It’s summer time and not only is this the time to show off your bikini body,but also your beautiful feet. Licensed podiatrist and nail spa owner MargaretDabbs shares her knowledge on how to put your best foot forward thisseason.
Wear comfortable shoes – Put on shoes that are lightweightand have a considerable amount of cushioning and shock absorption as you walk.It is also best to wear a different shoe type every day and not focus on justone. Wedge shoes and very high heels can do more harm for your feet, especiallyif worn for prolonged periods of time, as they put pressure on the toe jointsand the ball of the foot. Doing so could sometimes cause corn and callusbuildup. Meanwhile, mules or shoes that look like flip-flops do not offersupport to the arch. Dabbs also remind women that if the shoe hurts, do notwear it.
Keep your foot clean and dry – Although sweating is anatural occurrence on the feet as you wear shoes, you need to make sure to keepfeet from too much sweating to avoid bacteria build up and foot odor. Wearingsocks or tights can soak excess sweat and keep the shoes dry. It is alsoadvisable to walk around the home in bare feet.
Exfoliate your feet – Common foot problems during thesummer include dehydrated skin and nails, cracked and calloused skin around theheel, and calluses on areas of the feet that bear the weight like the big toe.While we wear flip-flops during the summer, the constant slapping on the heelcan harden the skin. Fight these problems by exfoliating your feet on a weeklybasis.
File your feet while dry – Use foot files on dry skin, asdoing so on wet feet is more prone to tearing and potential infection. Also,wet skin hides hard and calloused skin, making it more difficult to remove.
Do not sleep with socks on – While many foot-specificproducts insist users to wear socks while sleeping, doing so could restrictblood circulation. Also, putting socks over a product creates an environmentfor bacteria and sweat to build up.
Use foot-specific lotion – Not all lotions are createdequal. Body lotion may not be designed for the thicker skin on the feet. Lookfor lotions that specifically cater to feet, such as products that contain emuoil
Wear leather shoes indoors before going out – Leather shoestend to mold to the feet as you wear them. Wear new leather shoes indoors forseveral days. If they rub slightly around the heel, apply a thin layer ofpetroleum jelly along the inside to prevent your skin from wounding caused byfriction.
Give your feet a polish break – Nail polishes can make thetoenails and cuticle areas dry, making them prone to cracking and splitting.Also, prolonged use of dark polish can stain the nails. Dabb advises to usenail polishes that are free from solvents and chemicals, as well as stayingaway from nail lacquer every so often yet keeping them groomed and buffed.
Source: Style.com Fashion Style – GuideTo.Com