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3. Beware of Nail Polish and Acrylic Nails
Men can skip this tip, but women should heed it. Nail polish and acrylic nails trap moisture, increasing the chance of fungus infecting toenails, causing the nails to thicken and turn yellow or, in severe cases, black. Toenail fungus can also infect the surrounding the skin and in some cases, particularly when the person is diabetic or has poor circulation, can lead to the loss of a toe or even the foot. Some women who notice their toenails beginning to darken or yellow from fungus cover the nails with polish to hide them; ironically, this only makes the problem worse.
Am I saying you shouldn't wear nail polish or acrylic nails? Not at all. Nail polish or acrylic nails can cheer up the ugliest of feet, don't cost a lot and are generally among the safer pleasures for your feet. When using nail polish or acrylic nails, think of them like a dieter having a scoop of ice cream: occasionally it is okay, but not every day. If you have a special event, feel free to wear nail polish or acrylic nails; just remove the polish or fake nails when you get home. The more your nails can "air out" the better.
4. Wear Sensible Shoes
This seems obvious, but many people choose style over comfort (one study showed that 88% of women have at some point knowingly squeezed their feet into shoes that were too small). Like eating that fattening scoop of ice cream, wearing Jimmy Choos or other stylish, tight-fitting shoes occasionally for brief periods usually won't cause problems. However, wearing ill-fitting shoes too often can cause the toes to crunch up, possibly causing permanent deformities, pinched nerves, corns, calluses or other problems. People with diabetes or poor circulation need to be especially careful and should never wear tight shoes, as these medical problems can result in serious foot infections and even gangrene.
The secret to making sure shoes fit properly is to shop for them late in the day when your feet are likely most swollen. When you walk in the shoes you try on, try to avoid the soft, plush carpet found in most shoe stores. If you're in a mall, leave the shoe store and walk on the mall's tile floor. Most importantly, if shoes hurt in the store, they will hurt when you get them home--a shoe should never need to be "broken in."