How to Take Care of Your Feet

The human foot has...

26 bones
33 joints
107 ligaments
19 muscles and tendons.

The 52 bones in your feet make up about 25 percent of all the bones in your body.

Athlete's Foot
Always dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. This will help to reduce the risk of athlete's foot.

Infection and Odor
Use creams to keep the skin supple and powders to absorb extra moisture and prevent infection and odor.

Flaking
To help soften hardened areas and remove flakes, use a pumice stone (gently but firmly).

Prevent Ingrown Toenails
Always trim the nail straight across, not at an angle.

Plantar Warts
Always attended to foot problems such as corns, plantar warts, and athlete's foot.

Calluses
Avoid calluses by wearing shoes that fit properly and don't rub against the skin.

Circulation
Wear shoes that allow the air to circulate so that moisture doesn't get trapped between the toes.

Dead Skin
Wash your feet every day to remove dead skin and eliminate bacteria.

Foot Problems
Consult a podiatrist for persistent foot problems.

Athlete's foot, also known as ringworm of the foot, is a fungal infection of the skin. It is usually transmitted in moist areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers. Signs of Athlete's Foot includes, flaking, itching, and scaling.

Ways to get rid of Athlete's Foot:
- Good hygiene
- Nonprescription (topical) anti-fungals
- Prescription (topical and oral) anti-fungals
- Natural remedies such as Tee Tree oil

*Without proper hygiene, Athlete's Foot can return.

2 drops Tea Tree
1 drop Cedarwood
1 drop Cypress

Add drops to a foot bath and soak your feet 15 minutes. Remember, fugus likes moisture so be sure to dry your feet really good, especially between the toes, and wear cotton socks and try to stay out of sneakers as much as possible.

A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place. This forces the toe to bend toward the others, causing an often painful lump of bone on the foot. A less common bunion is located at the joint at the base of the little toe. Bunions are most common in women, and often caused by not wearing proper footwear.

Non-surgical treatments for bunions include, anti-inflammatory medications and wearing proper footwear. When non-surgical treatments are not effective, a surgical procedure can be preformed so that the bunion will not return.

1. Choose shoes that conform to the natural shape of your foot. Make sure that the ball of your foot fits into the widest part of the shoe. The heel of the shoe should fit snugly without slipping.

2. Avoid pointed shoes that force your toes into an unnatural position.

3. Don't wear shoes with a heel higher than 2 ¼ in. Heels higher than this height put pressure on the ankles and balls of the feet and, over time, can cause bunions and calluses.

4. Try on new shoes at the end of the day. Your feet swell after standing or sitting during the day.

5. Always try on shoes before buying them. Don't rely on shoe sizes because shoe sizes vary among brands.

6. Walk around in the shoes before buying them to be sure they are comfortable.

7. Purchase shoes that are comfortable when you first try them on. Do not expect shoes to stretch or "break-in."

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