Foot Care Tips for National Foot Health Awareness Month

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month! Maintaining foot health is not always easy or obvious. Sometimes, the feet are the last things we think about in our hygiene and health maintenance routines. In order to raise awareness and encourage our patients to care for their feet, we put together some tips to help you start healthy foot care habits:

• Inspect your feet regularly. Look for injuries, dry or cracked skin, peeling skin, changing in skin color, and changes in toenail color or texture. Also, feel for any new growths, from blisters to corns and bone spurs.
• If you have diabetes: Check these guidelines for Foot Care for Diabetics. Check your feet daily for new developments or injuries.
• Wash your feet each day to prevent infection and to fight foot odor. Clean between the toes, and be sure to dry your feet completely before putting on fresh socks.
• Wear flip-flops in communal areas like showers or pools, where you are exposed to bacteria, viruses, and fungi (like Athlete’s Foot).
• Rotate the shoes that you wear each day so that they have time to fully dry. You can use a sanitizing spray if you have foot and shoe odor issues, especially due to excessive sweating.
• Cut toenails straight across, and not too short. Curved, super short toenails can lead to ingrown toenails.
• Don’t forget to put sunblock on your feet when you go out in sandals or when you’re swimming in a pool. Nail polish on your toes are also a summer essential, but wearing then 24/7 can lead to brittle, yellowing toenails.
• Make sure that your shoes fit well and are not worn down. Your feet should be snug and supported by the shoes and should not slide around inside the shoes. Custom orthotics can help if you have specific needs for extra arch or heel support. This can make or break your day if you have a lot of standing or walking to do.
• Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly for strong bones, muscle tissue, and healthy skin, which are all necessary for foot and ankle health and function. For diabetics, controlling blood sugar levels will help with foot health.
• Make annual podiatry appointments to have your feet assessed, especially if you have diabetes. If you have foot pain, or something that feels abnormal, your podiatrist can do a thorough assessment.

Have questions or concerns about foot or ankle issues? Make an appointment today at Alamitos-Seal Beach Podiatry Group. One of our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Douglas H. Richie, Dr. Jeremy L. Cook, Dr. Faye E. Izadi will be happy to assist you and perform a checkup for your feet at either of our Seal Beach, CA and Los Alamitos, CA offices in Orange County.