Footcare

You wouldn’t go a week without showering, so we shouldn’t go a week without checking the health of our feet - they work hard carrying us around all day, after all!

Make sure that there aren’t any sores, cuts, swelling or infections, like athlete’s foot or a fungal nail.

Clean them thoroughly when you shower or bathe, but be careful not to dry them out.

Afterwards, lather them in moisturising lotion and trim your toenails if needed, as it can be painful if they get too long and become ingrown.

Finally, always pick comfortable, supportive shoes if you’re on your feet all day.

Dry, cracked heels are a common problem, especially during the warmer months when your feet are exposed by wearing things like flip-flops and sandals.

It’s best to exfoliate the skin first with something like an electronic foot file to buff away the layers of dryness.

This should be followed by a moisturising lotion, like O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet Cream which provides soothing relief for dry, cracked heels, hydrating the skin and leaving them feeling soft and smooth.

Despite the name, anyone can get athlete’s foot - not just athletes.

To prevent yourself from getting athlete’s foot, wear protective footwear like shower shoes or flip-flops when walking around a pool, gym, public shower, or locker areas as the fungus which causes athlete’s foot may be on the floor.

It’s important to keep your feet dry as the fungus is attracted to damp, warm areas like sweaty shoes - you may wish to alternate shoes each day to give them time to air and dry properly.

Most blisters have a bubble, which can be painful and uncomfortable.

Bursting a blister isn’t recommended as it can open the door to harmful bacteria which could cause an infection on the site of the blister.

However, you can safely drain a blister to provide relief.

First, wash your hands, disinfect a needle, and clean the blister with an antiseptic.

Create small punctures around the edge of the blister and allow the fluid to drain on a disposable cloth, then apply antibacterial cream and cover the area with a plaster.

It’s a good idea to repeat these steps daily until the blister has healed.