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Cracked Heels

PREVENTING SHOE BITES


Your swanky new shoes are the talk of the town. But what you don’t talk about is how much it hurts while wearing that fancy pair. As soon as you return home, your feet are sore, crying for mercy. Here are some handy tips to give your feet a breather.

What Causes A Shoe Bite?

Shoe bites are largely caused by ill-fitting shoes. Contrary to popular opinion, shoe bites are not only caused by new shoes. Sometimes, the feet expand with age and then an old shoe can cause a bite as well.

Preventing A Shoe Bite

Rule of thumb for brand new leather shoes; polish them and leave them overnight before wearing them the next day. This will soften the leather and minimize the pain. Apply petroleum jelly, coconut oil, castor oil or raw potato juice on the insides of the shoe and leave overnight. You can keep re-applying the oil until the shoes don’t hurt anymore. Remember to clean the shoes from the inside before wearing them.

3 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO CURE CRACKED HEELS

A common problem in the winter months is cracked heels. Here are a few ways to combat the problem.
• Soak your heels in lukewarm water and use a pumice-stone to scrub off dead skin to smooth the heels or use a foot scrub after soaking the feet in lukewarm water. Apply a deep moisturizing lotion or Vaseline and put on the socks to cover it for sometime. This method will protect the feet from excessive dryness.
• You could also heat up some Coconut oil, add some wax into it and after cooling apply it onto your heels.
• Another solution is to melt paraffin wax and mix it well with little mustard oil. Apply on the affected area of your heels. Wash it off in the morning. Do this for 10 or 15 days and see the difference.

KEEP YOUR FEET BEAUTIFUL IN THE RAINS...

While the monsoons bring showers of blessings, there are also the monsoon blues that one has to contend with. One of them is wet, mucky shoes! How do you protect your feet this monsoon? While your shoes get wet, the feet within are exposed to wetness for the entire day. Your feet will turn pale when you reach home after a grueling ride in the crowded trains, buses & roads.
Here is what you can do to nourish your feet:
• After you reach home, wash your legs with soap and water.
• If possible add few drops of Dettol or Savlon to the water you use.
• Then clean them with dry towel.
• Powder them and keep them up on a stool or centre table for sometime, to encourage the blood circulation.
• At night wear loose cotton socks while going to bed.

Your feet will thank you for this extra care.

Quick Foot Care Tips:
1. Try keeping a pair of sandals at office if possible, so that you don't have to torture your feet in those wet socks, shoes or sandals.
2. Before wearing your shoes or sandals, clean them thoroughly with a dry cloth to remove any fungal growth / moulds that grow in your wet leather sandals.
3. Preferably wear sandals or shoes that have perforations on the side or front, through which water can drain out, when you wade through wet roads.
4. If you’re a stickler for leather, then select shoes with rubber or polyester soles / heels. This will also prevent your from slipping. Better Safe than sorry!

YOUR EVERYDAY FEET CARE ROUTINE

Beauty is not just about looking good but being healthy. This pertains to every part of your anatomy. From head to toe, literally! When you make your next appearance at a party, watch the feet of all those beautiful people you see. Do you see corns, callouses, chipped nails and skin growths? Ugh!

Feet maintenance is a part and parcel of your beauty treatment. Here are a few tips on how to make your feet look as fresh as possible.
• To keep your feet smelling good and looking fresh dust some deodorizing talcum powder onto your feet every morning.
• You need to exercise your feet. Walking is a good form of exercise for the feet.
• When you get back from a long day, soak your feet alternatively in hot and cold water. Add some salt to this water.
• If your feet are itching, then apply some lemon juice and vinegar.
• Try massaging some onion juice between the toes. This will relieve itching and athlete’s foot.
• When shopping for shoes, comfort is the operative word. Ill-fitting shoes which are too tight have really high heels and pointed toes are largely responsible for the ‘ill-health’ of your feet. Your shoes must support the arch of your foot and also provide enough room to accommodate your toes.


WALKING BAREFOOT IS GOOD THERAPY

Shoes trap energy around the feet, and that could be one of the reasons for feeling tired at the end of a long day. So take them off whenever you can and give them as much air as possible. Barefoot walks help tone the muscles of your feet, keeping them young and strong. An early morning barefoot walk on cool, dewy grass is refreshing and invigorating for the entire system, not just your feet. It is also believed to have a very good effect in improving eyesight. Do walk barefoot as much as possible to help the bone structure of your feet function according to its natural shape.