Foot notes

Feet are among the most overlooked and hardest-working parts of our bodies. Give yours the treatment they deserve by following these pointers.

FLIP- FLOP PRE-PLAN
1. Begin with a refreshing, softening foot bath recipe by mixing a few drops of peppermint essential oil in warm water, then adding cucumber slices and fresh mint. Soak feet for up to10 minutes.

2. Exfoliate. Mix a few teaspoons each of olive and sugar, rub onto feet and rinse.

3. Clip and file nails. A straight top and rounded edges is the most popular toenail shape.

  4. Banish stray oil (which causes polish chips) with a clear-coloured nail polish, then paint on your favourite nail colour.

  5. Treat swollen feet! Alternate hot and cold soaks, ending with steamy water plus de-puffing Epsom salts.

  QUIRCKY FOOT FACTS

We travel at least 150 000 miles by foot in our lifetime, according to Suzanne Levine, DPM, US author of Your Feet Don't Have to Hurt (St Martin's Press). Athletes log tens of thousands of kilometres.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association in Bethesda, Maryland, approximately 250 000 sweat glands in your feet excrete about 250ml of moisture daily.

  Some doctors treat hyerhirosis (excessive sweating) with prescription-strength anti-perspirants or Botox.

  NEVER, EVER

Cut cuticles: They protect nails from bacteria. After showering or bathing, push them back with an orange stick and soften with Vitamin E oil.

Forget sunscreen: Apply between toes and to the often-forgotten spot below the Achilles' heel tendon. Try a gel formula. 'Using creamy sunscreens on the feet in summer weather can contribute to the growth of bacteria' says Dr Ncoza Dlova , a dermatologist in KwaZulu-Natal.

Have hobbit feet: Hairy toes are a total turn-off! De-fuzz toes during a leg wax, or try Veet Warm Wax Roll-On, R70.

  Clip toenails in public: And that includes an audience of one. It's unforgivable. Gross, girl!

  DOCTOR'S SAY:

Wear thongs to the beach, not on a mall marathon. Long stints in unsupportive shoes displace the heel's protective fat pad, which can lead to cracked heels.

  Popping a blister invites infection. A small one will subside on its own � that's a promise! The best blister protector for those who can't, or won't, stay off   their feet is Dr Scholl's Moleskin Plus (available at specialist pharmacies and health shops, price on request).

  TERRIFIC TOE TOUCHES

  Adorn your feet in ways you can't adorn your hands: stick on crystals or paint fun designs. Let your base coat dry before you get crafty. Dot on cherries,   blooms or stripes with a tiny pointed brush from an art supply store. Your toes are a playground!

  FYI FOR FOOT RUBS

Massage your feet daily. Stroke between the toes and up towards the heart to rev up circulation. Try adding a moisturiser to make them soft.

Stimulate your solar plexus reflex, suggest massage therapists. Find it between the second and third toes, under the ball of the foot. These nerves relax you from your diaphragm to your pelvis, helping you centre yourself and concentrate on your breathing.

When you're feeling decadent, treat your feet like your face. Before bed, massage in an anti-ageing treatment meant for the neck. Pick a cream loaded with alpha-hydroxy acids.

Remember to wash your hands well with soap and hot water immediately after massaging your feet. Athlete's foot fungus begins under and between the toes, but can easily be spread to other parts of the body.

  Don't bath or shower for two hours after a pedicure. Hot water can melt polish.

  POLISH POINTERS

Bright cardinal red, the most popular cosmetic colour, is the sexiest, especially on toes. Try Revlon's sizzling range!

If you choose red polish for toenails, opt for a complementary or glittery red for fingers - not a clashing peach. Finger and toe nail polish don't have to match, but it's best to co-ordinate.

  Experts disagree on whether it's necessary to take polish breaks between pedicures. But dark polish could hide a fungus that needs to be remedied. Try to   compromise: every two to three weeks, ditch polish for a nude-nail breather.

  SMART SELF-TAN TIPS

Apply a faux tan to your feet with a make-up sponge for best coverage.

Flex your foot when applying bronzer to the heel to create a smoother canvas.

  If you do end up with weird "tan" lines, gently rub on an exfoliating scrub. Or, to cover up missed spots, blend in some bronzing powder.

  THREE STEP SNEAKER TEST

Some serious runners throw sneakers out at exactly the 500km Moderate athletes and the less detail-orientated should discard them about every six months.

Watch for excessive wear on the shoe's sole. This unbalances the foot, especially at push-off, and can create hot spots leading to blisters and bruising.

  If sneakers tilt left or right when placed on a flat surface, they're out of alignment and will throw your legs off kilter, possibly causing injuries.

  HEEL HEALERS

If you have a heel crack, gently pumicing the surrounding area. Then moisturise feet and cover for a few minutes with plastic wrap to help lotion penetrate. Finally, apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage.

  Keeping heels soft makes cracks less likely.

  WORK- OUT WONDERS

To strengthen weak arches, sit in a chair with a towel spread on the floor in front of you. Draw the towel towards you, centimetre by centimetre, using just your toes. This is my favourite Pilates exercise!

Practise standing - bad posture starts from the ground up. Envision a triangle on the bottom of each foot with points in the heel, the big toe and the baby toe. Stand feet slightly apart, and distribute equal pressure to each point.

  Stretch sore soles with this yoga move: sit on your knees with the heels of your feet pressed against your buttocks and toes pointed back. Tuck your toes   under.

  WHEN GOOD NAILS GO BAD

Nail fungus affects many people. To fend off a fungal infection, rub a few drops of antibacterial tea-tree oil mixed with almond oil into the toenails twice a day.

If your nails are separated from the nail bed, or thickened or discoloured by a fungus, see a dermatologist or podiatrist for remedies.

Vick's VapoRub , said to contain anti-fungal essential oils, is a folk remedy for nail fungus. Vicks doesn't suggest using the tonic for this purpose, but it can't hurt to try!

Don't stuff your gym shoes in a backpack under your desk overnight - fungus thrives at in dark, moist spots.

  Always air out your shoes.

  Credits:
  Stills: Dorothy Schalkwyk
  Model: Ronwyn @ Noir Models
  Grooming: Abe @ PB
  Styling: Brenda Mapane

  Article from Woman24