There is probably no girl or woman who would not want beautiful and healthy legs, so that the skin is tender and soft, as it once was in childhood. Nothing is impossible, we say. But for this to happen, proper and thorough foot care is necessary.
8 secrets for foot care
Our legs bear a lot of stress, because they support the weight of the entire body. Every day they are subjected to serious tests. We feel tired and have pain in our legs. And if they are not given attention and care, then over time injuries or various diseases may occur.
This is why foot care is so important. There are a number of procedures and rules that will help keep your feet healthy for a long time.
Feet are the part of the body that usually gets dirty most often. Therefore, it is very important to remember to wash your feet every day. Ideally, you do this in the morning and evening. Well, or at least once at the end of the day. It is recommended to use antibacterial soap. It will rid you of sweat, bacteria and dirt.
The water for washing your feet should not be very hot. It is also not recommended to use hard water, which will cause cracks and cause dry skin.
You need to dry your feet after washing with a soft towel. Don't forget about the area between your fingers.
By following these simple tips you will protect yourself from fungus and unpleasant foot odor.
Don't forget to get a pedicure regularly, twice a week. Firstly, your feet will look beautiful, and secondly, this is a necessary measure to get rid of possible infection and ingrown nails.
If you're doing a pedicure yourself, remember to cut your toenails in a straight line only. Never cut corners, otherwise this may lead to ingrown toenails.
To make the procedure easier, use a simple tip - trim your nails after taking a bath or shower. Select scissors that you will use only for pedicures.
Get pedicures regularly
Don't forget to use a nail file to correct any uneven spots and smooth out the edges. Apply cosmetic oil to the cuticle, this will help soften it.
You need to massage your feet regularly. Here are the main advantages of this procedure:
- Helps improve blood circulation.
- Prevents the appearance of edema.
- Relieves fatigue.
- Eliminates pain in the legs.
Well, in the end, it’s just a very pleasant procedure.
For massage, use oil, such as olive or any other cosmetic oil. The massage is carried out with gentle circular movements. You can use rollers, balls and other devices.
The skin on the legs is thicker than on other parts of the body. This is why it is very important to remove dead skin cells - dead cells. This procedure (peeling) will help avoid the occurrence of calluses and corns.
First you need to take a bath with soda (10-15 minutes), this will help soften the skin of your feet and make peeling easier. Then massage your heels using a fine-grained pumice stone or a special pedicure brush with stiff bristles. You need to exfoliate your skin with pumice intensively, but without fanaticism, so as not to damage the deeper layers.
Foot care with pumice stones
Use a foot scrub once a week. You can buy it or make it yourself at home. To prepare the scrub, take baby massage oil and regular sugar. Mix until you get a paste-like consistency and apply to your feet. After peeling, rinse the scrub with water (not hot) and apply moisturizing cream to your feet. This will help keep the skin on your feet tender and soft.
The skin on your feet often becomes dry. In such cases, a moisturizer will come to our aid. It is recommended to apply it with gentle circular movements over the entire foot.
Lightly warmed coconut or olive oil also works well. It is better to carry out the procedure before bedtime. If you have cracked heels, then after moisturizing, you need to put a warm sock on your foot and go to bed.
Our feet contain a large number of sweat glands. And excessive sweating is a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria, which in turn causes unpleasant foot odor.
To avoid this problem, remember to wash your feet every day and change your socks regularly. It is advisable that they be cotton, because the leg must breathe.
Unpleasant foot odor can spoil the impression of even the smoothest and most well-groomed feet. To get rid of odor, take baths with essential oils. For example:
If the cause of the unpleasant odor is a fungus, be sure to consult a dermatologist.
A very important point for the health of your feet is the correct selection of shoes. What kind of shoes should be? It should be comfortable and should not cause discomfort, squeezing or any other unpleasant sensations. If you do not follow this rule, you will develop corns or calluses.
Shoes should be made from natural materials so that the foot can breathe. Otherwise, your feet will sweat and eventually begin to smell bad.
The selection of shoes must be approached carefully. Be sure to try it on both feet. Walk around a bit to see if these shoes are comfortable for you. High-heeled shoes are best worn on special occasions, but for everyday wear, choose low-heeled shoes. Then your legs won't get tired so quickly.
