Posts Tagged ‘sweaty feet’

Common Foot and Nail Issues and How to Solve Them

Feet are fascinating. They are so individual and get beat up all day by us.

Cute yet impractical shoes and the whatnot. Standing all day. Walking all day. Unbreathing.

Since they’re always closed in, issues revolving around moisture and bacteria and fungus are VERY common.

Foot odor, athletes foot, ingrown toenails and nail fungus are very common. I won’t subject you to pictures of them, but when you do pedicures, you see it all. Repeatedly.

General foot care is fairly simple. Keep your feet, socks and shoes clean and dry. But life still gets complicated. Let me offer some solutions.

Foot Odor and Sweaty Feet: By far the most common ailments. Moisture, warmth and bacteria, it’s a perfect mix.  The more your feet sweat the more likely you are to create a breeding ground for the odor producing bacteria. I’ve seen explanations from anemia to the same bacteria that causes acne. Either way it’s unpleasant. Guidelines to reduce that lovely aroma usually involve keeping the feet as dry as possible.

1. Always thoroughly dry feet off after showering. Get right in between those toes. If you do have sweaty feet, you don’t need to give the bacteria MORE moisture to work with.
2. Use an absorbing foot powder. This will help keep the foot dry, reducing the moisture that the bacteria thrives on. Some also can have anti-bacterial properties
3. Wear clean socks with your shoes. Creating that absorbing barrier will reduce the smell as well. Bring an extra pair to change into if you’re going somewhere different after a long day at work.
4. There are lotions/foam to help reduce sweatiness, but you can also use antiperspirant on the feet as well. Don’t forget those shoe sprays! Anti-bacterial they help to sanitize the inside of shoes to reduce bacteria.

Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis): This is also very common and comes in various degrees. It’s a fungal infection, basically ring worm, of the feet and is usually between the toes and near the nail. It’s usually picked up from other warm environments like public showers, baths and locker rooms. Also sharing shoes or socks with someone who has it.

It will start off as scaling, flaking and slight reddening between the toes. As it worsens it will start to turn white and remain damp. The odor increases as well. As it spreads to the sole of the foot it will redden the skin and create more scaling and a blistering type look. There’s usually quite a bit of itching.

Luckily it is possible to get a handle on the Athlete’s Foot if treatment begins fairly early. Keeping feet dry is very important. You can also use topical applications of over the counter products such as Footlogix and Allpressan. they contain a small percentage of clotrimazole which is beneficial at killing off the fungus.

If the spread is really bad, over the whole foot, it is best to go see your doctor,podiatrist or dermatologist.

Ingrown Toe Nails: You’ll know if you’ve ever had one of these. The painful pressure on the top corners of the nails can really make itself known. The toe nail starts to grow into the skin and can cause swelling, redness and even infection.

These are caused from either poor shoes (all tight and constricting in the toe area) or improper nail care. Cutting the nails too short or rounding the corners too deep. You want the end of the nail to grow out straight and true.

The inclination is going to dig around in there to try and free it. Please don’t do that, it can cause serious damage and infection.

Try and help it grow out. Soak the feet for 10-15 minutes, gently push a small piece of cotton under the offending edge, just enough to lift it slightly off the skin and guide it in the correct direction. Repeat this everyday, changing the cotton and keeping everything very clean. Avoid constraining shoes during this time. If after 4-5 days it hasn’t improved or has gotten worse, you will want to see a doctor. If at ANY point it turns red or starts to ooze anything, go to the doctor.

If it’s a severe and recurring problem, there may have to be some minor surgery, but that’s ok. I’ve seen many a foot that has had the procedure done and the results are fine.

Nail Fungus (Onychomycosis): According to the Mayo Clinic nail fungus is acquired similarly to Athletes Foot. Damp, warm places are where those fungi thrive. They get under the nail and cause yellowing, thickening and crumbling. The nail will usually change shape over time and become dull.

Unfortunately this is the most time consuming to remedy. Topical applications can work, but some people require more, in the form of oral medication. Vite 20 is a great solution.

Since nails grow quite slowly, getting a fungal nail to be replaced by a completely healthy one can take as much as a year.

It’s important to have realistic expectations and be consistent and patient. It’s also best to not polish over those toe nails! Let them breathe and heal.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Gehwol: For the Well-Being of Your Feet

Chances are if you’ve been to a spa and had a pedicure, you’ve heard of Gehwol.

It’s a German based line that focuses on the numerous benefits of naturally derived ingredients and essential oils.

Foot care is different than the rest of the body, so it’s always nice to go with a line that specializes.

From delightfully herbal foot soaks to some of the most nourishing lotions available. They can help with every specific foot issue; cold feet, sweaty feet, cracked heels and aches. Not to mention the Stinky. It happens. There are solutions.

They’ve also got a great amount of nail care products.

Often we hear that the products are extremely thick and can sometimes feel greasy.

Tip:  When applying foot creams, less is more. It’s just meant for the foot, not the whole leg. Use a very small amount, start at the part of the foot that needs it the most (usually the heel), massage in and then spread over the rest of it. Do give yourself a few moments of Soak In time. But it shouldn’t  be too long. Socks after are fine if you want.

The warming balm is a really interesting product. You know who you are. Those out there who seem to use the energy from a room and absorb it into the ice cold vortex that is their feet. The use of paprika and ginger increases the circulation and warms those toesies. Also it sounds delicious.

What I personally love about Gehwol is the scent. Now I know I rant up and down about how a great scent is not why you should pick a product.

But I know Gehwol works.

So I’m allowed to talk about the smell.

Since everything is so naturally sourced, those scents come through without any added perfumes. They are so refreshing, complex and herbal, without being overwhelming. I just find them instantly relaxing since they remind me of pedicures.

So if you’re one who enjoys the sensory experience of foot and leg care, Gehwol is beautiful, but if you just want a great, effective line to help solve foot and toe issues…also Gehwol. You can’t stay in business for 150 years if you don’t deliver results.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!