Ultimate Foot Care Guide – Getting Back to Basics

Our line of Kerasal® foot care products offers great ways to have beautiful smoother and soft feet. Of course, there’s even more you can do to make your feet feel great. That’s why we want to share some basic foot health information and foot care tips with you.

The skin, the largest organ of the body, provides protection from external elements such as bacteria and regulates the amount of water in the body, thus keeping cells healthy. If the skin is not properly cared for, irregularities can result - such as calluses or excessively dry feet - which compromises the skin’s ability to function optimally. The feet are often victim to out of site, out of mind in terms of personal care.

The Causes of Dry, Cracked and Callus Feet

Any number of factors affect the condition of your dry feet. Personal hygiene such as washing with excessively hot water, showering or bathing more than once a day or for long periods of time can cause dry feet. Environmental factors such as excessive sun exposure, pollutants in the air, lack of humidity due to seasonal changes can also damage the skin. Some common causes of calluses are ill fitting shoes, abnormalities in the gait (walking motion), bony prominences, flat feet, and high arched feet. Added pressure or weight on the feet caused by obesity or repeated stress resulting from walking, jumping or running on hard surfaces are also contributory factors.

Caution: Diabetes or vascular (circulatory) problems can mimic this condition, as can certain infections. Consult your podiatrist or other doctor about diabetic foot care if you have any doubts or questions. Diabetics: Consult your healthcare professional.

Foot Care That You Can Do:

Keep the dry skin on your feet well hydrated and exfoliate rough or thick skin. Thick, hard skin can become uncomfortable or tear away and expose raw skin underneath if they become excessively large. If severely dry this can result in scaling skin or cracked heels which predisposes the skin to irritation. Skin that loses elasticity becomes less resistant to trauma. Kerasal provides a full line of foot care products that exfoliate, leaving soft feet and smoother, healthier skin. Check out our product offering to see what foot care products are right for you.

Here are 5 additional foot care tips you can do to help your feet feel better today:

1. When it comes to your shoes, put foot care comfort above appearance.

It is natural to want your shoes to be as attractive as any other article of clothing you wear. But do not sacrifice comfort for appearance where foot care is concerned.

• Choose shoes that let your toes spread out, without squeezing.
• Do not select footwear that is too loose; the skin on your feet may be abraded by the constant sliding/rubbing and calluses may develop.
• Be aware that unusual activities (prolonged walking up or down hills, for example) can cause friction.
• Avoid excessively high heels which can imbalance your feet and cause even more rubbing.

2. Remember that socks and stockings are footwear too.

The above foot care rules for proper shoe fit apply to socks and stockings too. Excessive tightness or looseness will cause problems.

3. Feet are happiest when they’re clean and dry.

Heat, moisture, darkness – that’s the formula for growing a fungal infection, or for breaking down the protective barrier of the epidermis, which can cause a great number of dermatological problems. It’s already dark inside your shoes – so be sure to clean and well ventilated dry feet:

• Clean your feet well every day and dry them well before putting on footwear.
• Choose shoes, socks and stockings of materials that allow air to circulate around your feet.
• Be aware of foot perspiration and take measures to prevent buildup of moisture in your shoes.
• Let footwear air out between wearings.

4. Know when to see a doctor.

Podiatrists are doctors specially trained in treating disorders of the feet, from "surface" problems of the skin like dry feet to deep-rooted problems with the bones of the foot. Some foot problems can be especially serious, and may indicate an underlying infection or circulatory problem. If you have any doubts about the nature of your foot disorder, consult with a podiatrist.

5. If you’re a diabetic or have other circulatory problems, be extra careful.

The circulatory problems that come with diabetes and other conditions, improperly treated diabetic foot care, can ultimately result in the loss of a foot. If you’re diabetic, take no chances – consult your doctor about any abnormality in either foot.