Feet Care For Life

• Take care of your diabetes.
• Wash your feet every day.
• Keep the skin soft and smooth.
• Smooth corns and calluses gently.
• Trim your toenails each week or when needed.
• Wear shoes and socks at all times.
• Protect your feet from hot and cold.
• Keep the blood flowing to your feet.
• Be sure to ask your doctor about general foot care tips.
• If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a plastic mirror to help. You also can ask a family member or caregiver to help you.
• Check your feet every day.

Foot Care Tips

• Keep Your Toes Happy: The muscles in your toes also need exercise. Simply wiggling your toes will do, as will bathe them in warm water with Epsom salts, then cool water, then applying a rich moisturizing cream.
• Keep Your Nails Trimmed: But don't cut them too short, especially at the edges, where they might dig into the skin and become ingrown. If you do get an ingrown nail, see a doctor.

• Wash your feet daily. Rinse off all soap and dry thoroughly, especially between toes.
• Trim nails straight across, and not too short. Don't cut out or dig at corners.
• Wear clean socks or stockings, changed daily. Don't wear any that are too short or too tight.
• Wear shoes that fit. (See Finding the Right Shoes For You.)
• Some people's feet sweat more than others, and are more prone to athlete's foot. These tips may help:
• Wear shoes made of leather or canvas - not synthetics. Sandals are good.
• Switch shoes from day to day.
• Use foot powder.
• See your doctor if severe problems persist.
• Don't ignore pain. Painful feet are not normal. Many foot conditions can be cured if you visit a chiropodist as early as possible.
• Wash your feet daily in warm soapy water. Do not soak the feet as this may cause them to become excessively dry
• Dry your feet thoroughly, especially in between the toes.
• Apply moisturizing cream all over the feet, except in between the toes.

General Foot Conditions & Treatment

• Dry skin can cause itching and burning feet. Use mild soap in small amounts and a moisturizing cream or lotion on your legs and feet every day. Be careful about adding oils to bath water since they can make your feet and bathtub very slippery.
• Hard skin is caused by friction and pressure when the bony parts of your feet rub against your shoes. If you have corns or calluses, see your doctor. Sometimes wearing shoes that fit better or using special pads solves the problem. Treating corns and calluses condition by yourself may be harmful, especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation. Over-the-counter medicines contain acids that destroy the tissue but do not treat the cause. Sometimes these medicines reduce the need for surgery, but check with your doctor before using them.
• Foot lump or warts is skin growth caused by viruses. They are sometimes painful and, if untreated, may spread. Since over-the-counter preparations rarely cure warts, see your doctor. A doctor can apply medicines, burn or freeze the wart off, or take the wart off with surgery.
• Bunions are the foot conditions that develop when the joints in your big toe no longer fit together as they should and become swollen and tender. Bunions tend to run in families. If a bunion condition is not severe, wearing shoes cut wide at the instep and toes, taping the foot, or wearing pads that cushion the bunion may help the pain.
• Ingrown toenails are the foot condition that occurs when a piece of the nail breaks the skin - which can happen if you don't cut your nails properly. Ingrown toenails are very common in the large toes. A doctor can remove the part of the nail that is cutting into the skin. This allows the area to heal. Ingrown toenails can often be avoided by cutting the toenail straight across and level with the top of the toe.
• Spurs are calcium growths that develop on bones of your feet. They are caused by muscle strain in the feet. Standing for long periods of time, wearing badly fitting shoes, or being overweight can make spurs worse. Sometimes spurs are completely painless - at other times they can be very painful. Treatments for spurs include using foot supports, heel pads, and heel cups. Sometimes surgery is needed.
• Burning foot: Burning foot is a common foot condition among many groups of people, most generally in the older group feet. This symptom is most common in diabetics who present with a symptom of mixed neuropathy with loss of sensation on the bottom of the feet.
• Diabetes: this condition is almost certainly the most harmful disease that a patient can encounter with regards to their feet. Diabetes can be controlled with medications, diet and exercises. But a serious condition occurs if the sugars are out of control and a lesion (sore or ulcer) develops on the plantar (bottom) of the foot. The goal and treatment of diabetics with foot ulcers is to relieve the pressure, prevent infection and ultimately ensure the patient does not lose their limb. It is important that a patient with a foot ulcer consult their podiatrist, vascular surgeon, orthopedist or family doctor.
• Flat Feet: Flat feet of themselves are not essentially a problem. But people with a flat foot or the opposite condition, a highly arched foot, that are painful, are certainly in need of treatment. Flat feet and high arches that are associated with ankle, knee or low back pain are also in need of treatment.
• Moist Feet: Moist feet and stinking feet are two very common, bothersome conditions of the feet. While some cases of excessive smelling or sweating of the feet are systemic (throughout the whole body) in nature, such as anemia (low blood count) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), these conditions are usually of a local cause.
• Shin Splints: A shin splint is technically the tearing away of the anterior tibial muscle from the bone. Shin splints, or tenosynovitis of the anterior tibial muscle (the muscle that runs from the mid portion of the foot up the front of the leg, just below the knee, on the inside front of the calf) is usually caused by over-use. Beginning runners or others, who engage in sport activities who have not sufficiently allowed their muscle tone to build up over a proper conditioning program, or whose conditioning program is too rigorous in the beginning, develop shin splints.
• Painful feet can affect our ability to enjoy the most basic activities in our daily lives. Thankfully, many foot conditions can be easily prevented or treated by wearing properly fitting footwear or using the right over-the-counter foot care products. Given below are some of common foot conditions. Achilles Pain, Athletes Foot, Ankle Sprains, Arch Pain, Bunion Pain, Burning Feet, Cracked Heels, Dry Skin, Fungus Nails, Heel Spurs Flat Feet Care Foot Blisters Heel Pain High Arch Hammer Toes Hard Skin In growing Nails Metatarsalgia Care etc.

