How-To: Pedicure & Foot Hygiene

Pedicures aren't just about making your feet look good--they're about making them feel good, too. Here are some helpful tips to keep your feet happy in a safe way!

1. Begin with soaking your feet in warm soapy water. They should stay in there for about 10 minutes to soften skin and nails.

2. After soaking, take a pumice stone to clean and soft skin and nails to get rid of dead skin cells and calluses. You can also use body scrub, a Hindu stone, or emery board to exfoliate the skin.

3. Use an orange stick or Hindu stone to push back the cuticles. Avoid excessive trimming, as cuticles are a normal part of the nail that protect you from infection.

4. Trim toenails straight across. Doing this and avoiding cutting the nails to short will help prevent ingrown toenails. When filing the nail, maintain a straight edge.

5. Nails should not hang over the edge of the toe.

6. Massage lotion into the feet. This is a great time to massage your own feet with a roller or your hands.

7. Use nail polish removed to remove excess lotion from the nails before painting with nail polish.

8. Be sure that you are getting enough Vitamin D and Calcium in your diet.

9. Always ensure that feet are able to dry properly to avoid rashes and eczema. Change your socks daily. Create a shoe rotation to allow shoes to dry out between wearings.

10. Make sure your shoes fit! Properly-fitting shoes can help to prevent blisters, corns, calluses, and sweaty feet. Shoes that are too tight or fit poorly can cause or aggravate many foot problems.

Do you need arch support? Check back for next week's blog to find out!