This Halloween, the streets will fill with kids (and kids at heart) in spooky costumes going door to door, filling their pails with candy. If you have a skin or nail condition like athlete’s foot or fungal toenails, though, you might feel like your spooky costume is permanently attached. It won’t get you much candy, either.
At Family Foot and Ankle Center, Inc. we want your skin and nails looking and feeling great year round. Here are a few handy tips to help you preserve those beautiful feet so that they’re only capable of terrifying children one night per year.
Daily hygiene is often the best way to prevent or contain unsightly and uncomfortable conditions like athlete’s foot, plantar warts, and fungal toenails. Wash your feet daily, including between your toes, and dry thoroughly. Remember that many nasty skin ailments feed on damp, moist conditions, so wear shower shoes or sandals in public restrooms and locker rooms, and always make sure you put on clean socks and shoes after you shower. Rotating between two or three pairs of shoes can help your footwear dry out between uses.
When you trim your nails, don’t go too short, and cut straight across from corner to corner. Removing too much of the nail or rounding the corners can expose sensitive skin and increase the risk that an ingrown nail will develop.
Always wearing shoes that fit properly and are designed for the task at hand—walking, running, playing basketball, etc.—is the best way to kick away your risk of blisters, calluses, and corns. You always want something that fits snugly on your heel, has a firm sole, a breathable upper, and has plenty of room in the toe box (wide enough for toes to wiggle and about half an inch longer than your longest digit). If you’re still having problems or find that you’re always blistering in a certain spot, we can help you find the right shoe, or determine if you could benefit from shoe inserts or a custom orthotic to relieve pressure on sensitive areas.
For more handy tips on taking care of your feet and ankles, stay tuned to our blog and follow Family Foot and Ankle Center, Inc. on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+. To set up an appointment at one of our six convenient offices, give us a call at (513) 728-4800 or (859) 282-1572.
