Your nails and skin are often a reflection of your overall health. There are key things you can do at home to keep your nails and skin on your feet healthy all year long!
Nails
10 Tips for taking care of your toenails at home:
- Wash your feet and scrub your toenails gently before cutting.
- Cut your toenails on a regular basis, approximately every 4 weeks; long nails can hit the end of your shoe causing injury to the nail.
- Avoid cutting your toenails too short; leave about 1-2mm at the end of the nail.
- Cut your toenails straight across and round off the edges with a file.
- If your nails are thick, file across the surface of the nail plate using an emery board.
- Avoid cutting or pushing back your cuticles; your cuticles act as a seal at the base of your nails preventing infection.
- Remove any debris around toenails by washing and scrubbing them again after you’re done trimming.
- Use a proper nail cutter to cut your nails, not scissors.
- Painting your toenails is okay, but it’s a good idea to let your nails breathe occasionally; consider using a healthier nail polish such as REMEDY.
- If your nails are brittle, discoloured or cracking, a nail tincture can help! Footlogix Nail Tincture can encourage healthy nail growth and keep fungus at bay.
Do you have diabetes? Here are some extra tips:
- If you experience numbness or pins and needles, have trouble seeing or reaching your feet, get someone to help you cut your nails.
- When cutting nails, make sure you’re doing so in a well-lit room.
- Prior to cutting nails, swab the nails and surrounding skin with rubbing alcohol to cleanse.
- Avoid cutting your nails too short as you could run the risk of cutting your skin.
- After you’re finished trimming your nails, inspect for nicks in the skin; if you find one, use an antiseptic or antibiotic cream to prevent infection and cover with a bandage as an added precaution.
Skin
10 Tips for taking care of the skin on your feet at home:
- Wash feet daily using a mild soak and lukewarm water; this will keep the surface of the skin clean and primed for a moisturiser.
- Dry skin well after washing and focus on in between and underneath the toes.
- If the skin in between your toes is too moist, you can apply an astringent such as rubbing alcohol for a more balanced moisture level.
- If your feet are dry, apply a moisturiser after washing and while skin is still a bit moist; Footlogix Foot Foam is an excellent choice as it provides quick absorbing needed moisture.
- Avoid applying moisturiser in between toes as this can increase risk for developing a fungal or bacterial infection.
- If you have sensitive skin, choose a soap and moisturiser that is fragrance-free.
- Callus or hard skin can be softened with a foot file while skin is wet or dry. The Footlogix Foot File resists rusting and doesn’t have sharp edges making it safe to use.
- A moisturiser containing the active ingredient urea works well to soften callus or hard skin.
- Avoid using any sharp tools to cut corns or callus, and medicated pads containing salicylic acid are not recommended as they can damage healthy skin as well.
- Silicone toe sleeves, non-medicated corn pads and foam toe wedges can protect and offload high pressure or friction areas in between, on the top or tips of toes, or on the bottom of feet.
Do you have diabetes? Here are some extra tips:
- Inspect feet twice daily, in the morning before putting your socks on and at night when you take them off; look for breaks in the skin, redness, fluid or blisters.
- Avoid wearing socks that are too tight; fibres with breathability and socks with extra protection are best; Simcan socks are made for people with diabetes.
- If the seams of your socks are leaving an indentation in your skin, turn them inside out.
- Ensure your footwear is not too tight or loose and avoid walking around barefoot.
- Exercising regularly helps to improve circulation in your feet and legs; avoid smoking as it can reduce the blood flow to your feet.
Come See Us!
BioPed Footcare’s lower limb clinicians are here to help! Select BioPed locations have medical footcare. Certified Footcare Nurses and Registered Chiropodists are trained to assess and treat your nails and skin, treat and monitor your foot health on a regular basis. Give us a call today!