Natural Foot Care

• Massaging the feet each night with oil is relaxing and keeps them soft and supple. In winter warm oil can be used with sesame or mustard oil. In summer coconut oil provides a cooling effect. These natural products' massage really gives immediate remedy for the routine pain on your feet.
• If the shoes are to tight, pinch or do not fit properly corns appear due to the pressure put on the bony areas of the foot and also interfere with the circulation of blood ultimately leading to corns. The quick remedy tip for this is to apply papaya juice or milky juice from green figs on the affected area.
• Walking barefoot on rough surfaces or excessive exposure of bare feet to the sun, wind or water causes cracks on the heels and soles, which cause dryness and roughness of the feet. The best natural treatment for this is… take about three spoons of honey and mix one teaspoonful sesame oil in it. Warm it a little and apply on the affected areas.
• Herbal Foot Mask Wash Massage your cracked feet with Peppermint essential oil, which is best for it's cooling and tingling effect.
• Use warm water and soak your feet for 10 - 15 minutes to soften the skin and allow the herbs and oils to penetrate and wash with a good natural soap to wash your feet.
• Use an Ayurvedic Foot Cream to moisturize and soothe your feet. If you use this tip at nights, every morning, surely you would have tender feet

Foot Trouble Prevention Tips

• Foot troubles are the result of different causes: heredity, injury, neglect, abuse, and shoes of faulty design or fit. Most foot problems are preventable.
• More attentive care is important. Frequent bathing, frequent foot massage, habitual toe wiggling and other foot exercises. These keep the skin and muscles well toned, which contributes to healthy, trouble-free feet.
• Shoe care is equally important. Buying the right size width, avoiding tight or even snug fit. The foot needs and wants "breathing" room.
• Ill-fitted or tight shoes cause compression and friction, which in turn cause heat and excessive perspiration, which cause odors, skin disorders and discomfort.
• Your feet live in shoes 16 hours a day, two-thirds or your entire lifetime. They're closer to you than your spouse, your family and your best friend. If you're selective about the shoes you buy and wear, they'll give you comfort and healthy feet in return.
• Preventing Foot Trouble
• Practice good foot care. Check your feet regularly, or have a member of your family check them. Podiatrists and primary care doctors (internists and family practitioners) are qualified to treat most foot problems. Sometimes the special skills of an orthopedic surgeon or dermatologist are needed.
• It also helps to keep blood circulating to your feet as much as possible. Do this by putting your feet up when you are sitting or lying down, stretching if you've had to sit for a long while, walking, having a gentle foot massage, or taking a warm footbath. Try to avoid pressure from shoes that don't fit right. Try not to expose your feet to cold temperatures. Don't sit for long periods of time (especially with your legs crossed). Don't smoke.
• Wearing comfortable shoes that fit well can prevent many foot ailments. Here are some tips for getting a proper shoe fit:
• The size of your feet changes, as you grow older so always have your feet measured before buying shoes. The best time to measure your feet is at the end of the day when your feet are largest.
• Most of us have one foot that is larger than the other, so fit your shoe to your larger foot.
• Don't select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe but by how the shoe fits your foot.
• Select a shoe that is shaped like your foot.
• During the fitting process, make sure there is enough space (3/8" to 1/2")
• For your longest toe at the end of each shoe when you are standing up.
• Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the shoe.
