Sandal season is upon us, which implies we’re maintaining our nails trimmed, making an attempt our greatest to keep away from chipped polish, and ensuring our toes are mushy and moisturized. However that light-weight summer time lotion you employ in your physique might not reduce it in your heels and soles the place pores and skin tends to be thicker, which is the place foot ointments come into play.
“In summer time, once we are barefoot or utilizing issues like open-heeled sneakers, our pores and skin can grow to be very dry and cracked,” says Diane Koshimune, DMP, a podiatrist in San Jose, To get even the dryest of toes moisturized, she recommends pulling out the large weapons—oil-based ointments. She says the most effective time to use them to your toes is correct after a soak. But when they’re very dry and cracked, they could must have some submitting of the thickened, callused pores and skin first. Do that in a shower or devoted foot soak, utilizing a pumice stone, for instance, adopted by a moisturizer, she says.
“After a shower or after soaking, the pores and skin could have absorbed some water. That is when an oil-based ointment product akin to Vaseline ($2) or Aquaphor ($7 to $14) can be nice to seal in that hydration,” Dr. Koshimune says. One other product she recommends known as O’Keefe’s Wholesome Toes ($7) which accommodates glycerin that equally locks in moisture.
In case your toes are getting tremendous dry typically, Dr. Koshimune says to attempt moisturizing socks ($25) which normally have a gel layer that may be therapeutic. They’re infused with moisturizing oils to deeply situation and soften your toes.
Extra than simply aesthetics, maintaining your toes moisturized may profit your general foot well being, based on Dr. Koshimue. “When the pores and skin is appropriately moisturized, it glides on surfaces higher,” she says. “Dry pores and skin is extra grippy. Take into consideration the instance of a gymnast who would use chalk to dry out the pores and skin in an effort to grip a floor like a bar. When the foot pores and skin is dry, it grips the surfaces like sneakers or the ground extra, which may additionally result in the speedy progress of issues like calluses that add to discomfort when standing and strolling. Thickened and callused pores and skin may fissure which might introduce issues like bacterial and fungal infections to the tissue.”
So subsequent time you are taking a second to slather your tootsies in a wealthy, hydrating moisturizer, do not forget that it’s extra than simply an act of self care—it’s serving to you preserve optimum foot well being, too.
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