Any disease, as they say, is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, check your feet regularly. If you have cuts, blisters, or calluses, be sure to wash your feet and then treat them.
Don't forget to check your feet regularly
If you have wounds or ulcers that do not heal for a long time, consult a doctor immediately.
Heel care
At any time of the year, due to insufficient foot care, heels can become rough and cracks may appear on them. This can and should be fought. There is a simple and effective recipe for this. You can easily repeat it yourself at home.
Heel care
You need to take ripe apricots and remove the pits. Then mash them in a bowl using a fork (preferably using a plastic one). Add 1 or 2 drops of cosmetic oil. After thorough mixing, the resulting mixture should be kept for a short time (about 3 minutes) over low heat.
Apply the resulting mixture to your heels. Cover the top with plastic (a regular bag will do) and secure. Keep the mask on for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
Then you need to massage your heels using lemon pulp. This procedure helps make the skin on the heels much softer and more tender.
Do not forget that the rough skin on the heels cannot be cut off with a razor - this breaks the epithelium.
It’s better not to neglect your heels, and they will be healthy and beautiful for a long time.
Perfectly smooth legs
Each woman chooses her own method of removing body hair. You can use the services of a salon - types of hair removal such as laser, photo and electrolysis can permanently solve the problem of unwanted hair. However, they are very expensive and have a number of contraindications.
Waxing can be used, but it requires some skill.
Many women still use a razor, even despite the irritation and the almost immediate appearance of new hair. As a result, the skin loses its smoothness the very next day after shaving.
You can use an epilator - thanks to modern technology, women even with very sensitive skin can use this method of hair removal.
Conclusion
Three more simple tips for caring for your feet:
- If your feet are aching after a hard day at work, treat them to a warm bath. Perform a circular massage with a brush from the feet to the knees
(5-10 minutes). - If your feet sweat a lot, use baths made from a decoction of oak bark, wormwood and St. John's wort.
- Don't neglect foot scrubs. It is especially important to use a scrub before epilation: after steaming your legs in the shower, apply the scrub to them, do a light massage and rinse with water.
Do not neglect our advice, because foot care is a very important procedure. Give your feet a little more attention and they will thank you.
Women always dream of preserving their youth and beauty for as long as possible. Thanks to traditional medicine, it is possible to take care of your body without regular trips to beauty salons.
Basic principles of care
The skin of the feet needs care most of all, as it regularly experiences enormous stress.
Basic rules will tell you how to care for your feet:
Wearing the right shoes is very important for good blood circulation in the lower extremities. Boots and shoes made from natural materials promote skin respiration and reduce the development of consequences that occur after long hours spent on your feet during working hours.
The selection of shoes is carried out according to the season; the heel should be stable and not too high. Incorrect choices can lead to overgrowth of bunions or ingrown toenails.
- Daily hygiene care.
After a hard day's work, you need to take care of the skin of your feet. A contrast shower or a warm bath with sea salt relieves fatigue well. After water procedures, it is worth doing self-massage of the feet and ankles using a moisturizer.
To prevent ingrown nail phalanges, experts recommend regular pedicures. The procedure can be carried out both in the salon and at home.
In summer, you need to walk barefoot on small pebbles, sand or earth. When walking, the vital points on the foot, which are responsible for health and youth, are massaged.
Don't forget about daily leg exercises. Elements of classes can be the simplest - walking on tiptoes and on heels, drawing and rotating the feet, grasping objects with the fingers.
- Timely treatment of diseases.
If pathological processes appear on the skin of the legs, you should not self-medicate. It is necessary to visit a specialist to determine the disease and treatment regimen to avoid the disease becoming chronic.
Regular foot care
All foot care procedures at home can be divided into daily and weekly.
Every evening it is recommended to:
- Massage, as it reduces muscle tension and fatigue.
- Foot baths tone, have a relaxing effect and remove swelling.
- Cleansing activities using a stiff brush or sponge to improve the trophism of the skin.
- Nourish the skin with fatty creams.
Some methods are contraindicated for problems with veins.
Once a week you should rid your feet of dead particles of the epidermis. To perform this procedure, you need to steam your feet in hot water and then run a special scraper or pumice over your feet. Applying masks for cracks and calluses after a warm bath has a positive effect.
