Most people do not give their feet a lot of attention. Our feet can be the most neglected part of our bodies. I am not talking about getting a pedicure for cosmetic purposes. We should go beyond trying to have pretty feet and take care of our feet to have them function properly. Our feet are important for an active healthy life. They support our entire bodies, helping with balance, posture, and our wellbeing.

We need to practice footcare. We should treat our feet to avoid foot problems that include fungus, corns, calluses, bunions, and ingrown toenails. Foot problems can cause pain, make you unsteady and lead to falls, and hurt overall health.

Taking care of your feet does not take a lot of energy or money. Wash your feet daily. Make sure you clean between your toes. Keep your toenails clean. Exfoliate your feet on a regular basis. You can use a pumice stone or a product for exfoliating. Earth Therapeutics have some great products for footcare. Make sure you moisturize your feet every day. Dry feet can lead to the skin cracking. I like Burt Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion. Wear quality socks made from cotton or wool. Change your socks often to help prevent fungus and odor. I do not use foot powder. There are people who place it in their shoes to keep their feet dry.

Pedicures do help feet. You do not need to spend a lot of money. If you cannot go to the salon you can try at home treatments. Soaking your feet for 10 to 15 minutes can work wonders. You can add essentials oils or Epsom salt to the water. It is easier to trim your toenails when they are wet. Cut straight across and do not cut them too short because that can cause problems.

Comfortable shoes are important for footcare. Tight shoes can lead to corns, calluses, bunions, and ingrown toenails. Your footwear should be appropriate for the activity you are doing and in good repair to help prevent falls. High heel shoes can cause damage to your feet. If you like wearing high heels, you should save them for special occasions.

People with diabetes need to pay special attention to their feet because they can have poor blood circulation and nerve disease. If you are diabetic, you should frequently check your feet for infections.

If you have constant foot pain, you should see a podiatrist to make sure there are not underlying health issues.