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Your feet absorb almost five times your body weight. Naturally the strain is likely to take a toll. Therefore it is so important to give the feet adequate care and attention. This means that you need to moisturize them regularly to prevent rough and dry skin. The toenails must also be trimmed and the feet and ankles should be massaged occasionally to ease away tiredness and stiffness from the muscles and tendons.

Here is an easy foot care routine which you can do twice every week.

• The skin of the feet often tends to become dry and hard. You can tackle this problem by using a pumice stone. It is better to first soak the feet in some warm water so that the hard skin can soften. Then rub the feet with the pumice stone until all the dry areas are removed.
• Add some mineral salts to a tub of warm water and soak the feet for some more time. You can even add a few drops of beneficial essential oils such as lavender oil. This is especially helpful if your feet are swollen or achy.
• Dry the feet, taking care to wipe the areas between the toes and then trim the toenails.
• Use a moisturizing cream to massage the feet. Use your thumbs to exert pressure on the muscles and focus on the areas that may be painful or sore.
• Also massage the ankles using circular movements.
• If you wish you can then proceed to apply nail polish to your toenails. Remember to wipe away any extra moisturizer from the nails. You can place some pieces of cotton between the toes to keep them separate. When applying nail polish, begin in the center of the nail and then proceed outwards.
• Allow the nail polish to dry before putting on shoes.

Common Foot Problems

There are many common problems that affect the foot. These can be quite discomforting and also bothersome since even simple activities like standing and walking may become difficult. Here are some simple ways to treat common foot problems.

The feet are often prone to aches and pains due to the weight they bear. A good home remedy to treat aching feet is to add a cup of apple cider vinegar to hot water and soak the feet in it for about 20 minutes. Instead of apple cider vinegar, you can even use peppermint tea. To remove darkened or tanned skin, massage the feet with some lemon juice and then rinse with cool water. You can also use turnip to cure aches in the feet. Boil and mash a turnip and apply to a couple of clean wash cloths. Place a cloth over each foot and keep it on for half an hour. Another easy and effective way to alleviate pain in the feet is to roll the feet over a tennis ball.

Corns and calluses can be removed with the help of a pumice stone. After soaking the feet in warm water, rub the stone over the affected areas to get rid of the tough skin. You can also place a piece of onion soaked in vinegar over the corn or callus and keep it in place with a band-aid. Leave it on overnight. Other ways to treat corns and calluses include placing moist tea bags over the affected areas or applying a piece of fresh lemon. These remedies are best used at night so that you can file away the corn or callus in the morning. If the area needs further softening, apply some olive or castor oil.

Another common problem is cold feet. The body restricts the flow of blood to the hands and feet when the temperature is low. This leaves the feet feeling extremely cold. Some people may suffer from coldness in the feet due to circulation problems or conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. An effective way to bring warmth to the feet is to add some black pepper to the socks before wearing them. You can rub black pepper directly onto the foot soles as well. To improve circulation in the feet, add about half a cup of salt to warm water and soak the feet for 15 to 20 minutes. After drying them, use some damp salt to massage them. Another good way to stimulate blood flow in the feet is to stand on your toes for a few minutes and then repeat several times.

Sweaty feet are an annoying, uncomfortable problem that affects many people. One of the best ways to deal with this problem is to add a few drops of tea tree oil to warm water and soak the feet in it for 20 minutes. Uncooked oats are beneficial in absorbing the sweat and you can sprinkle some oat flakes into the socks before putting them on.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.