Once a month (especially in the summer) it is recommended to have a pedicure.
Nail care
Proper care of the toenail plates is important. They should be carefully cut off with tweezers to prevent the nail edge from growing into the skin:
- the nail should be cut straight, without rounding it;
- file sharp corners to reduce the impact of the file and prevent delamination of the plate;
- the nail on the big toe should be left a little longer than on the rest;
- the cuticle of the fingers must be pushed back using a special tool;
- applying varnish, especially in summer, can protect against fungal diseases and microbes.
Heel and foot care
It is important to properly care for the skin of your feet:
- in the summer, before going outside, you should apply a nourishing cream to your feet;
- regularly self-massage your heels with moisturizers;
- do foot water treatments and cleansing scrubs in the evenings;
- You can remove dead skin using pumice;
- use moisturizers more often. For better absorption, it is recommended to wear socks.
The right shoes
Good shoes made of quality material can prolong the youth of your feet and reduce fatigue and stress during a working day or during long walks.
You should not buy boots or shoes in the morning, as by evening your feet and ankles will swell, which can make shopping tight and uncomfortable. Tight shoes lead to ingrown toenails and crooked toes. Clothes that are too wide contribute to the appearance of calluses and keep the leg muscles under tension, which causes chronic fatigue in the lower extremities.
For daily use, you should give preference to boots with low heels and flexible soles.
Foot care products
Caring for your feet at home is carried out using simple and affordable means.
They can have a positive effect on the skin of the feet and heels. Each of them has its own action and is capable of:
- relieve dry skin;
- eliminate inflammatory processes;
- deeply moisturize;
- heal small wounds;
- reduce swelling.
The oil can be mixed with creams or used in its natural form. For the skin of the feet, extracts from avocado, almond, peach, rosewood, and thuja are used.
The healing properties of plants are used to reduce sweating in men, unpleasant odor, as a disinfectant and decongestant. Some decoctions soften the skin.
Herbs are prepared in the form of a concentrated infusion and added to the bath. Chamomile, linden, sage, and stinging nettle are perfect for these purposes.
Foot massage and exercises
Foot care at home can be done by performing special exercises and self-massage sessions.
Impact on the feet using special techniques can improve the functioning of all internal organs and increase blood circulation in the tissues. The massage should be done with rubbing movements, paying attention to each finger.
Elements of therapeutic exercises do not take much time and allow you to restore vigor, keep your legs healthy and toned, and also improve muscle flexibility.
An approximate set of exercises:
- in a standing position, rise on your toes and fall on your heels;
- walk on your fingertips around the room;
- walking on the inner and outer surfaces of the feet;
- sitting on a chair, clench and unclench your toes;
- lift objects of different shapes and sizes from the floor;
- rolling a ball or water bottle while working at the computer or in front of the TV.
Foot baths
It is recommended to take water procedures daily.
- Bath with sea salt. Pour a little salt into a bowl of warm water. This method is good for relieving fatigue after physical activity.
- Contrast baths reduce swelling and tone the skin. To perform the procedure, use two containers, one of which contains cold water, the other contains hot water.
- Cracked heels can be healed by taking a bath with a decoction of St. John's wort. 2 tbsp. Pour hot water over the plants. Add the resulting infusion to the basin and steam your feet.
Folk recipes
The achievements of alternative therapy are widespread in home use and have positive reviews from people with allergic reactions.
- For peeling skin, 100 ml of sour milk is mixed with vegetable oil, honey and calendula tincture. Apply the resulting mixture to your feet and wrap with film. The procedure takes 30 minutes.
- A mixture of cow butter and sour milk will help get rid of cracked heels. Apply the product at night and wrap it in polyethylene.
- You can lighten and soften the skin using mayonnaise and sour cream. Apply the medicinal product to the feet for half an hour and then wash off.
- To moisturize the skin, use a cottage cheese and sour cream mask.
- To make the skin of your feet beautiful, silky and toned, prepare a special product from yolks, 2 tablespoons of honey and a few drops of any essential oil. The procedure is performed for up to 20 minutes; after rinsing, it is recommended to apply a moisturizer.
- Warm propolis cakes can heal trophic ulcers and reduce swelling.
