|
|
Care of the Feet
 Beauty starts with the
feet. The most beautiful face will show the strain of
tired, aching feet.
They will also cause a loss of
balance in your walk and
promote tension and irritability. Never wear high
heels, pointed toes, etc., as
these prove harmful with difficult feet. Women usually persuade themselves to
sacrifice comfort for smartness. The following simple
exercises will help a
great deal when the feet have been constricted in shoes all day.
(1) Sit with legs crossed. Rotate the feet six times towards each other and six
times away from each other.
(2) Sit with legs stretched, straight out in front. Bend the toes up as far as
possible and then down as far as possible.
(3) Put a pencil on the floor and try to pick it up with your toes. This will
strengthen the feet.
(4) Sit on a chair with feet on the floor and spread out the toes as far as you
can. This will tone up the feet muscles.
 If you have troubled feet, consult a chiropodist. The trouble generally is
caused by a fungus and is very contagious. It starts by a slight redness and
itching but as it gets worse the skin flakes off in white shreds. After bathing,
it is essential to dry well between the toes and to dust with a medicated talcum
powder. If the condition does not clear up, it is advisable to see the doctor.
It is better to go to a chiropodist for the treatment of
corns and
ingrown toe
nails. Small corns can be treated at home by applying white iodine. Avoid
pressure on the corn by covering it with a special pad
 from lambs wool The feet
troubles never occur if you give your feet regular pedicures. Soaking the feet
in warm water to which bath-salts or special foot-salts have been added can be
very soothing, but the feet should be rubbed over afterwards with methylated or
eau-de-cologne spirit to counteract any softening effect, When the skin is too
soft the corns or
blisters easily occur. The toe
nails should be given as much
attention as the nails of the hands.
Home Pedicure
(1) Soak the feet in warm water, adding a few drops of dettol or any other
disinfectant. Scrub the toe nails with a fairly stiff nail-brush. Rub any hard
skin with a pumic stone. Never try to cut hard skin as this can be dangerous.
Dry the feet carefully, especially between the toes.
 (2) Massage the feet with a little foot cream. (Better buy one containing
menthol which is very cooling.)
(3) Apply cuticle cream around the
nails.
(4) Using an orange stick, wrapped with a twist of cotton wool and dipped in
cuticle remover, gently press the cuticle back. The cuticle should never be cut
unless the edges are ragged.
 (5) Cut the nails straight across and then smooth the edges with an emery-board.
The nails should not be so short that the soft flesh at the ends of the toe is
exposed,
(6) Use a little
varnish remover on con cotton wool to dry off the nails and
remove any cream.
 (7) Cotton wool pads can now be put between the toes. This is to avoid
smudging-and the varnish applied, covering the whole nail and over the tip.
Choosing Stockings and Shoes
While buying stockings, see that you buy the right size for comfort. Choose the
heavier type stockings for day wear and the finer ones for social occasions.
Seamless stockings are the most popular. The color of stockings should blend not
only with the color of the skin but also with the color of the clothes being
worn. As with stockings, you must be sure of your size while buying shoes and
walk around the store before deciding on them. Avoid socks that are ribbed. Wear
right-sized socks that do not constrict the toes. Wear a fresh pair each day.
Avoid synthetic fibres, as they often make feet sweat, and knee-highs, as they
can restrict blood circulation. Remove your boots indoors.
 Women who always wears sandals and flat heels can develop fallen arches. On the
other hand, continually wearing high heels can also be harmful because the
weight of the body being constantly thrown on the toes. A variation in the
height of the heels is, therefore, recommended. Look after your shoes, cleaning
them regularly and keeping them in good repair—particularly the heels—not only
for appearance’s sake but for your own comfort too. Get well-fitting shoes with
sufficient space (1.5 cm) between your big toe and the tip. In winter, keep your
feet warm to avoid the risk of chilblains.
Related Links
|
|
|
|
|
