Tips for Keeping Your Feet Healthy as You Age

Tips for Keeping Your Feet Healthy as You Age

How often do you consider the health of your feet? Each day, your feet must withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure as they take you to work, the grocery store, and the dozens of other locations that you regularly visit. However, foot doctors in Sugar Land note that your feet can suffer wear and tear with age. To keep your feet healthy and fit for future decades, keep in mind these podiatrist recommended tips.

Protect Your Feet

One of the most important actions you can take for your feet is to purchase supportive and protective footwear. Especially for women, certain kinds of shoes can be particularly detrimental to feet health. If you regularly wear high heels, you may be putting excessive force on your toes and altering the natural structure of your feet. Though you may not currently feel the repercussions of your footwear choices, they can eventually show up as bunions, ingrown toenails, and other painful conditions. Adequate footwear can also guard your feet from potential slip and fall accidents and blunt trauma.

Practice Comprehensive Foot Care

The skin on your feet should be just as vibrant as the skin on your hands or face. Inflammation, dryness, and abrasions should not be a normal aspect of your foot health. To ensure that your feet remain healthy and free of infection and fungus issues, wash them thoroughly each day with warm water and mild soap. Foot doctors also warn that proper drying off techniques is important for individuals with diabetes. Gentle exfoliation and moisturizing can also help to prevent calluses and overly dry skin.

Address Early Warning Signs

As with any health problem, the longer you wait to address a foot condition, the more serious it can become. Bunions that persist too long or ingrown toenails that produce infection may require bunion surgery or ingrown toenail surgery. Ongoing foot pain might eventually require plantar fasciitis surgery. So as soon as you notice an unusual symptom or warning sign, talk to a foot specialist. When caught in its earliest stages, a problem such as bunions or ingrown toenails may require less invasive treatment.