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Five Tips to Pretty, Healthy Feet
By Michael Nirenberg, DPM
Our feet take a beating. We put in long hours, walking an average of seven to ten miles a day. We tread on artificial surfaces such as asphalt, concrete and tile, often carrying a briefcase, purse, baby or laptop-and for some of us, all four! And with each step, two to three times our body weight comes down on our feet, not to mention the strain of jogging, stair stepping or high impact aerobics.
So what can you do to keep your feet pretty, healthy and strong enough to make it through the day? As a podiatrist, I hear this question often and usually from female patients, which doesn't surprise me, since women experience four times more foot problems than men.
Fortunately, both men and women can do simple, inexpensive things to care for their feet, and when your feet feel great, your whole body will too. Consider the following five tips to pretty, healthy feet.
1. Use a Good Moisturizer
The skin of your feet is increasingly prone to drying out as you age. Dry skin is not only ugly, but can crack open and possibly become infected, especially in diabetics or those with poor circulation. A good moisturizer can soothe dry skin.
The secret to finding a good moisturizer for your feet is not by price; more expensive doesn't mean better. Read the ingredients and avoid products with alcohol or alcohol derivatives. Generally, lotions contain alcohol to make them absorb faster, but the alcohol hinders the product's ability to moisturize your skin. The best dry skin products tend to be creams without alcohol. These are gooier and absorb slowly, so I recommend applying them just before going to bed.
2. Keep Your Feet Dry
This may seem to contradict using moisturizer, but dampness around your feet, specifically between your toes, can be a breeding ground for bacteria. When washing your feet, be sure to dry them well, especially between the toes. Towels can pick up bacteria or fungus, especially if they are damp or dirty, so wash them often with bleach or hot water and never use the towel that dried your feet on the rest of your body or face.
A good tip to keep your feet, and especially your toes, free from moisture is to use a foot powder enriched with zinc or menthol, or even both. A sprinkle a day will not only keep toes from perspiring, but also lessen odor.