• Don't buy shoes that feel too tight and expect them to stretch to fit.
• Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a minimum amount of slipping - the shoes should not ride up and down on your heel when you walk.
• Walk in the shoes to make sure they fit and feel right. Then take them home and spend some time walking on carpet to make sure the fit is a good one.
• The upper part of the shoes should be made of a soft, flexible material to match the shape of your foot. Shoes made of leather can reduce the possibility of skin irritations. Soles should provide solid footing and not be slippery. Thick soles cushion your feet when walking on hard surfaces. Low-heeled shoes are more comfortable, safer, and less damaging than high-heeled shoes.

Tips For Proper Foot Wear

Basketball: This sport requires footwear that offers lateral support for the ankles, cushioning for the knees and lower back (enough to with stand forces equivalent to 2 1/2 times a person's weight), and good traction for smooth floors. Basketball shoes have wide outsoles made of gum rubber, which provide stability and traction. Large cushioning units located in soft compound midsoles add much need cushioning, and the upper is higher cut materials such as leather or nubuck combined with support straps and stiff heel counters to provide ankle support.

Tips For Trimming Toenails

• Spread tissue or newspapers on the ground to catch nail clippings.
• Sit on the ground and hold toe clippers in one hand, grasping your foot with the other. Your foot should be placed over the tissue or newspaper.
• Cut straight across your big toenail.
• Repeat for other toes.
• Gather the tissue or paper with clippings and throw away.
• Warnings: Cut toenails straight across and avoid cutting them too short; otherwise, you might get ingrown toenails (a condition in which edges of toenails push into the skin).
• The best way prevent ingrown is to cut straight across the nail and then remove any sharp edges with a file.
• Cut your toenails outside, so you don't need to worry about runaway ones!
• Thick toenails treatment: If you have rather thick and/or very dry toenails, instead of clipping try to just file them; this prevents cracks in the nail. An electric pedicure set can be very helpful, but handle with care

• Toenails, Ingrown - Ingrown toenails are a common toenail problem of uncertain etiology. Various causes include poorly fit (tight) footwear, infection, improperly trimmed toenails, trauma, and heredity. The great toe is the most commonly involved.
• An ingrown toenail is a common condition in which the corner or side of one of your toenails grows into the soft flesh of your toe. The result is pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. The condition usually affects your big toe.
• In most cases, you can take care of ingrown toenails on your own. If the pain is severe or spreading, however, your doctor can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications.
• If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation to your feet, you're at greater risk of complications. Seek a doctor's advice earlier on caring for an ingrown toenail.

• Anyone can develop an ingrown toenail. But you may be more prone to ingrown toenails if you have toenails that curve down or grow faster at the edges than at the center.
• Ingrown toenails are also more common in older adults, because nails tend to thicken with age. This thickening or change to the curvature of your nails can cause ingrown toenails.
• When to seek medical advice: If you experience severe discomfort in your toe or pus or redness that seems to be spreading, see your doctor. If you have diabetes or any circulation impairment to your lower extremities, seek the advice of a foot doctor (podiatrist) on how to properly care for ingrown toenails. Also seek prompt treatment for any foot sore or infection.

