Healthy feet are important for feeling good and staying active, but they are often the furthest thing from our mind – until of course, something goes wrong with them.
Home treatments to help common feet issues
These simple home treatments may be of benefit for some common feet issues:
These simple home treatments may be of benefit for some common feet issues:
Athlete’s Foot:
This is caused by a fungus we naturally carry on our bodies. Infection occurs when the fungus takes hold in the skin, rather than staying on the skin surface.
This is caused by a fungus we naturally carry on our bodies. Infection occurs when the fungus takes hold in the skin, rather than staying on the skin surface.
Symptoms
• Skin peeling between toes which can be itchy, red, moist and weepy.
• If untreated, the skin can become dry, scaly and red.
Prevention
• Wash and dry feet and toes thoroughly every day.
• Wear airy shoes.
• Wear socks made from natural materials. Change daily.
• Wash socks in hot water.
• Wear thongs or slippers in public bath and change rooms.
• Skin peeling between toes which can be itchy, red, moist and weepy.
• If untreated, the skin can become dry, scaly and red.
Prevention
• Wash and dry feet and toes thoroughly every day.
• Wear airy shoes.
• Wear socks made from natural materials. Change daily.
• Wash socks in hot water.
• Wear thongs or slippers in public bath and change rooms.
Treatment
Try anti-fungal cream to treat the affected and surrounding area, morning and night.
Try anti-fungal cream to treat the affected and surrounding area, morning and night.
Ingrown Toenails
When the nail grows and penetrates the skin, this may lead to infection and pain. To avoid ingrown nails cut nails square and avoid curved nail scissors.
When the nail grows and penetrates the skin, this may lead to infection and pain. To avoid ingrown nails cut nails square and avoid curved nail scissors.
Treatment
• To help reduce pain and prevent infection, soak the nail in vinegar for 15 minutes. Gently push the skin from the nail and massage it. Dab with tea tree oil. Elevate foot to dry.
• Dissolve epsom salts in warm water. Soak for 20 minutes, pat dry. Rub with raw onion juice for 10 minutes. Apply a bandage filled with fresh basil and wear a sock. This can help decrease pain and help the nail grow straighter.
• Place cotton or gauze under the ingrown toenail edge after soaking feet to help the nail grow above the skin edge. Change daily.
• If pain persists or the nail does not improve, see your health practitioner.
• To help reduce pain and prevent infection, soak the nail in vinegar for 15 minutes. Gently push the skin from the nail and massage it. Dab with tea tree oil. Elevate foot to dry.
• Dissolve epsom salts in warm water. Soak for 20 minutes, pat dry. Rub with raw onion juice for 10 minutes. Apply a bandage filled with fresh basil and wear a sock. This can help decrease pain and help the nail grow straighter.
• Place cotton or gauze under the ingrown toenail edge after soaking feet to help the nail grow above the skin edge. Change daily.
• If pain persists or the nail does not improve, see your health practitioner.
Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
A bunion is a deformity of the big toe base joint which may cause the foot to rub on shoes. Good footwear can help ease symptoms.
Potential symptoms
• Inflammation, pain and swelling.
• Arthritis in the big toe.
• Deformity in the second toe.
A bunion is a deformity of the big toe base joint which may cause the foot to rub on shoes. Good footwear can help ease symptoms.
Potential symptoms
• Inflammation, pain and swelling.
• Arthritis in the big toe.
• Deformity in the second toe.
Treatment
Ideally, get footwear advice from a podiatrist or chiropodist, but these tips may help:
• Wear properly fitting shoes, trainers or slippers.
• Avoid high-heeled, pointed or tight shoes.
• Shoes with laces or straps can adjust to your foot width.
• Padding over the bunion may help, as may compressions.
Ideally, get footwear advice from a podiatrist or chiropodist, but these tips may help:
• Wear properly fitting shoes, trainers or slippers.
• Avoid high-heeled, pointed or tight shoes.
• Shoes with laces or straps can adjust to your foot width.
• Padding over the bunion may help, as may compressions.
Feet exercises
Our feet are trapped in shoes most of the day, so it is understandable they appreciate a work-out of their own now and then. Try these fun exercises which are also good for you.
Our feet are trapped in shoes most of the day, so it is understandable they appreciate a work-out of their own now and then. Try these fun exercises which are also good for you.
Big Toe Bends: Connect your big toes with a strong rubber band and try to pull them away from each other. Hold in this position for five seconds and repeat 5 - 10 times.
Toe Stretch: Place the rubber band around all your toes on one foot and spread your toes. Hold in this position for five seconds and repeat 5 - 10 times.
Golf Ball Massage: Roll a golf ball with your feet for about two minutes on each foot. Feels good doesn’t it? It’s also a fantastic boost for your downtrodden arches.
Towel Pick Up: Place a small towel on the floor and try to pick it up using only your toes. Hold for five seconds, repeat five times. Then do the same with the other foot. This exercise is great for those who easily get cramps in the toes.
Lost your Marbles? Place 10 or 20 marbles on the floor; pick them up one at a time with your toes and put them in a bowl. Do the same with the other foot.
Sand Walk: Visit a sandy beach or children’s sandpit, take off your shoes and socks and just walk around. This is not only a pleasant massage for your feet - it helps strengthens your toes and exfoliate your feet.
Tips to help your feet feel great
• Wash your feet regularly and thoroughly with warm water and mild soap. Dry carefully, especially between the toes.
• For dry skin, use a moisturiser.
• Inspect feet regularly and look for sores, blisters, calluses, corns and athlete’s foot.
• Do not cut corns or calluses - treat with recommended products.
• For an ingrown toenail, do not cut nails yourself - visit a podiatrist.
• Keep your feet warm, but not too hot.
• Wear comfortable shoes that do not pinch or rub.
• Do not wear trainers all day.
• Do not wear the same shoes every day.
• Take off shoes during the day and let your feet breathe.
• Wash your feet regularly and thoroughly with warm water and mild soap. Dry carefully, especially between the toes.
• For dry skin, use a moisturiser.
• Inspect feet regularly and look for sores, blisters, calluses, corns and athlete’s foot.
• Do not cut corns or calluses - treat with recommended products.
• For an ingrown toenail, do not cut nails yourself - visit a podiatrist.
• Keep your feet warm, but not too hot.
• Wear comfortable shoes that do not pinch or rub.
• Do not wear trainers all day.
• Do not wear the same shoes every day.
• Take off shoes during the day and let your feet breathe.
Tips for selecting shoes
Many common feet problems are caused by shoes that don’t fit well, so select new shoes with care:
Many common feet problems are caused by shoes that don’t fit well, so select new shoes with care:
• Always ensure both feet are measured, and try on both left and right shoes when buying. Feet have a tendency to change shape slightly as we get older and the right and left feet can be different sizes. Buy shoes to fit the larger foot.
• Shoes should be comfortable immediately. Do not believe a salesperson who claims that they will be more comfortable after wear.
• Feet tend to swell during the day, so try to make your purchase later in the day.
• Shoes should be 10mm longer than the big toe when you stand up. The shoe should fit snugly around your heel.
• Shoes should be comfortable immediately. Do not believe a salesperson who claims that they will be more comfortable after wear.
• Feet tend to swell during the day, so try to make your purchase later in the day.
• Shoes should be 10mm longer than the big toe when you stand up. The shoe should fit snugly around your heel.
Resource: healthylife.net.au
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