Since April is the designated month for Foot Health Awareness, we wanted to share some tips with you for caring for your feet. Many tend to forget about caring for the feet until something noticeably changes, such as skin condition, foot pain, or new growths. However, if we take some measures in preventative care, like healthy foot hygiene, supportive footwear, and stretching and warming up for tense activities, many foot problems can be avoided.

Here are some top tips that we put together:

1. Make it a point to get an annual podiatry appointment. Your podiatrist can assess your feet and give you additional tips on preventative care. They can also assess your feet to spot problems earlier, making treatment easier.
2. Check your feet often, if not daily. Do you have any injuries, rashes, ingrown toenails, etc.? Treat any possible cuts and scrapes with first aid to prevent infections.
3. Wash your feet every day to fight foot odor and keep good hygiene. Wash with warm water and soap, making sure to get in between the toes and any gunk under the toenails.
4. Rounded, short toenails can lead to ingrown toenails, so trim them straight across and just enough so that a little white remains.
5. Wear shoes that fit well and are supportive. Your shoes should move in sync with your feet when taking steps, without further strain from your foot and ankle muscles.
6. If you have a foot condition like flat feet, orthotic inserts will help support them. If you have a foot deformity, you can get custom orthotics from your podiatrist.
7. Rotate the shoes that you wear daily so that they have time to fully dry between wears.
8. Protect your feet in communal areas like showers or pools, where you are exposed to bacteria, virus, and fungus. Wear flip-flops instead of going barefoot.
9. Use sunblock on your feet when you go out in sandals or when you’re swimming.
10. Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This will encourage the growth of healthy bones, muscles, and skin on the feet and ankles. If you have diabetes, control blood sugar levels for overall health and to prevent diabetic neuropathy.

Wondering about caring for specific foot conditions? Our board-certified podiatrist, Carl Ingrassia, DPM at Fords Foot and Ankle Care keeps up with the latest in podiatric care to provide you with the most up-to-date information. He will be able to assess your feet and give you care guidelines for keeping your feet healthy. Give us a call at (732) 738-4441 to see us at our office in Fords, NJ within Woodbridge Township, NJ. We are happy serve all patients in the surrounding areas of Edison, Perth Amboy, Metuchen, Rahway, and Linden.