Skipping, running, tiptoeing, walking or jumping, whatever you put your feet through on a daily basis. Once in a while, you might want to take off your socks and shoes and take a good look at your feet as you will suffer from a foot problem or two throughout your life especially if you’re always wearing ill fitting and closed toe shoes. Beware: Gross pictures ahead! All the better to scare you into taking better care of your two feet!
Corns and callusses
Can’t resist getting that cute pair of pumps in a size smaller? Well, ill fitting shoes and bony prominences can cause corns and calluses which are areas of thickened skin. Get rid of calluses by soaking your feet in warm water and slowly rubbing it with a pumice stone. Corns on the other hand are not as easy to rid off as they may return, best to get the professionally treated.
Ingrown toenails
This can happen naturally when the nail curves into the skin or by wearing shoes that are too tight. Trim your nails regularly and cut the straight across keeps the nail from getting embedded in the skin.
Hammertoes
Werewolf-like claws are a sure way to scare off potential boyfriends. Remember the old Chinese tradition of foot binding? Wearing shoes that are too tight can also result in the same effect where toes become permanently bent into a clawlike position. Unfortunately, the only way to reverse this effect is through surgery whereby a small portion of the bone is removed to straighten the toe.
Toenail fungus
If you notice your toenail thickening, darkening and turning yellow, you may have a case of contagious fungal infection. This can spread to your other toenails so quickly pay a visit to a doctor where your nail will be thinned before being treated with fungicide.
Athlete’s foot
Also a form of fungal infection, this disease will leave your foot itchy, burning and with flaky skin. Try to air your feet by wearing slippers more frequently and you can get creams to treat this infection from your local pharmacy.
Feet infections are usually the result of long term and because we have to use our feet almost every day of our lives, they rarely get the rest they need. Take time to pamper your feet once in awhile. Wear flats and shoes that fit well though they don’t necessarily look as good. Frequent walking will cause calluses and corns resulting in thicker soles so using a pumice stone or Ped-Egg will help keep them away. Keep your feet clean and smelling good, they walk miles for you so you owe them one!