- For varicose veins, prepare a mixture of potatoes and honey as a compress to strengthen the walls of the veins.
- For cracked heels, it is recommended to apply warm melted honey and put on a sock at night. In the morning, after washing off the product, lubricate the skin with cream.
- Cook oatmeal and add flaxseed oil. After using the mixture, insulate your feet and keep the compress on for up to two hours.
Before using the medicinal mask, you should first steam your feet in warm water with added salt.
- Lubricating your feet with olive oil can make them soft and velvety.
- The alcohol is mixed with castor oil and chamomile decoction. Then apply the mixture to the affected areas. For thickness, it is recommended to add a little talcum powder.
- Onion pulp is used as a lotion on sore spots on the feet. The compress is applied overnight and washed off in the morning with warm water.
Proper nutrition and vitamins
To care for the skin of your feet, you should take care of the intake of minerals into the body along with food.
Good skin condition helps maintain a balanced diet:
- Protein is found in meat and dairy products.
- Eating fish and nut mixtures enriches the body with fatty acids.
- Carrots, seafood and liver provide a supply of vitamin A and omega acids necessary for the body.
- Vitamin C will help support immune defense. Contained in large quantities in vegetables and fruits.
Diabetes care
Particular attention should be paid to the legs in case of endocrine diseases. The effect of high glucose levels on blood vessels and tissue trophism can lead to the development of skin pathologies, infection, gangrene and necrosis.
Basic principles of lower limb care for diabetes:
- daily inspection of the feet, especially between the toes and in the nail area;
- hygiene procedures should be carried out at least twice a day with soap;
- for the formation of calluses and corns, use pumice and adhesive;
- apply skin moisturizers in the evenings;
- keep your socks or tights clean;
- treat wounds with aseptic solutions;
- coat toenails with clear varnish to control the color of the nail plate;
- use orthopedic insoles when wearing shoes;
- At the first symptoms of gangrene, you should consult a doctor without self-medicating.
Taking care of the skin of your feet is quite simple. The main thing is to carry out procedures regularly and promptly treat emerging problems.
Women, while caring for their face and hands, often forget about their feet. And they withstand heavy loads throughout the day: body weight, weight of burden (bags, packages), shoes. Proper and regular care will help maintain the health of our supports, relieve fatigue and give beauty.
Daily foot care tips
Remembering to follow simple rules, you won’t have to lie down in the evening, wincing in pain, and don’t wear flip-flops or shoes that look like slippers when going out.
A woman with well-groomed and healthy legs can safely afford to wear a short dress or skirt.
If you sweat more often than other parts of your body, your feet should be washed twice a day, especially after work. For washing, use mild antiseptic soap. And you can get rid of buzzing fatigue with the help of a contrast shower, but with not too hot water.
In addition, it is recommended to soften hard water, otherwise the skin will become dry and cracks will appear. After washing, dry your feet thoroughly.
10-15 minute baths relax, relieve swelling, and tone muscles.
To relieve fatigue with the addition of sea salt and a few drops of your favorite aroma oil.
To reduce swelling and tone, use contrast baths. Place two basins: with cold (15-20 degrees) and hot (30-35 degrees) water. The first bath is hot for 3-5 minutes, then 1 minute. in the cold. And so 11 times.
When your feet are steamed, use a stiff brush or scrub, then rinse them with clean water and wipe dry. Finally, apply moisturizer.
Everyday stress on the soles makes the skin thicker, and the top layer becomes coarser due to dead cells.
That is why they need to be removed daily with a hard brush or a light scrub, which will prevent calluses and corns from appearing.
Scrub: sugar and baby massage oil.
The skin of the feet dries out more, which is why they require regular moisturizing, most importantly at night. It is recommended to apply with massage movements for 10 minutes.
People with cracked heels sleep in warm noses. The cream can be replaced with warmed coconut or olive oil. In the summer, when leaving the house, apply a thin layer of nourishing cream.
When washing or lubricating your feet, you should carefully look at the areas between the toes, the surface of the feet, and the nails for fungal infections or infections.
After washing, lubricate existing skin lesions with brilliant green or other antiseptic. If a fungus appears, treat it by consulting a dermatologist, and with non-healing ulcers, consult an endocrinologist.
