The Importance of a Daily Foot Care Routine to Keep Your Feet Healthy

80% of Americans over the age of 21 have a foot condition such as pain, plantar fasciitis, or issues with their nails. Only 2 in 10 take the time to regularly consider their foot health.

Feet need as much care as the rest of the body, if not more. They have to deal with the pressure of our weight and are prone to infection because they're always on the ground. When they have problems, it's often a sign of a deeper issue.

Read on to learn how to develop a foot care routine.

Perform Foot Inspections

One of the most important parts of any foot care routine is performing regular inspections. Sit down and look at the top and bottom as well as the toes and nails. Check for:

• Cuts
• Scrapes
• Scratches
• Calluses
• Cracks
• Fissures
• Discoloration
• Ingrown or discolored nails

Follow up the visual inspection with a physical one. Feel for bumps, corns, calluses, warts, or growths. Check if you feel any pain or swelling anywhere.

These inspections are the best way to spot foot conditions early and get quick treatment.

Clean, Dry, and Moisturize

Cleaning them should be part of your daily foot care routine. It removes dried sweat, dirt, and dead skin. It also reduces the risk of infection and prevents other health conditions such as joint problems and poor circulation.

Dry your feet off to prevent moisture buildup and infection. Moisturize them after washing to prevent a buildup of dead skin.

Cut Your Nails

One of the best but most surprising pieces of foot care advice you may ever receive is that there is a "right" way to cut your nails. You should always go straight across and carefully file the edges.

Going too short or in the wrong direction can cause pain or make them ingrown. Seek out a podiatrist's help if you can't cut them yourself.

Wear the Right Shoes and Socks

The importance of foot care becomes clear when you see all the ways that ill-fitting shoes can affect your health. Some of the problems relate to the feet themselves, such as athlete's foot and collapsed arches. Others affect your entire body, such as chronic back pain, joint pain, and arthritis.

Find shoes that cater to any foot conditions you have, and consider adding insoles. Make sure to find a high-quality pair of socks to go with them. Replace your footwear every few years so it doesn't wear out.

Where to Find More Foot Care Tips

Your feet bear even more than your total weight every time you take a step. The least you can do for them in return is to follow a regular foot care routine.

Perform visual and physical inspections for issues such as swelling, cuts, or discoloration. Wash, dry, and moisturize them regularly. Cut your nails to the right length to keep them from getting ingrown or infected. Buy socks and shoes that fit you perfectly.

Apex Footwear offers comfortable footwear to prevent and provide relief from foot conditions. Check out our shoe collection today.