• Left untreated or undetected, an ingrown toenail can infect the underlying bone and lead to a serious bone infection.
• Complications can be especially severe if you have diabetes, because the circulation and nerve supply to your feet can become impaired. Therefore, any relatively minor injury to your foot - cut, scrape, corn, callus or ingrown toenail - can lead to a more serious complication. In rare cases, an ingrown toenail can result in a difficult-to-heal open sore (foot ulcer), which could eventually require surgery. Foot ulcers left untreated may become infected and eventually even gangrenous. Sometimes amputation is the only treatment.

Toenail Treatment
If home remedies don't help, your doctor can treat an ingrown toenail by trimming or removing the ingrown portion of your nail to help relieve pain. Before this procedure, your doctor numbs your toe by injecting it with an anesthetic. After the procedure, you may need to rest your foot and soak it in warm water. Your doctor may also recommend using topical or oral antibiotics, especially if the toe is infected or at risk of becoming infected.

For a recurrent ingrown toenail, your primary doctor or foot doctor may suggest removing a portion of your toenail along with the underlying tissue (nail bed) to prevent that part of your nail from growing back. This procedure can be done with a chemical, a laser, or other methods.

Washing Tips For Your Feet

• Clean and rub them regularly, and feet will go the distance.
• Try these remedies for tired, swollen feet next time you settle into camp.
• Soak feet in a cold stream or lake for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pick a soft patch of ground, lie back, and prop your feet on a boulder or pack. Hold this position for 10 minutes to allow blood to flow away from your feet and reduce swelling.
• Get a foot massage. There are no hard and fast foot massage rules, just rub gently with your thumbs.
• Don't dry your feet out. Use a moisturizer daily on your feet. Dry skin can lead to callus formation and cause heel cracks. Do not apply cream between the toes.
• Wash your feet daily in warm soapy water. Do not soak the feet too long as this will destroy the natural oils in the skin. Remember to dry the feet thoroughly afterwards, particularly between the toes.
• Keep up your spirits. Apply surgical spirit between the toes with a cotton bud daily, particularly between the smaller toes. This will keep the space between the toes dry and prevent fungal skin infection from occurring.
• Wearing the shoe that fits. Good, comfortable shoes are extremely important to maintain the health of your feet. Choose shoes that are the correct size and provide your feet with comfort and support. Always wear the right shoe for the right occasion. Socks are also important. Ensure that you have clean socks on every day and make sure there are no holes in them.
• Get out and get moving. Exercise regularly to maintain and improve the circulation in the feet.
• Wash your feet daily.
• Avoid water that is too hot or too cold. Use lukewarm water.
• Dry off the feet after washing, especially between the toes.
• If your skin is dry, use a small amount of lubricant on the skin.
• Use lambs wool (Not cotton) between the toes to keep these areas dry.

Here are some Simple home remedies for beautifying your feet:

1. Soak feet for 10 minutes in warm water to which salt has been added. Remove and scrub dry, especially between the toes. This is the easiest way to relax tired feet. In the case of a sprain add Epsom salt to the water for best results.

2. You can also use the hot 'n' cold treatment, which improves the blood circulation of your feet. First dip you feet in hot water and then dip it in cold water. Do this for 20 minutes.

3. Alternatively add a shampoo to warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes. This will also improve the texture of the toenails.

4. For cracked heels mix a few drops of lemon juice in Vaseline and apply gently on cracked heels.

5. Scrub heels with pumice stone while bathing and then apply a rich moisturizing cream.

6. Use a good hand and body lotion on your feet too.

7. Mix a few drops of lemon juice in Vaseline and apply gently on cracked heels.

8. After bath, apply almond oil to the feet and massage until all the oil has been soaked up. Do it for a month for best results.
 

Cracking and fissures in the skin of the heels and the balls of the feet can be painful, especially for heavy individuals who place more pressure on these parts. As with any open skin lesion, a fissure leaves the region susceptible to bacteria. Foot infections can be very serious because bacteria tend to multiply rapidly and travel deep into the foot quickly because of the continuous pressure. They are often hard to heal because the wound is surrounded by calloused skin.

Tips to avoid cracked heels

1. Do not expose your feet to extreme climate i.e., extreme cold or extreme heat.

2. Wash feet daily in lukewarm water, blot dry without rubbing and apply a urea-based cream.

3. If your heels are very dry, use a pumice stone to slough off dry skin, cover feet with petroleum jelly and put a pair of socks before going to bed.

