This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
Published on July 9, 2019, experts share their advice on how to treat common foot problems like cracked skin, blisters, and ugly toenails.
Podiatrist Emma Supple recommends following three simple rules for healthy feet: scrub them every day, moisturize daily, and be shoe savvy.
Scrubbing your feet daily with a bristled brush can help prevent hard skin from building up. Using a proper foot cream with urea can also help to moisturize and soften your skin.
When it comes to shoe selection, podiatrist Emma Supple advises avoiding slingbacks, flip-flops, and mules, which can cause hard skin to build up. High heels can also put a huge amount of pressure on the ball of your foot, leading to pain and discomfort.
Tracy Byrne of Holistic Health suggests beating blisters before they appear by wearing new shoes around the house with a pair of socks for a couple of weeks to get them used to your foot. Plasters can also be used to prevent blisters in hot spots.
File your feet when they are bone dry, not after a bath or a day in hot shoes. Using a foot file, not a pumice stone, can help to prevent bacteria from building up.
Going barefoot when you can is also a great way to keep your feet healthy. It allows your feet to move in the way they were intended, using all the tendons and ligaments.
For ugly toenails, consider wearing fake toenails that are pre-glued, so you just press them into place.
