Self Pedicures = Healthy feet

Believe it or not, having a pedicure can help keep your feet healthy and happy as long as you have it done in a clean environment.  Whether you’re a man or a woman, pedicures are a way for you to consistently monitor your feet and provide basic care for them on a monthly or bimonthly basis.  Perhaps heading to the salon or spa is not in your budget, well that is okay.  There are ways you can pamper yourself and keep your feet looking healthy and neat no matter what type of a budget you are on.  If you have diabetes, you need this done at Houston Foot Specialists.

When you file and clean your toenails, you help prevent infection.  Cleaning your toenails inhibits the growth of the dirt and bacteria on your feet, thus preventing nail diseases and disorders and eliminating foot odor.  Removing dead skin cells helps prevent cells from accumulating and irritating bunions or corns.  Also, when dead skin cells are removed newer skin cells can grow, which provide smoother skin and looks a heck of a lot better than scaly skin.  Pumice stones are the perfect tool for this but do not use anything that has a blade or sharp edge. 

So how can you do your own pedicure? Below are some tips to help you get on your way to a healthy and relaxing foot regiment. 

    1    Soak your feet in warm and soapy water.  The amount of time suggested is five minutes.  Make sure to clean and dry your feet off thoroughly before proceeding with the rest of the pedicure. 

    2    Use a pumice stone to remove any calluses or dead skin.  Don’t forget to remove scaly and dry skin from the heels and balls of your feet. 

    3    Rub cuticles with cuticle oil, olive oil, or baby oil.  Afterward, use an orange stick, which you can find at any drugstore, and nudge back cuticles to push the skin away from the nail.  You can also
use the orange stick to clean under the toenails.

    4    You’ll need toenail clippers with a straight blade to trim your nails.  You should buy a larger version of your fingernail clippers. It’s important to remember to trim your toenails straight across because this helps prevent ingrown toenails.  Also, your toenails should be trimmed so that you can see a little bit of skin beyond the nail margin.  File your toenails to smooth the edges.

    5    Massage lotion or cream all over the skin and nail margins of your feet.

    6    Rub nail polish remover over your nails before you apply nail polish.  When you put nail polish on your toenail, brush down the middle of the nail first.  It should only take about three strokes to coat the entire nail.  You can also buy a top coat nail polish that helps prevent fungal infection. 

If you have any questions please call our office at 713-467-8886 or visit our website at http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/.

References:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/at-home-pedicure
http://www.creatingagoodlife.com/physical/health-benefits-of-pedicures
http://www.houstonfootspecialists.com/library/1911/Pedicures.html

Purchase of Reebok’s Easy Tone Shoes to be Refunded

If you have watched the news in the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably heard about the big fiasco between Reebok and the The Federal Trade Commission.  It all centers around the Easy Tone collection of Reebok shoes and the claim that these shoes will strengthen people’s legs and backside.  The American Council of Exercise did a study at the University of Wisconsin at La Cross, and they found that there really isn’t any benefit to wearing one of the three brands of toning shoes over a pair of regular running shoes.  

One major problem with these toning shoes, though, is that there have actually been injuries that have occurred.  These injuries include ankle sprains and ankle fractures.  These shoes are especially dangerous for people who already have a hard time with balance.  The problem is that the way the shoes are designed, your normal walk is thrown way off.  The toning technology in Skechers Shape-Ups is that of a rocking motion.  With the bulk of the contact of your shoe in the middle of your foot, you have to relearn how to walk and it is very easy to trip, thus resulting in a fall.  In contrast, Reebok Easy Tone shoes are built on a ball on both the front of the foot and the heel of the foot.  This makes your steps very unstable and thus the foot can slip side to side, which can result in ankle sprains and/or ankle fractures.  The danger significantly  increases with the elderly wearing these toning shoes, as their bones are more easily damaged, and a fall could result in broken bones.  

So the question arises, are toning shoes really worth it?  There isn’t any benefit to wearing toning shores rather than normal running shoes.  In fact, toning shoes have a higher risk of injury.  It doesn’t seem like they are worth the cost.  If you have additional comments that you would like me to consider when posting about the Toning Shoes – please post them and I will gladly respond.  

For more information regarding shoes and what we recommend, please visit our website at www.houstonfootspecialists.com