Top Tips to Take Care of your Feet

The following are some useful tips to help you take good care of your feet.

1. Wear shoes and socks at all times

Don’t ever walk barefoot. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes that protect your feet and fill well, such as OluKai. Feel inside of your shoes before you put them on every time to ensure that there are not any objects inside and that it has a smooth lining. 

2. If you are a diabetic, take proper care of your diabetes

Work closely with your health care team to ensure that your blood sugar stays within a healthy range on a regular basis and check your feet regularly.

3. Check your feet on a daily basis

Every day you should examine your bare feet to check for any swelling, red spots, blisters, or cuts.

Use a mirror or ask a member of your family for assistance if you have difficulty seeing to check the soles of your feet.  This will allow you to address any problems early on before they become serious.

4. Wash your feet thoroughly every day

Your feet should be washed in warm water, and not hot water on a daily basis. Dry your feet thoroughly. Make sure that you dry in between your toes as well.

5. Keep your skin smooth and soft at all times

Rub a thin coating of skin lotion onto the bottoms and tops of your feet.  However, in between your toes do not put any lotion.

6. Gently smooth any calluses or corns that you have

Take a pumice stone and use it for smoothing calluses and corns.

7. Trim your toenails as needed or every week

Trim your toenails directly across and then use a nail file or emery board to file the edges.

8. Protect your feet against cold and hot

Wear shoes when you are on hot pavement or at the beach. If your feet tend to get cold, and at night wear socks.

9. Keep blood flowing down to your feet

When sitting, put up your feet. Two to three times per day, for 5 minutes, move your ankles and wiggle your toes up and down. Do not cross your legs for extended amounts of time, and do not smoke.

10. Be active

Consult with your doctor to come up with a physical activity program.

11. Visit your doctor

Have your bare feet checked by your doctor to determine whether or not it is likely that you will develop serious problems with your feet. Keep in mind that it might not feel pain from an injury.

If a bruise, blister, sore or cut on your foot doesn’t start healing after one day, give your doctor a call right away. Follow your doctor’s instructions on how to care for your feet.

12. Get started today

Start to take good care of your feet now. Set a time to check your feet every day.