When
is the last time your feet were measured? How old are your athletic shoes and
have you “gotten your use” out of them? What’s in your sock drawer? How long
has your nail polish been on your toes? When was your last pedicure?
Time
to get you thinking about your feet! Let’s face it, most of the colder season
months, your feet are wrapped up in socks with shoes or boots. They may see the
light of day on occasion, but now it’s time to spring clean your feet!
So
take of those socks and have a look. What do you see? Is the skin moist or dry
with cracks the size of the Grand Canyon? Cracks in the skin, also known as
fissures form when skin is dehydrated. Nails that are brittle also can be a
sign of dehydration. Start with a pedicure to get your feet back in to shape
and consider going without polish for two weeks to allow the nails to breathe.
Moisturize
your feet and legs daily. Creams with urea help hydrate the dry areas however
do not use this level for overall moisturizing. Daily moisturizing replenishes
the skin from the outside and increased water intake will hydrate from the
inside. Drinking 7-8oz of water a day is a great start in hydrating the skin.
Next,
lets take a look at socks and shoes. Socks do wear out over time and dryers can
shrink socks. Inspect your socks for areas of wear or even worse – holes! When
you place socks on your feet, there should be room in the toes and not
compressing the toes. Workout socks should be made of moisture wicking material
and not cotton.
Shoes
– they are expensive however do still break down over time. Workout shoes are
of particular focus and should be replaced at least every six months or if you
are tracking mileage, every 300-500 miles. Keeping your workout shoes fresh
allows you to protect your feet and provide proper support while allowing you
to enjoy your favorite exercises.
So take a few minutes and spring clean your feet, shoes and socks, it will lead you on the way to a happy spring and summer season!
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