Tips for Daily Foot Care

It’s true: 90 percent of all foot care (or more) takes place at home. You know we love seeing you here at Southern Tier Podiatry, but at the same time, we want you to live a healthy, active life free of foot pain. When aches, pains, or injuries emerge we’ll help you fix them, but you can prevent a lot of problems before they happen by practicing good daily foot care.

Here are our top tips to keep your feet in top shape:

• Wash them. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t do it. Wash your feet thoroughly at least once per day, before bed, with soap and water. Dry completely. Feet that are dirty or wet invite infection, including athlete’s foot and fungal toenails.
• Cut your nails correctly. That means straight across, corner-to-corner, with a little length left. Toenails that are cut too short or curved may increase your risk of an ingrown toenail.
• Be smart about footwear. Gravitate toward moisture-wicking socks, and change them often—more than once per day if you sweat a lot. Choose breathable fabrics for shoes whenever possible, and given each pair at least one day between uses to dry out. Shoes should be comfortable and fit properly; high heels, shoes that are too wide or too narrow, shoes that don’t provide adequate support for your arch or heel, etc., should be avoided—they can lead to friction damage such as corns and calluses, or even create pressure points that contribute to deformities like bunions or hammertoes.
• Don’t go barefoot in public, especially in damp places like locker rooms or pools. Even a cheap pair of flip flops in such situations can spare you from picking up a fungal infection.
• Examine your feet carefully for nicks, scratches, rashes, bumps, or other problems—especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation. If you identify trouble spots early and seek treatment right away, you have a much better chance to avoid infections or manage injuries or deformities with conservative care.

Practicing smart daily foot care is the best way to minimize your risk of foot and ankle issues, but if you do encounter any issues, contact Dr. Marilyn Boyuka at Southern Tier Podiatry in Vestal, NY. We are dedicated to serving Greater Binghamton with the highest quality foot and ankle care, and will always exhaust conservative options before considering surgery. To schedule an appointment, call us at 607-217-5668.