Foot Care and Women Over 50

When you’re 50 and older, sometimes self-care goes to the side and that includes neglecting your feet. From going full speed ahead and focusing on your career to taking care of grandchildren or spending time with your spouse, it’s easy to overlook your foot health when there are so many tasks to complete on your to-do list. But as you age, the skin in your feet gets tougher if you don’t care of it. That’s why it’s important to keep up with foot care. Here are five ways you can make foot care a routine:

You can keep calluses at bay by properly trimming them or shaving them. Calluses that are very thick may require additional soaking in a foot bath with Epsom salt or a product designed for soaking your feet. Use the right tools to remove the calluses carefully, such as a pumice stone. You may also seek help from a professional to remove the calluses correctly so you don’t injure yourself.

As you age, your skin tends to dry out. That’s because your collagen supply shrinks with age, which leaves your skin prone to cracking and drying. Collagen also is reduced the more you expose your skin to UV lights or the more you smoke. That’s why it’s important to make moisturizing your feet a daily routine. That also means drinking plenty of water. Aim for the equivalent of half your weight in water as in ounces to ensure you’re properly hydrated throughout the day. Also, increase your water intake if you’re exercising or will be in a dry climate or high temperatures.

If you are experiencing pain in your heel, consider doing stretching exercises, using padding or an ice pack to reduce the pain. But it’s important to know when not to self-treat. For instance, if you are a diabetes patient, it’s essential to get the help of a podiatrist instead of resulting to self-treating. A podiatrist can help you assess any foot issues you may have and prescribe proper medications or treatments to help subside issues with your heel.

Foot massages are helpful for promoting blood circulation in your feet. So, it’s important to indulge in foot massages to improve foot care. Have a spouse help you with a foot massage. You can also enlist the help of a professional.

Shoes that are too tight for your feet can easily rub against your skin and lead to corns and other common foot conditions. Take care of your feet by taking the first steps of choosing the right shoes to wear. Make sure you try on shoes in the afternoon when your feet are likely to be at its widest width so you can find shoes that fit comfortably around the circumference of your foot.

You’ve been busy taking care of others your whole life. It’s time to start taking care of yourself. Don’t let your foot health go by the wayside. Instead, revitalize aging feet by taking a few effective steps. Just use these tips from podiatry practice in Clifton, NJ, Wayne, NJ to practice self-care for your feet to improve its appearance and your overall foot health.