Spring is right around the corner! While winter boots never really made an appearance in the valley, the sandals and flip flops are coming out now that the weather is warming up! With the warmer weather ahead, your feet will see more sun, so its not a bad time to do a check up on your own feet and see if they need any TLC before you send them out this spring season. Heres our five tips to "spring" into the new season with happy and healthy feet.
Wear Proper Shoes And Socks
Take a look at your springtime shoes from last year and see what type of condition they are in. Tattered, have holes, or lost their grip on the bottom? It may be time for new shoes to make sure your feet are protected and supported to prevent injury. Making sure you have breathable and moisture wicking socks can keep your feet dry and cool.
Soak Your Feet
A good soak on your feet not only feels great, but helps remove dead skin! Avoid soaking for too long, try around 10-15 minutes and then gently scrub with a pumice stone. Make sure you dry your feet completely, as moisture can lead to fungus in those hard to reach spots between your toes. Soaking your feet can also reduce swelling at times, try Epsom salt if you want to take your soak up a notch!
Moisturize Your Feet
Keeping your feet moisturized helps prevent them from becoming dry or cracked. In addition to this, moisturizing also helps keep your feet soft. Avoid putting lotion in between your toes too frequently, as this can cause excessive moisture and creates the ideal conditions for fungus.
Trim Your Toenails
While it may seem obvious, sometimes we forget! Trim your toenails in a straight line and avoid rounded edges if possible. Neglecting this can cause ingrown toenails, and an increased risk of infection the longer the nail gets.
Check Up
Getting a check up on your feet from a trusted professional is the best route to take if you are worried about any aspect of your foot and ankle health. A podiatrist can look for any abnormalities, take samples for testing and prescribe medications to help heal your feet and ankles. If you think you need a check up, don't hesitate to contact us today at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Arizona and get your feet back to happy and healthy before spring starts!