Foot Beauty Starts With Foot Health

If you take a look around you, there are plenty of things that can go wrong with your feet. This is despite the fact you probably think they really are. Your feet, after all, are carrying you every step of each day, which is 8 to 10 thousand on average. It is normal that this wear and tear will take its toll on your feet and eventually result in some harmful issues. This is even worst if they are not taken care of. Foot beauty starts with foot health and one great way to do this is with a pedicure. A pedicure every four to six weeks will prove to be a multi-beneficial way to enhance your foot health and keep them looking great all year long.

Treat Your Feet with a Pedicure

Pedicures may seem like a modern-day luxury. In fact, they date back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. They used to practice this procedure to pamper feet and toenails. All this was done with golden tools, of course. These treatments were given to prevent disorders and diseases of the nails.

Since these ancient times, pedicures are used to clip the toenails, prevent infection, and soften the feet by removing dead skin. These procedures also help the posture, since they smooth and relax the feet, and prevent problems with toenails such as ingrown nails, which can cause pain and limp.

Some doctors recommend their patients have these treatments for their health. However, they can have health risks as well as benefits, which means that it is important to seek the advice of a podiatrist before considering having the procedure.

Foot Health Benefits of Getting a Pedicure

There are enormous foot health benefits of regularly getting pedicures. Below we have listed six of those foot health benefits.

Receiving a regular pedicure can help the pedicurist detect early signs of corns, bunions, and fungal infections. These conditions are easier to treat when they are identified in its earlier stages.
Clipping, cutting and cleaning of the toenails prevents them from growing inward and causing infection. The elimination of dirt and bacteria from your feet will also help prevent nail diseases disorders (fungi) and foot odors. It is also important to keep toenails healthy because they protect toes from trauma.
A pedicure includes soaks in warm water and massages with oils and lotions that help preserve the moisture and integrity of your feet. Moisturized feet are less likely to get blisters, crakes or other foot problems. It is also important to keep your cuticles moisturized to prevent nails from growing out with ridges or split ends which can cause the nails to lift out of the nail beds.
Exfoliation, or removal of dead skin cells, prevents the cells from accumulating and causing bunions or corns, which can be uncomfortable and painful. The removal of the dead skin on your feet, especially on the heel, encourages new cell growth which creates smoother and more attractive feet.
The most enjoyable part of the salon pedicure is the massage. Massaging help promotes circulation and helps relieve tension in the calves and feet. An increase in blood circulation can reduce pain and help distribute heat throughout your body.
Feet get little care compared to other parts of your body such as your hands and face. Healthy feet are vital to our overall health so don't neglect them! Whether you go to a salon or you do your own pedicure, make sure to get one at least once a month to health your feet stay in good condition.

What are the Risks of a Pedicure in Salons

Some risks of having a pedicure in foot spas and salons. Be aware of those risks if your choice is to have your feet pampered at a foot spa or salon.

The jets in a whirlpool foot bath may contain bacterias and fungi which can cause viral infections, an athlete's foot, warts, and fungal infections.

If you are cut during the procedure you can possibly catch a bacterial infection passed on from a previous customer who had such an infection, since some salons do not disinfect their medical tools between each customer.

Wooden tools cannot be sterilized. It's important to check that the therapist is using a new wooden tool for your session. You can take your own tools to be used for the treatment.

The American Podiatric Medical Association website gives a helpful and comprehensive list of Dos and Don'ts for your feet before you consider getting a pedicure, whether doing it yourself or visiting a salon. Just click here to get all the information you need!

Think of your feet and remember foot beauty starts with foot health.