4. Pedicure your feet more often.

5. Use hot-cold water technique. Dip your feet in hot water and then after five minutes dip it in cold water. Do this for 20 minutes. This method improves the blood circulation.

6. Choose your shoes carefully and pick only the best quality.

7. Before going to bed daily pamper your feet with a rich moisturizing cream.

Dealing with heel pain

If you spend a lot of time on your feet or if you often wear uncomfortable shoes, odds are that at one time or another you will experience heel pain. Many times, heel pain is a result of a weak or overworked Achilles tendon. Your Achilles tendon or "heel cord" is the rope-like muscle at the back of your foot that connects your heel and foot to the back of your leg. By regularly stretching your Achilles tendon you can help relieve heel pain.

The best way to stretch your Achilles tendon is to perform the following stretch:

1. Stand about three feet from a wall and place your hands on the wall.

2. Lean toward the wall -- bringing one leg forward and bending your arms at the elbows.

3. Keep your back and your back leg straight with your heel on the floor. (If you're doing it correctly, you should feel a gentle stretch in the calf muscle of your back leg.)

4. Hold this stretch for a short while.

5. Repeat with the other leg.

6. Do this stretch regularly to relieve heel pain. If your pain doesn't go away or is severe, visit your doctor.




Pedicure Tips


Out of all of the parts of the body, the foot is often the first to be neglected. Pedicure is the care of the feet, legs and toenails. Here we will see the tools required for pedicure and the procedure. Thus with a little pampering on a regular basis of your feet you can take care of them and you will have feet that will look beautiful and sexy.

Things Required For Pedicure

Nail cutter
Nail file
Cuticle cutter
Cuticle pusher
Nailbrush
Orange stick
Pumice stone
Foot scrapper
Two basins large enough for footbath
Enamel remover
Cotton wool and buds
Moisturizer
Base coat
Enamels either colored or frosted
Topcoat

Materials Required

Acetone
Liquid soap or shampoo
Luke warm water
Antiseptic lotion
Oil or cream
Nail polish
Foot powder
Hydrogen peroxide

Pedicure procedure

1. Soak your feet in warm soapy water for a couple of minutes then pat them dry. Make sure that you cover your toenails thoroughly.

2. Remove any old enamel from your toenails with cotton wool and enamel remover.

3. Use your nail clippers to file and cut your nails. File your toenails to take off any rough edges, but only straight across.

4. Take your tipped orange stick and put some cuticle cream on, massage into the cuticles in circular movements. Clean the foot using nailbrush, foot scrapper and pumice stone.



5. Re-soak your feet for a couple of minutes.

6. Again with your tipped orange stick apply cuticle remover to the cuticles.

7. Wet your cuticle knife to carefully lift the cuticle.

8. Re-soak again and then dry thoroughly.

9. Apply a good moisturizer all over your foot and ankle take the time to gently rub it in. Also at this time you can lightly dust between your toes with a medicated talc or foot powder.

10. Apply your base coat and wait for it to dry. Pick your nail polish and paint on. Don't forget the topcoat for colored enamels.

11. One last thing, use your orange stick and enamel remover to remove all traces of enamel left on the skin to make a really neat job.

Some important Tips

Wash your feet regularly - to avoid a fungal infection which will cause athletes foot.

Make sure that you always dry them properly, even in between the toes!

Exfoliate your feet often - once a week.

Apply medicated foot powders, anti-per spirant and refreshing foot sprays.

Massage for relaxation and to get the blood circulation going.

Only ever cut your toe nails straight across to avoid in growing nails.

Wear cotton socks to absorb moisture from your feet.

Buy correct fitting shoes.

Alternate your footwear. If possible wear shoes that will let your feet breath - either a sandal or leather shoes.

Always remember to keep your implements clean: if they are left dirty they may harbor germs and cause infections.


By following a few careful dos and don’ts you can look after your feet. First, some basic rules:

Bathing

Massaging

Exercising your feet, and giving them a pedicure are the very basic necessities that go a long way in ensuring that your feet remain soft, shapely and supple.

The first golden rule is to buy shoes of the right size. Apart from the size, you have to ensure that the length of heels that you are buying, does not de-stabilize you. People with bad backs should not wear pencil heels that hurt the spine .One should buy shoes in the afternoon or evening when the feet are swollen from the days walking. This will ensure that you get the right fit and size.

