Get Ready To Put Your Best “Feet” Forward This Spring
If you’ve already begun to dream of being barefoot on the beach, or showing off your pedicure in spring’s hottest new sandals, the time to start prepping your feet is now, during the last days of winter.
Cold weather takes a particular toll on the feet. And while you might think that covering them up protects them from the elements of snow, sleet and rain,
in fact, the damp weather, combined with cold temperatures and dry indoor heat, all add up to a potentially harsh combination for feet. Too often, the sins of foot care neglect in the colder months come home to roost in the form of corns, calluses and dry and cracked heels in the spring — unsightly foot problems that women will pay pedicurists dearly to address come sandal season.
Consider:
* Feet need more care in cold weather, not less, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.
* Dry, cold conditions dry out feet, leading to cracking, especially on the heels. Indoor heating exacerbates this problem. Dry, cracked heels provide an opening for fungus to enter, in addition to their unsightly appearance. To make matters worse, the skin on the soles of the feet contain no oil glands to lubricate and soften, so moisturizing is critical.
* Poor fitting boots can make such cracking worse, and also lead to friction on the foot, which causes corns and calluses.
* It’s also hard to keep feet dry when outside during cold weather — from sweating in heavy socks to walking in snow or rain — creating a breeding ground for odor and bacteria.
The reality is people, and women in general, don’t provide much thought to preventative foot wellness — only to taking care of unsightly foot problems after they develop. But, this year, with just a little bit of care, you can keep your feet in tip top shape and get a great jump start on their “unveiling” once the warmer weather rolls around again.
Here are some tips on how to get your feet ready for their springtime unveiling:
* Give your feet a therapeutic soaking at least once a week to exfoliate and remove hard dead skin and smooth away rough surfaces. Luke-warm water (hot water dries out your skin) and a few drops of skin-softening oil is recommended. Exfoliating your feet is a great preventative measure for corns and calluses. After you thoroughly dry your feet, treat them to a massage from heel to toe using a cream specially formulated for feet, such as the Heel Rescue Superior Moisturizing Foot Cream, made by ProFoot Footcare Products. This foot cream is a non-greasy moisturizer that contains CoQ10, a powerful coenzyme that boosts the skin’s natural ability to renew itself and Imidazolidinyl urea, a powerful softening agent used in many high-end exfoliating formulas.
* Corns and calluses are caused by added friction in a shoe or boot. Combine this friction with damp socks from the bad weather, and the sliding around your foot can do in an improperly fitting boot, and the chances of your feet looking and feeling less than desirable are increased. To keep your foot firmly placed in your shoe or boot use an insole, such as “the 2 ounce Miracle.” This light-weight insole is made with advanced memory foam that properly positions the foot in a boot to prevent friction and the development of corns and calluses. This insole is so light that it goes unnoticed in your shoe, and gives you the comfort you need to keep your feet feeling great .
* The harsh winter weather can lead to dry, brittle nails. Just like your skin, your nails need extra moisturization, especially in advance of a pedicure, where harsh nail polish removers can do further damage. Moisturize your nails regularly with a product specially formulated for the job, such as ProFoot’s Nail Saver. Nail Saver not only softens nails, but is a clarifying formula as well, helping to brighten nails that may have been stained and yellowed from nail polish.
To learn more about preparing your feet for warm weather fun, visit www.profootcare.com. ProFoot Foot Care products are available at food, drug and mass outlet stores nationwide.