Monday, August 20, 2012

Appropriate Foot Care Products for Your Needs

Structurally and functionality wise, feet are a remarkable asset to the body. Like the rest of the body, they require proper care and protection in order for us to benefit fully from them. A foot is made up for 26 bones and 33 joints, as well as an interlaced network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels, covered by the largest organ in the body, the skin. Made to tolerate the absorption of far more than just our body weight with each step, feet are remarkably durable as well as delicate.  Before retiring at the end of the day, a person of average weight taking 6000 steps that day will absorb over two or three million pounds into each foot. Is it any wonder, then, that foot problems can be so prevalent, and that podiatrists in such high demand?

Estimates show that roughly 80% of all adults do suffer from foot problems at some stage in their lives. Among foot pain simply from the force of weight over such a relatively small area over the course of a day, feet can suffer from conditions such as plantar fasciitis, which is the result of breaking connective tissue at the soles. You might need foot odor products. Under further abuse, calcium deposits can also build at the tears in the foot which become heel spurs. At-home treatment to help heal your suffering feet include icing and stretching them, massaging them with coconut oil, and using cushions or shoe inserts to help support the feet as well as sensible footwear. Good foot health may be improved and maintained with the practice of regular strengthening foot exercises.

People who are in the habit of wearing insensible shoes (mostly women) that either offer little to no support or that hold the feet and toes in unnatural positions, regardless of how much they need to walk, often suffer from minor but uncomfortable ailments like corns and calluses. These are not usually serious conditions, but they can provide pain and discomfort when they become too thick. When this happens, it is advisable for you to wear looser and more comfortable shoes and limit the time on your feet. If your condition significantly hinders your walking, you may want an exam by a podiatrist.

It is also quite common to form blisters on feet bearing the rigidity of new shoes needing to be broken in, or simply walking in the wrong shoes for too long. They are simply the formation of skin that has been irritated by rubbing against the same unforgiving surface too many times over too many strides. Drugstores have waterproof bandages and wart removal products that provide cushion and healing elements especially formulated for the quick protection and dissolution of blisters. While medical professionals often disagree as to whether a blister should be popped or not, the one thing they agree on is hygiene. Keeping the wound clean, especially if open, will protect against infection.

Taking care of the skin on your feet is easy with the readily available variety of creams on the market. Cracked heels, which is prevalent in the dryness of winter, can be treated with concentrated foot creams specially formulated for extremely rough skin. You should apply a hydrating cream to your feet upon exiting the shower or foot bath, every time. Whenever you wet your skin, it "resets" the moisture within the skin. Similar to the skin on your face, exfoliation is recommended, with the use of a pumice stone or exfoliator and a cream involving medium sized granules that will help remove useless old skin cells. This will quicken cell turnover and leave your feet feeling smooth and healthy. Get to know more about gel insoles. Look for foot care products made of natural ingredients such as shea and cocoa to better benefit yourself.

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