Four Expert Tips For Looking After Your Feet

Did you know that on average, we walk somewhere between 75,00 and 100,000 miles in our lifetimes?

That’s a huge distance and a lot of stress on our poor feet, so it’s important that we take good care of them as we age. 

In this blog post we want to give you four top tips for looking after your feet, from the beauty experts at Ana Harmony.

What are the major causes of foot related issues?

As you grow older, your feet will begin to change.

The skin on your feet becomes thicker, rougher, and stiffer. This happens because the skin produces less oil and elastin which keeps our skin soft, supple and pliable.

Over a long period of time, this can cause your feet to take more damage from regular movement and you might have to battle dry feet, cracking soles and calluses. You might also notice more regular foot pain, swollen feet or foot injuries.

There are also a number of foot related issues that are caused by simple aging or lack of footcare (lack of support in shoes, heavy sporting and movement or wearing heels for long periods of time) these include;

• Plantar Fasciitis 
• Ingrown Toenails
• Flat Feet
• Bunions

These are just some of the most common issues that we see with clients in the salon, problems with your feet can be chronically painful and make it difficult to get around and do your normal day to day activities. 

So what can you do as you age to prevent some of these issues?

Here are four ways that you can look after your feet as you age:

Wear Proper Shoes

Wearing shoes that fit properly can prevent injury in the long term. It’s so simple to pick up the wrong kinds of shoes for the wrong event for fashion reasons but this can become detrimental to your foot health as you age. 

Some quick guidelines for picking the right shoes: 

• Make sure that your wearing shoes that are comfortable and are giving you the right amount of support, having them fitted is always a good idea. Moisturise your feet every night to prevent dry skin.
  
• Steer clear of the heels where possible especially if you are commuting to work or planning to walk longer distances. 
  
• Check that your shoes are tightened to your feet correctly to help prevent any active injuries as you move around.  If you are going for longer walks, avoid flip flops or loafers that can easily slip off – wearing them can cause to you adapt your walking style and impact your feet.

In short, always try and pick the right pair of shoes for the right moment. They need to be well fitting shoes, that aren’t causing any issues with blood circulation and have the right amount of cushioning to protect your feet from the ground.

Exfoliate Daily

Exfoliation helps remove dead cells and stimulate cell growth, this is a fabulous way of keeping your feet healthy whilst also making them look beautiful. Use a pumice stone to clear any of the harder areas of skin that you might come across (usually on the heel) and then use a soft brush to gently scrub your feet daily.

The dead skin on your feet can create a barrier which slows down the levels of oil production needed to keep your feet in tip top shape. A nice way of getting this into your routine is getting a pedicure, at the salon we offer a number of pedicures these include; soaks and skin removals as well as a gentle massage and paint for your toenails. You’ll leave feeling as if you are dancing across the clouds!

If you want something that you can use at home on a weekly basis, pick up the amazing smelling Hand and Feet Scrub from Sothys. This orange blossom scented product works to exfoliate your feet and leaves your feet with a lovely soft feel.

Use Foot Moisturizer

Dry skin on the feet is such a common problem because we use our feet so much, all the time.

Foot moisturizers contain ingredients that soften dry skin and add an extra layer of hydration that might be missing if your sweat and oil glands have stopped working. Moisturisers are used to keep our body hydrated and healthy. They also prevent us from getting dryness and cracking of the skin. 

Wash your feet thoroughly and pat them dry. Apply a layer of moisturiser to each toe and heel. Apply moisturiser to your feet after showering, too. This helps remove any dirt and oil that may have accumulated on your feet.

Use a foot cream that contains ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, and Vitamin E. These ingredients help hydrate your skin and protect against dryness – you could also try something like the Environ Derma-Lac Lotion which uses Lactic Acid to hydrate the skin whilst getting rid of that ever so common rough feeling.

You might find that the condition of your feet changes as the weather fluctuates. If you have particularly dry feet in the winter and suffer with cold feet, apply moisturisers more regularly, massaging the product in will also help to move blood into these areas and keep them warm!

Get Regular Check-ups

Regular visits to your podiatrist can detect problems early and provide treatment options. Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in foot care. They diagnose and treat conditions such as bunions, corns, calluses, ingrown nails, hammertoes, heel spurs, and warts. 

A visit to a podiatrist should include a thorough examination of your feet and legs. The doctor will ask about any pain or discomfort you experience, whether you have had previous foot problems, and what medications you take. He or she will examine your feet, looking for signs of injury or infection.

After examining your feet, the podiatrist will recommend treatment options based on his or her findings. Treatment methods vary depending on the condition. For example, a podiatrist may prescribe medication to relieve pain or inflammation, or he or she may suggest physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. If you notice regular issues with your feet then it might be worthwhile booking a session with your local podiatrist to take a look!

If you’ve got any burning questions about looking after your feet or simply want a pamper session to keep them looking beautiful then we’d love to hear from you. 

You can book with us via our website book button below or simply give us a call on 01628298040, one of the team at the Maidenhead salon will be happy to chat through your options.