Mandatory massage
In the evening, when your feet are washed and moisturized with cream, it’s time to massage. Massaging your feet and ankles will help relax tense muscles and ligaments and help them rest. In addition, rubbing and kneading increase blood flow, which relieves pain and prevents swelling.
- rubbing;
- soft circular;
- stretching and pulling;
- pressing.
The direction is from the toes along the foot and along the instep of the foot.
Gymnastics for legs
In the morning it is useful to perform a simple set of gymnastics. Exercises will strengthen the ligaments, give the skin elasticity, and the muscles the ability to stretch, which makes them strong. At the same time, the joints of the feet are developed and strengthened.
- Rise onto your toes and lower to the starting position 5-8 times.
- Two-minute walk on toes.
- Walk on the inside of the foot, then on the outside.
- Sit on the floor or on a chair and strongly bend and straighten your toes 5 times with each leg.
- Raise your leg low and use your foot to draw an object or write a word.
- Rotate with both feet (or one at a time).
- Lifting or grasping small objects with bare feet.
- While sitting, roll a ball or a plastic bottle filled with water with your soles.
Walking barefoot on the street on the lawn, on the beach, at home on a massage mat or buttons will have an undoubted benefit.
People with varicose veins should be careful when doing massage and gymnastics.
Smooth heels
At least weekly, you should pay attention to the rough, rough layer on your heels. After steaming your feet for 15 minutes with a pumice block or a special scraper, you need to clean off this layer. After peeling, it is recommended to apply a mask, then a moisturizer.
Pedicure
Every two weeks, after water procedures, it is recommended to trim the nail plates, but not short, and with special scissors. The cut is straight, without curves, processed with a file.
To treat the cuticle, use emollient oil and push it back with a pedicure stick. In summer, to protect against fungus and infections, nails are varnished.
The harm of wearing the wrong shoes
Recommendations for shoes:
- It is better to choose a new pair in the afternoon or evening to try on a tired or swollen foot.
- Wearing tight shoes can lead to an ingrown toenail, callus, or, over time, a crooked toe.
- Wide shoes or boots have to be held in place by muscle tension, which is why your legs are always tired.
- Every day it is preferable to wear low-heeled shoes with flexible soles.
- Shoes made from natural material allow the skin of your feet to breathe, so they get less tired.
- Wear shoes according to the season.
- Wrong shoes cause deformation of the big toe joint, the so-called “bunion”.
The smell of sweat
Excess sweat is called hyperhidrosis. The smell is especially unpleasant after taking off shoes and in hot weather. Washing your feet daily, changing your socks, and wearing natural products will help avoid the problem. Lubricate your feet with special products.
It is also worth keeping your shoes clean. Effective remedy: wiping the inside with a solution of potassium permanganate. To prevent odors, add talcum powder, starch or baby powder.
What foot care products to use
Skin care products are divided into three groups:
Scrubs remove dead cells. Apply to shins to feet. Useful before depilation. Used once every 1-1.5 weeks
Masks used for moisturizing and nutrition once every 7 days after the water procedure.
Supplements. Ingredients for different purposes to add to the bath:
- medicinal herbs;
- essential oils (avocado, almond, peach, rose or tea tree, thuja);
- soda or sea salt.
Traditional recipes for foot care
Sea or table salt will help with this. One handful is enough for a bucket of warm water. Keep your legs for a quarter of an hour.
Make egg foam and add 1 tbsp vinegar and vegetable oil to it. l. Apply at night for three days and sleep in socks, rinse in the morning.
Take equal parts: glycerin, rose water and lemon juice. Apply to clean skin three times a week for 20 minutes, then rinse off.
Orange peel made from dried and crushed peels mixed with olive oil.
1). Cow butter and sour milk. Keep until morning under plastic wrap.
2). Bath with St. John's wort. Two tablespoons of herbs are steamed with boiling water - 1 liter.
3). Apply warm melted honey under socks at night. The next morning the cream is applied.
4). Oatmeal with flaxseed oil. Keep your feet on insulated feet for 2 hours. Before that, soak your feet in warm salt water.
Every woman who is not lazy can achieve smooth pink heels and beautiful nails. Here you don’t have to spend a lot of money and take away your precious time. All procedures are pleasant and can be performed casually.