5 Ways to Take Good Care of Your Feet
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At Texas Foot Specialists we hope all of our patients and their families are staying safe during the time of the pandemic. Good health is at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now. Since April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to pass on some information about how to take better care of your feet. If you have children at home, consider sharing some of this information at age-appropriate levels and teach your own mini-health class.
Create a foot care routine. It doesn’t have to be elaborate but make sure to wash your feet every day with soap and water and dry completely—especially between your toes. That’s often the starting point for athlete’s foot. If you tend to have dry skin, use a good moisturizer on your feet at night. For sweaty feet, dust with anti-fungal or foot powder each morning.
Limit the amount of time you go barefoot. Viral and fungal infections are spread by direct contact. Keeping feet covered in public places, once we can go back to them, will greatly reduce this risk. Even at home, however, walking barefoot increases your chances of cuts and puncture wounds from stepping on sharp objects.
Don’t wear shoes that are worn out. Stretched out heel counters, nicked soles and other damage could cause you to trip and fall. In addition, internal wear that isn’t always visible, such as flattened insoles and loss of arch support, can lead to foot pain and disorders like plantar fasciitis. Before replacing old shoes, have your feet professionally measured. It’s not unusual for one foot to be slightly larger than the other. Always buy shoes to accommodate the bigger foot.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. There are several ways to improve podiatric health that don’t directly focus on your feet: maintaining a healthy weight by eating a balanced and nutritious diet and exercising regularly, for example, will protect feet from many disorders and help them stay flexible and strong.
Don’t ignore foot pain. We want our patients to know that we’re here for you. If you are experiencing any foot problems, please contact our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum in our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston (713-664-6677) offices for a phone or in-person consultation. You can read about the special precautions we are taking to protect our patients by clicking here.