up of skin can be extremely uncomfortable and often needs to be shaved off or cushioned with corn plasters.
• Athlete’s foot – an itchy fungal infection that likes warm, damp places to grow and often affects the skin between the toes.
• Ingrown toenails – anyone who has ever had one can testify as to how painful it can be when the toenail grows into the skin.
• Blisters – the sore, fluid filled lumps caused by friction that most of us have experienced after breaking in a new pair of shoes.
• Bunions – bunions occur when the big toe joint becomes deformed and inflamed, creating a lump on the outside of the foot.

While all of the above can be painful and debilitating, you can minimise your chances of suffering from these ailments by having a regular foot care routine and wearing well-fitting shoes.

How to keep your feet healthy

• Keep them clean and dry. Fungus and bacteria like warm, wet places to breed, so try and keep your feet clean and dry as much as possible. Wash your feet every day in warm, soapy water and dry them thoroughly. Let the air get to them whenever you don’t need to be wearing shoes or socks. It’s also good to alternate the shoes you wear so that they have time to air out. And just like you mum always told you, always wear clean socks (cotton ones rather than synthetic, so your feet can breathe).
• Keep your nails in check. Long toenails can rub on shoes or become ingrown. When you do cut your nails, make sure you clip straight across and don’t round the edges, as this may lead to them growing into the sides of the toes.
• Get rid of dead skin. Some people use a pumice stone or a file, some only need to exfoliate with a scrub every so often. Whatever you use, try to avoid a lot of dead skin building up on your feet. If your feet are dry, it’s a good idea to regularly use good a foot cream to remoisturise the skin (but avoid putting it between the toes unless they’re particularly dry).
• Wear the right shoes. Good shoes should be breathable, well-fitting and offer adequate support, especially in the arch and heel areas. Tight shoes can cause blisters, corns and bunions. Very sweaty shoes could give you an itchy case of Athlete’s foot. And flip flops are no good for your arches. So, think carefully about what you’re putting on your feet every day, especially if you’re very active.

Help with foot care

Of course, if you have specific foot problems, your doctor or a podiatrist will be able to help you get things sorted. If you’re diabetic, it’s especially important to look after your feet well, so it’s a good idea to ask your GP, diabetes clinic or district nurse for specific advice on how to do so.

Many people with mobility or health issues can also find it hard to reach their feet well enough to take care of them properly. Again, a podiatrist can help with regular foot care. Or if you have a family or home carer, they may be able to assist you in keeping your feet healthy.

If you need extra help to live safely and well in the comfort of home, we can help. Our friendly, professional team offer tailored domiciliary care services to happy customers across the London Borough of Bromley. If you’d like to know more about our companionship care and or live in care services, get in touch for a chat!