How Do You Treat your Feet?

Jul 9, 2024 by Susan Rosenbluth

By S. Levin

Are you taking care of your feet? As long as everything feels good, it’s easy to take our feet for granted. Most health articles focus on the risks of leading a sedentary lifestyle, spending too much time on your feet can lead to issues as well. Approximately 70% of people have reported experiencing foot pain. Even exercise can inflame the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your feet. Wearing poor-fitting shoes can cause pain, while open-heeled footwear like sandals can make the skin around your heels become dry and thick.

Shoe Care Basics

Footwear is intended to protect your feet while making a fashion statement, but shoes do not last forever. It is recommended that you replace shoes or sneakers when they show signs of aging. As a rule of thumb, replace everyday shoes every 8 to 12 months. Sneakers should be replaced more often – after 6 to 8 months, which is approximately 300 to 1,000 miles.

Most likely you won’t see or feel the difference, but you may notice that the material and cushioning will begin to show wear, or the sole will be thinner.  While they may still look respectable, they no longer provide your feet with the support they need.

A few ways to extend the life of your shoes and sneakers are alternating them by wearing a different pair of shoes each day and ensuring that they dry after each use. Untie the laces when removing to avoid stretching and breaking the heel.

Put Your Feet First

Your shoes are intended to protect your feet, but you need to take time to attend to your feet too. Make sure that they are moisturized, this can eliminate the development of calluses, and alert you to any emerging issues, it affords time to check for cuts or sores, many people overlook washing their feet even when they shower, assuming the water and soap alone will suffice. It won’t.

Wash and dry the tops, bottom, and heels of your feet as well as between your toes. Taking hot baths or showers is not recommended since it can dry out your feet. Try to moisturize your feet daily, (just not between your toes), this will help keep your skin soft.

Foot Balm

Foot balms are a way to moisturize your feet while you sleep. We tested Olive & June Foot Balm, which used a stick applicator, like a lip balm, and is designed to hydrate dry, cracked skin.  After a single treatment, severely cracked skin was noticeably softer, and smooth. This thick salve is applied before bed. You need to wear a cotton sock overnight to keep the lotion on, allowing it to get absorbed instead of rubbing off on your bed. Sleeping with a sock may have been the only objectionable part of the treatment, if it is, apply a lighter layer during the day and let it soak in.

The balm combines a mixture of oils, butters, and wax, all with recognizable names that include coconut and jojoba oils, cacao seed butter, sunflower seed wax, rice bran oil, citrus peel wax, meadowfoam seed oil, into a natural vegan treatment.  It is strong enough to soothe the roughest calluses, and gentle enough for weekly use on normal feet.

Olive & June Foot Balm comes in 1.8-ounce sticks, making it airplane-friendly. They offer a 100% Happiness Guarantee, which indicates their confidence in producing a quality product.

Don’t let the name fool you, this moisturizer works wonders on dry skin, beyond just your heels. We tried it on elbows, ankles, and hands. It works. This thick balm hydrated and softened skin, simply and effectively, without fragrance or coloration.

Don’t Take Your Feet for Granted

Your feet are amazing. They allow you to walk, which is a great way to keep your feet in good condition, exercise helps maintain stability and balance. Don’t forget to stretch your feet before you exercise, this can improve circulation and reduce the risk of foot injuries.

When your feet feel fine, you can almost forget that they are there, but don’t, be proactive and intentionally include your feet in your daily self-care routine.