Our feet take us everywhere we go.  We depend on our feet more than we realize.  We tend to care more for our feet in the summer then we do during the winter months. We need to care for our feet all year to help prevent ingrown toenails, itching, burning, cracked dry crevices, and calluses. Our feet are our foundation. When our feet hurt we can start to walk differently, throwing our body off balance causing secondary body pains. It is very important to take care of our source of movement.

 

Good foot care starts at home.  Start by using a pumice stone in the shower to scrub off dry skin once or twice a week. Adding a body scrub will help increase the effectiveness of your pumice stone. Next, use a good foot cream morning and evening. Finally, make sure your feet are dry before putting on shoes. As we learned in science class nothing good grows in warm, dark, moist places. You can use a blow dryer to get excess water off the feet.  Tip: Applying tea tree oil can act as an anti-fungal agent.

 

Occasionally problems can arise with your feet.  Ingrown toenails come from improper nail cutting.  Nails that are left to grow to long will cause problems and nails that are cut to short will also cause ingrown.  When cutting the nails, they should be cut straight across.  After cutting file any sharp corners off.  Shoes that don’t allow enough room for your toes to spread out will also result in ingrown nails.

         

Dry cracking feet that doesn’t get better with your home care, could mean you have Athlete’s feet. You need to pick up Athletes foot cream at the drug store. Follow the instructions, make sure to use the length of time recommended.

 

Shoes that do not fit correctly can cause a lot of foot problems. Spending a little more on shoes with good arch support will be well worth your money. It will even help with lower back pain when your shoes fit correctly.

 

Professional pedicurists can get you started on a good home care routine, as well as pointing out any problem areas you may have. When you receive a professional pedicure you will get your nails trimmed, your feet exfoliated to remove dry skin, and a great foot massage, all while soaking your toes in a relaxing whirlpool with a massage chair.

 

If you really want to pamper yourself, a warm paraffin dip or specialized mask treatment can be used on the feet.  Some masks hydrate, some exfoliate, and some even help with swelling and inflammation of the feet. 

 

Make sure when you go to the salon and spa they follow the State Board Rules and Regulations for Sanitation.  A cleaning chart should be posted near every pedicure chair indicating sanitation after each pedicure.

 

Take care of your feet and they will take care of you! For any questions call Total Image Salon and Day Spa at 440-9019.