Written By: Editorial Team | Updated: January 31, 2017, 7:16 PM
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A simple ritual of scrubbing your feet, keeping them dry and wearing the right shoes can go a long way in keeping your feet smooth and also prevent infections. So to help you out with a simple foot care regimen, Sapna V Roshni, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation, has doled out a few pointers.
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Wash your feet well: As your feet is cloaked in socks and shoes and exposed to dust and grime, it is susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, especially the skin between the toes. Hence, make sure you clean your feet with soap and water at least once a day to remove dirt locked in your toes and clean the sweat.
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Keep your feet dry: Dampness is a perfect environment for fungal infections like athlete's foot to thrive, which causes itching, burning, peeling of the skin. Drying the feet, especially the area between the toes is mandatory after every wash. Also, avoid wearing socks and shoes immediately afterwards your wash your feet.
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Moisturise your feet regularly: Just like your hands and face, moisturise your feet as well to prevent the skin from becoming dry, scaly and chapped, which is not only painful but also puts you at risk of infections. Hence, ensure you apply a generous dose of a moisturiser like cocoa butter or petroleum jelly on your feet every day after washing your feet.
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Exfoliate jagged skin: Moisturising your feet won't serve any purpose unless you remove the dead skin by exfoliation with pumice stones or loofas at least once every month. Follow it with a hydrating moisturiser and leave it overnight. Also, scrubbing with the mixture of sugar and olive oil with a few drops of mint or tea tree oil added to it for antibacterial properties.
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As stated above, the chilly weather leads to a lack of water in the skin, including the feet. Therefore, if we don’t treat foot skin properly, it leads to dry, cracked heels, making feet look unclean and ugly. So, we should use a natural, oil-based foot cream to moisturise our feet. Also, one must ensure exfoliation of the feet area, as it helps to absorb the moisturiser quickly and effectively.
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Wear socks: Wearing socks is not only important to protect you from the cold but also to protect your feet against pollutants and dust. Socks shield the feet against dust, dirt which might stick to the cream applied onto the feet. Moreover, it also protects the feet against UV radiation.
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Choose comfortable shoes: Always remember to wear shoes that you are comfortable in. Avoid wearing tight shoes as this may lead to skin infections or sores. Also, avoid wearing high heels regularly as this may cause damage to the tissues and ligaments of your feet.
