5 Healthy Feet Tips for Men
Unlike women, men aren’t typically concerned with the feel, smell, or look of their feet. However, flip-flop and sandal season is here, so it’s important to establish a good grooming routine to get those feet in shape. Because June is Men’s Health Month, today Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Anne Arundel County, Maryland is sharing five tips to help men maintain the appearance and health of their feet.
1. Wash your feet daily. Wash feet with soap and water daily to prevent athlete’s foot, which is a very common condition, especially for men who wear shoes that don’t breathe well. Athlete’s foot is a highly contagious, itchy, and sometimes painful rash that spreads along the soles of the feet or the toes.
2. Change your socks each day. Feet can get sweaty in the hot summer weather, so you need to change your socks once or even twice a day. In some cases, the feet sweat so much they can become smelly and infected. Wearing moisture-wicking cotton socks can be very effective in controlling this.
3. Trim toenails straight across. First, sterilize your nail clipper with rubbing alcohol and make a few small cuts. Don’t dig at the corners of your toenails or cut them too short. Just trim them straight across, leaving the nails a little long. It’s also important to cut nails when they are dry as wet nails can bend or tear because they are softer.
4. Dry your feet thoroughly after washing them. It’s important to dry the areas between the toes thoroughly. When applying lotion to your feet, avoid the area between the toes because it can cause tissue or skin breakdown.
5. Don’t perform your own surgery. Men are more likely to manage a foot issue on their own by performing bathroom surgery. Instead, try treating calluses with a pumice stone or using orthotics in your shoes. In some cases, nail fungus can be treated by removing part of the nail or with an OTC or anti-fungal medication specifically developed for nails. Instead, patients can apply Vick’s vapor rub or Listerine to the nail plates daily to get rid of the fungus. And leave blisters alone! If a blister tears, clean the area with soap and water (leaving the skin flap in place), and apply antibiotic ointment then dress with a clean bandage.
Women and men: If you are experiencing any issues with your feet, contact the office of Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Glen Burnie, Maryland at (410) 761-3501 today to schedule a consultation.