5 Key Foot Care Tips from A Podiatrist
The feet are among the most essential yet neglected body parts. Your balance, mobility, and ability to walk, run, and lead a fulfilling life all rely on the health of your feet. Unfortunately, many people do not take the necessary preventative measures to maintain healthy and functional feet. New York DeLoor Podiatry Associates suggests incorporating the following tips into your everyday routine to enhance and safeguard your foot health. Foot care is a continual practice that will ultimately yield positive results. Read on to learn about the most common podiatrist tips.
- Check Your Feet Regularly
Inspecting your feet often takes under a minute of your time, yet it could be life-changing in certain circumstances. Considering the feet are often exposed to harsh conditions, bacteria, and other harmful substances, your feet are particularly susceptible to infection and fungus.
Examining your feet for minor cuts, cracked skin, and blisters could be a preventative measure that identifies issues before they manifest. If you identify any concerning injuries or changes, especially if you have diabetes, you should consult a podiatrist immediately. Often, prevention is better than cure!
- Regularly and Carefully Trim Nails For Healthy Feet
In addition to causing discomfort and health issues, ingrown toenails could alter your natural gait when wearing shoes. Long nails gather and trap microorganisms if they are not correctly groomed and maintained. In contrast, trimming your nails overly short might result in ingrown nails and severe infections.
Trimming your nails must not result in any discomfort. If you experience a squeeze or a sharp discomfort, you are likely trimming your nails extremely short or nicking the surrounding skin, providing an entryway for bacteria. A skilled podiatrist can offer advice on proper nail-cutting procedures.
- Always Wear Nicely-Fitting Shoes
Shoes that do not fit your feet correctly could trigger many difficulties, including calluses, back pain, abrasion blisters, bunions, arch pain, hammertoes, and more. Therefore, wear shoes that provide adequate support for your ankles and feet to walk safely. Your feet must have sufficient side-to-side and front-to-back space so that the foot’s structure is not compromised. Any change to the foot’s structure could result in persistent pain.
- Clean Your Feet Every day, and Wear Dry, Clean Socks
The feet can get soiled fast as they spend the most time in shoes or socks, gathering bacteria and sweat that could cause foot issues. Clean your feet daily with soap, lukewarm water, and a light exfoliant. Hot water can trigger skin injury or dehydration, leading to various foot issues.
- Proper Blood Sugar Control
Observing your blood sugar levels is especially true for diabetics. Nonetheless, it is vital to realize that a poor diet could result in diabetes and various painful and, occasionally, debilitating foot conditions.
Diabetes ultimately results in peripheral neuropathy and peripheral artery disease, which can also lead to the emergence of diabetic sores and even amputation. Routine physical activity and healthy eating are essential for avoiding type II diabetes and upholding normal blood sugar levels.
Foot problems and disorders are unpleasant or incapacitating and might keep you from engaging in your favorite activities. Therefore, you should be mindful of your foot health. Constant foot care will avoid the onset or aggravation of foot disorders. However, sometimes, your foot conditions are only treatable by a knowledgeable podiatrist. If you identify any warning signs, discuss them with your specialist and explore your options.