Take Care of Your Feet
Although our feet may seem strong, they are in fact fragile and must be treated with care.
Pedicurist vs. podiatrist
First, let’s distinguish between pedicurists and podiatrists. A pedicurist is concerned with the aesthetics of feet, with calluses and nails – in other words, with beauty care for the feet. A podiatrist, on the other hand, is a foot specialist with a medical degree. Podiatrists make diagnoses, prescribe medication and recommend remedial treatment or even orthoses, when needed.
Here are a few tips to help you start off every day on the right foot.
- Your feet need to relax just as much as the rest of your body. Sit and roll the balls of your feet over a Coke bottle for 20 minutes, then limber up by picking up a few marbles or a towel with your toes.
- To get rid of odor, run your feet under cold water for a few minutes and then massage them with rubbing alcohol. To combat infection, add three tablespoons of bleach to a pan of water and soak your feet.
- To prevent athlete’s foot, wash well between your toes with your regular soap, then dry carefully. At night, apply a perfume-free moisturizer such as Velvelan or Uremol. Margaret Thatcher apparently swears by The Body Shop’s Peppermint Foot Lotion, ideal for a relaxing massage.
- If you have cold feet, rotate your ankles clockwise and counterclockwise. Don’t subject them to hot baths, hot-water bottles or heating pads, all of which hinder circulation.
Must Read: The Foot Doctor by Dr. Glenn Copeland, Macmillan of Canada.
