Feet care regimen is important

Ignoring the feet can have painful consequences including bacterial or fungal infections, corns, bad odour, among others. A ritual of scrubbing your feet, keeping them dry and wearing the right shoes can eliminate these problems, says an expert. Washing feet well: The skin between the toes is a perfect place for bacterial and fungal infections to flourish if it is not washed and cleansed properly. It’s important to soap and wash your feet once every day to ensure that the locked in dirt and sweat is cleansed. Keeping them dry: Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection of the feet which causes itching, burning, peeling of the skin, and painful blisters. Drying the feet, especially the area between the toes is essential after every wash, especially if you are wearing socks and shoes immediately. Moisturising them regularly: Don't limit your moisturising routine to just your face and hands. Lack of moisture can leave your feet skin dry, scaly and chapped. The chapped skin can become dry and hard especially on the heels. This area can then become a magnet for dirt and grime which will start sticking to it. Make sure you apply a generous dose of moisturizing agent on your feet every day after washing your feet. Cocoa butter or petroleum jelly can be good options. Removing jagged skin: It is important to remove the dead layer first by exfoliation once every month. This can be done with pumice stones or loofas, but mildly. It removes the dirt on hardened dead skin. Follow it with a hydrating moisturiser and leave it overnight. Scrubbing can be done with the mixture of sugar and olive oil with a drops of mint or tea tree oil added to it for anti bacterial properties.

(Inputs by Sapna V Roshni, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon)

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