While many people shoot for 10,000 steps, the average person takes between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day.
That’s still quite a lot, and every one of those steps puts a strain on your feet. So it makes sense if your feet feel sore at the end of the day.
Are you looking for a way to start treating your feet a little better? Check out these tips for foot care at home to learn how to take better care of your feet.
Wash Your Feet Well
Every day when you shower, make sure to dedicate time to wash your feet with hot, soapy water. When you get out of the shower, dry your feet thoroughly, including between toes. This will prevent the formation of fungus and athlete’s foot.
If you spend time at a public pool or at the showers in your local gym, you will want to use extra care watching your feet. These areas are the most common places for picking up fungi or viruses that cause warts. It’s a good idea to wear flip flops in these areas to prevent infections.
Keep Them Smooth
Do your feet feel hard and callused? Calluses form when there are friction and pressure over time to a specific area, so it is common for them to develop on feet. They are generally painless, but over time they can rub against your shoes, which leads to pain.
There are a few things you can do to smooth out calluses, like using a pumice stone to rub them. Soaking your feet in warm water first will soften the skin and make it easier to rub the calluses.
Moisturize
To prevent calluses from developing in the first place, moisturizing is your best strategy. Applying moisturizer after a shower is one of the best times. Some people like to put socks on after moisturizing to help lock in the moisture.
If your feet are particularly dry and cracked, you might want to make a habit of applying lotion every night. You may also need to see a podiatrist for a prescription solution.
Wear Sunscreen
People often neglect to put sunscreen on their feet, but it’s important to protect them from UV rays. This is especially true in the summer, or if you live in an area where you wear sandals year-round. Make sure to put sunscreen on the tops of your feet to protect them from the sun.
Maintain Your Toenails
Keeping your toenails trimmed is important to your overall foot health. If your toenails get too long, they can easily get snagged. This can cause a larger part of your nail to tear off, which can be extremely painful.
Failing to clip your toenails can also lead to other painful conditions. For instance, shoes that put pressure on your toes may cause ingrown toenails to form, which can then become infected. In some cases, the fungus may begin to grow under your nails, which can be difficult to resolve.
Choose Your Shoes Carefully
Your feet spend a lot of time in shoes, so it’s important to choose shoes that don’t put unnecessary pressure on your feet.
Heels should be worn sparingly. Over time, heels can cause hard calluses on the balls of your feet, which can lead to numbness and pain while walking. Consider limiting how many times a week you wear heels, or bring back up shoes when you choose to wear them.
For other types of shoes, make sure that your toes have enough space. If your big toe is rubbing on the side of the shoe, this can lead to painful blisters or ingrown toenails.
Sometimes, the shape of the shoe may cause rubbing and blisters on the back or sides of your feet. Consider wearing socks or liners to put some protection between your skin and the shoe.
If you are in a job where you are on your feet all day, you should choose high-quality shoes that offer good support. You may need to invest in arch supports to get the full support you need.
Do Stretches and Exercises
Inevitably, even if you take good care of your feet, you may start experiencing pain. There are some good stretches and exercises you can do to alleviate this.
One of the easiest stretches is simply using your fingers to pull your toes toward you. This will stretch the tendons along the length of your foot.
If you are experiencing pain in the arch of your foot, this could be a tendon strain called plantar fasciitis. The best way to resolve this is to rub your foot along something hard. Soup can or tennis ball usually works well.
Keep Your Feet Protected
Most people enjoy taking their shoes off at the end of a long day. But walking around with bare feet can lead to foot injuries, even in your own home. Any parent who has ever stepped on a lego can confirm that!
To keep your feet protect, make a habit of wearing shoes even when you’re walking around the house or down the driveway to get the mail. If you like giving your feet some freedom, you can shop for flip flops to wear around the house.
Start Practicing Foot Care at Home
With these tips, you’ll be able to build a strong routine for foot care at home that will help you keep your feet feeling great. Looking for more health and beauty tips? Check out the rest of our blog for more inspiration!