Next is exercising your feet. Most people believe that just because they are ‘on their feet’ the whole day, they have exercised on their feet. This is far from true. You need to exercise to relax your tired feet and to strengthen your foot muscles. The best time to exercise is at the end of the day.

Sit comfortably on an erect chair and clench your toes, then relax them –do this 4-6 times a day. This exercises your ankles, keeping them supple and lean.

Next draw circles in the air with your feet. Move one foot at a time, first clockwise, then anti clockwise five to six times. This exercises your ankles, keeping them supple and lean.

Besides exercise, you should especially bathe your feet daily. Normally when one has a bath, the body, face and arms get all the attention-the feet remain neglected. So make it a habit of treating your feet to a lavish footbath, especially at the end of the day.

Take a basin of warm water to which a little salt has been added. Soak your feet in this. Your aching feet will get instant relief. Pat dries your feet thoroughly. Apply a lotion of glycerin and rose water and dry your feet and apply talc later. Once a week indulge yourself in a good pedicure. You can easily do this at home.

Every day, after you have cleaned and exercised your feet, put them up. Take a round bolster. Lie down flat without a pillow. Now place your ankles on the edge of the bolster so as to raise your feet. Keep in the position for at least 15 minutes. This gives immediate relief to tired feet .Its also helps reduce swelling due to water retention. Last, but not least, while bathing, remove dead skin with a pumice stone and loofah.

Our feet keep us balanced and carry our weight. In a lifetime they walk as much as going five times around the earth. We only pay attention to our feet when they rebel at their utter neglect, when they can bear the neglect no longer and become ill with calluses, corns, bruises and ingrown toenails and bunions. We should look after our feet before any of these problems may need the attention of a doctor. So prevention is always better than cure. You can certainly prevent a lot of foot problems by knowing about them and preventing them by using the right home cures. So take a look at your feet and start caring for them right away.

Now let us discuss a few common foot problems and how we can tackle them.

Neglected Feet

Most of the foot problems arise due to neglect and oversight. Cracked feet, corns and other common ailments should be attended to and nipped in the bud. A few suggestions to deal with them.

Cracked Heels:

This is one of the most common and embarrassing problems. Cracked heels are the first signs of sheer neglect. A daily does of cleaning and moisturizing will help. Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm soapy water. Soak for 15 minutes. Wash and dry. Then take one teaspoon Vaseline. Add to it the juice of one lemon. Rub this mixture into the cracked heels and other areas of the feet till it is thoroughly absorbed. This should be done daily.

A mixture of glycerin and rosewater too, if applied regularly, helps to soothe and cure cracked heels.

Foot Exfoliation and scrubs:

You need to exfoliate your feet without being too harsh. Dead skin accumulated on the feet can cause a lot of problems. The ideal way to get rid of calluses is to exfoliate. Use a loofah at least twice a day to get rid of the dead skin. However, nourishing and exfoliating your feet should be done every week.

Strawberry Exfoliation:


Take 6-8 strawberries and two tablespoons of olive (or almond) oil and one teaspoon of sea salt.

Mash the strawberries .Add the oil and salt. Make into a paste. Massage into the feet, rubbing harshly as you go along. Keep rubbing especially around the hundred areas of your feet. Leave the paste on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, then with cold water.

Another good exfoliate is to use crushed almonds instead of strawberries. Both exfoliate the tough skin of your feet and the natural juices and oils nourish your feet.

Other natural exfoliating foot scrubs can be prepared by grinding corncobs and walnut shells. These are especially good for exfoliating very toughened feet, especially the heel areas.

Orange and oil scrub:

This is an ideal cooling foot scrub. Take two oranges, one cup of oil (any vegetable oil will do), and one cup of sea salt. Mix together salt and oil. Thickly slice the oranges into rings. Dip them into this oil and salt lotion and start rubbing all over the feet. Use generously on the hardened skin areas. Keep rubbing vigorously for 10 minutes, then rinse off. This cleans your feet, cools and softens them. Rubbing the soles of the feet with lemon sliced into half can also cure calluses on the feet. Take a lemon, slice it into half, and rub it vigorously in circular motions over the toes, heels and other tough and hard areas.

