Putting your best Foot Forward
Often overlooked, how best can we look after them?

Feet are the foundation of an active lifestyle, but the odds are that you don’t give them proper attention. “As we age, healthy feet become essential for being mobile, active and safe,” says Dr. Kevin Riemer, a podiatrist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre.

We, both men and women, need to give them the required care in order to prevent problems, reduce pain, and avoid injuries. But can we honestly say that we mother them?

When I was a wee boy, I can remember mum fussing over me and saying “happyfeet, happyfeet” as if the two were joined as one word. She would tickle me. Make me laugh – and squirm. Then she would bathe my feet, dry them carefully, especially between the toes, and pamper them with something that smelled nice. To my mum, my feet were important.

And then we grow up.

Our bodies are made for moving, but we often neglect our feet because they are not normally visible to us until the end of the day, when we are getting ready for bed. At that time of night, many of us are too tired to do anything, and this is a shame.

We don’t like the look or feel of our feet. We ignore them. Cover them up. Do nothing about it? But why let it get to that stage? Looking after our feet in the early years will benefit in the long run and can help prevent itchy feet, toe nail fungus, and dry cracked skin. I don’t ever remember mum having a cracked heel problem, restless legs, foot arch pain, or cold feet, for that matter. Indeed, a heated foot massager, or a shiatsu foot massager, to her would be a strange investment. Corns on feet were what other women had. Being a nurse, she understood foot anatomy, and the only foot blister treatment she would be using, would be on somebody she was caring for.

Daily foot care is important to wash away any microbes which could cause infection. Moisturising to keep the skin supple is just as important, because dry, cracked heels can be so painful and take months to repair. Applying a good moisturiser at bedtime, works during sleep. So, why don’t you make it part of your evening cleansing routine to include your feet. It doesn’t take long. It’s so beneficial. You will sleep better. And there won’t be any bugs to bite.

Men are rascals when it comes to feet care. In simple terms, none of them (well, at least a very few) have a regular foot hygiene programme. But it’s good practice and should be part of every man’s regular health maintenance.

The Importance of Foot Health

In the average lifetime a person walks 100,000miles, but all too often we do not place the same emphasis on feet as we do on other parts of our body. “Keeping your feet healthy should be part of your daily routine,” says Sarah Curran, principal lecturer in podiatry at Cardiff Metropolitan University. “Just because they are furthest away from your eyes should not mean you neglect them!” Added to this, prevention is better than cure. Once trouble sets in, “a painful foot or leg can be totally debilitating,” warns Richard Leigh, head of podiatry at London’s Royal Free Hospital and a specialist in diabetic foot problems. “And because our feet are so essential for keeping mobile and independent, when something goes wrong it can be a psychological strain too.”

Let’s take a look at some helpful foot tips!

Keep your feet clean.: This reduces the risk of harmful bacteria and can ward off fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Wash your feet every day, and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes. The skin of the feet tends to grow thinner and drier with age, so after washing, apply a liberal amount of moisturising lotion. However, avoid moisturising between the toes, as dampness here can lead to fungal growth.

Trim your toenails: Cut your toenails straight across, never at an angle on the sides, which may cause ingrown toenails (a condition in which the nail grows into the adjacent skin). Use a toenail clipper larger and wider than one used for fingernails.

Manage calluses: Deep calluses can crack and bleed, causing pain and risking infection. Use a pumice stone or foot file to remove calluses gently. Follow up with a moisturiser.

Stretch it out: Your feet need regular exercise, just like any other body part. Performing regular stretches can increase foot and ankle flexibility and strengthen foot muscles to improve balance and reduce the risk of injuries like ankle sprains.

Last but not least

Girls, why not massage some of our lovely Elegance Foot Lotion as part of your daily routine. And boy’s, our Feet Fresh Men’s Formula does what it says on the tin.

Learn how Essence of Egypt can Transform your Feet. https://eoegp.com