Research suggests women have four times as many foot problems as men. Give yours the attention they deserve and walk tall this summer.
Pamper them
An American Podiatry Association (AMPA) survey says more than 57 percent of women are ashamed of their feet, 98 percent admitting to dry, cracked or irritated skin. Avoid this by:
- Scrubbing under your toenails with a nail brush and rubbing rough areas with a file or pumice stone for up to one minute every time you bath or shower. Exfoliate once a week with a foot scrub.
- After your bath or shower and before bed, apply a moisturiser. To further exfoliate thickened skin, use a cream with urea acid like Eulactol Heal Balm.
Clean up
Dark nail polish can cause discolouration if it isn’t wiped off within two weeks. To prevent your nails from changing colour, use an acetone-based nail polish remover, which is strong enough to wipe off both the colour and the yellow. The South African Podiatry Association (SAPA) says “it is perfectly safe to use nail lacquer or nail varnish on healthy nails, provided a clear base coat is applied beforehand.” This prevents the polish from staining the nail.
Clear out
Avoid ingrown and thickened toenails by trimming straight across and leaving them slightly longer than the tips of your toes. “Don’t cut nails into the corners or on the sides as this can lead to ingrown toenails as the growing edge snags on skin and begins to ‘dig in’. File the corners to avoid snagging on fabric,” suggests podiatrist Dr Brandon Maggen.
Clear the air
Closed shoes aggravate sweaty feet and set up the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, leading to more odour and more sweat, says the AMPA. Don’t wear the same shoes every day, rather rotate them and place them somewhere to air and dry out before you wear them again (preferably in the sun). Use an anti-perspirant foot spray directly on the soles of your feet first thing in the morning and use foot talc in socks and closed shoes. If you’ve tried all these and nothing seems to rid your feet of their sweaty smell, it’s best to consult your podiatrist or dermatologist.
Protect
Your feet will burn as quickly as any other part of your body if not protected against the sun. Apply sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 when going barefoot or wearing sandals.
Flatten out
“Women should limit the time they wear heels higher than 4cm, and alternate these with good-quality flatties or low (2.5cm) wedge heels for part of the day,” says Dr Maggen. Avoid poorly fitted shoes by doing a quick walk in your new shoes. If your foot slides forward and your toes curl, these are signs of poorly fitted shoes. “Curling of toes prevents effective muscle action and can cause cramping in the foot.”
Squashed toes can weaken or even paralyse muscle action completely and this leads to arch and heel pain. You may also develop hard calluses, corns, ingrown toenails and sweating feet, which creates an ideal environment for fungal infections, says the SAPA. When trying on shoes, put your foot on top of the shoe. The shoe should fit the shape of your foot. If your foot hangs over, the shoe isn’t a good shape for you and will cause problems.
Be materialistic
Choose footwear that allows your feet to “breathe”. Shoe material should absorb moisture but circulate air. Avoid synthetic materials such as rubber or vinyl. Visit www.sorefeet.co.za for more information.
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