Corns:

These are caused by friction and pressure when the bony parts of your feet rub against your shoes. The problem needs to be treated by a doctor. Change your footwear immediately. Use exfoliates, warm footbaths and moisturizing routines to ease the pain. There are a few home cures too that can cure newly formed corns. They should be treated at once. Any delay will require the attention of a doctor.

Marigold:


The marigold flower belongs to the same family as the arnica. It has antiseptic qualities. The juice of the leaves is an excellent cure for warts. The sap from its stem is useful in curing warts, corns and calluses of the feet.

All one has to do is to slice the stem lengthwise and apply the juice of the stem on the affected areas. Leave it on .Use this treatment everyday at the first sight of the corn.

Licorice:

The dried roots of this plant and its underground stems are used as flavorings agents in food as well as the base in many cough medicines.

Take a few licorice sticks:

Powder them and add a little mustard oil rub this paste onto the corns and the hardened skin. Use regularly, especially at bedtime. Leave it on .All newly formed corns will disappear.

Pineapple:

This is an absolutely unique way to treat corns. At night, just before bedtime, soak your feet in warm water for 20 minutes to tenderize the corns. Cuts out a square piece from the pineapple peel. Rest the inside of this directly on the corn. Use tape to attach this piece directly on the corn. Cover with socks and leave on overnight. Apply for four to five nights consecutively. This would be of great help in treating corn. Pineapple contains an enzyme called Brometain that softens and breaks down dead skin. So don’t throw away that pineapple peel. Use it to cure painful corns.

Swollen Feet:


Sometimes. Mild water retention or odema, especially during the menstrual cycle or due to hormonal changes can cause immense discomfort. Here is a simple cure.

Carrot and parsley Juice:

Take four carrots, one beetroot or apple., and a few sprigs of parsley. Wash peel and finely chop the carrots and also the apple or beetroot. Add a few springs of parsley. Blend in a juice strain. Drink this juice twice a day to treat bloated feet.

Athletes Foot:

This is one of the most common and irritating foot infections. This usually spreads through wet socks, bedding on bathrooms or swimming pools. This infection spreads due to dampness. The best thing to do is to keep your feet dry. Here is a useful home remedy:

Ginger or Garlic:

Soak your feet in a basin of warm water containing either a few pods of crushed garlic or crushed ginger. Add to this a little alcohol. Soak feet for 10 minutes. Remove feet and dry them thoroughly. Repeat 2-3 times a day. This provides immense relief.

An all – purpose foot cream can easily be prepared at home too.

Coco Rose Foot Cream:

Take half-cup coconut oil, one-teaspoon glycerin and two-table spoons rose water. Take a mixing bowl and pour all these ingredients together. Beat till a smooth paste is formed. Store in a jar and keep it in your bathroom. Beat till a smooth paste is formed. Store in ajar and keep it in your bathroom. Use every night to prevent drying of the feet and cracks in the feet. It’s an ideal, multipurpose foot cream.

Shoe Bites :

How often are we afflicted with shoe bites? These can occur due to wearing new or ill-fitting shoes. Whenever you buy a new pair of shoes, use these preventive measures to prevent shoe bites.” treat’ your shoes: apply a little petroleum jelly inside your shoe. Leave it on overnight. Clean it off with a cloth and then wear your shoes. Apply coconut oil inside your shoes for three consecutive nights to soften them before wearing. You could apply castor oil too. Apply some raw potato slices inside the shoe and particularly the heel area. Repeat for two nights before wearing your shoes. In case you do get a shoe bite, try the followings:

Rice:

Take a half-cup rice. Pound it to a powder and then add enough water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste on the shoe bite. Leave it on till dry. rinse gently with Luke warm water. Dry the feet thoroughly. You will get immense relief.

Neem and turmeric paste:

Take a few Neem leaves and add to them a tablespoon of turmeric powder. Add a little water and put it into a mixer to form a thick paste. Apply this paste on the painful shoe bite. This gives tremendous relief and also dries up the bite. We thus see that in the case of care of hands and feet prevention is the key word.

If you want to own a pair of flawless hand and lotus feet, you just need to treat them right a little care goes a long way.