Are you taking care of your feet?
We know that a lot of people feel like manicures and pedicures are just cosmetic! But is that true? Do you really need to get pedicures regularly? Or is it really just for the pretty colours we all put on your toes when you come in?
To be very blunt... No it isn't!
Foot care is very very important, your hands and feet need your diligent care. We know it sounds like a lot of work and a lot of money, but as you walk and age your feet will truly thank you for taking care of them. Taking care of your feet can help you to avoid things like fungal infections, bacterial infections and even more serious foot disorders that are related to the way you walk and callus build up etc...
First things first when it comes to foot care you need to find yourself a very well educated aesthetician. You should always make sure that you find someone who has taken (and passed) an aesthetics course. Whether it be someone who has gone to a private educational facility or a provincially accredited college. Someone who understands disease prevention and spread, here in Ontario aesthetics aren't regulated. Right now anyone can set up shop and give people pedicures, manicures, waxing and facial services. There are many associations that are trying to make it so that you must have a licence to perform any aesthetics service, but until that day comes it's important to know what you are looking for!
Having taken into consideration this very important first step, the second thing you need to know is that if your feet are in poor health or condition that you are putting yourself at risk for infections. Some of the reasons are:
Cracked heels:
These are essentially open wounds on your feet. Some cracks can become so deep that they bleed, this put you at risk for infection. Bacteria can become trapped in the cracks of the sole of your feet, where they will multiply and can cause infections. Sometime these infections can become very severe and require antibiotics.
Treating these cracks can be very difficult if you are unsure of how to deal with them, or if you have an uneducated aesthetician caring for your feet. It's important that you get the proper recommendations for home care and that the person who cares for your feet knows which direction to file cracks, as if they don't they can open the cracks wider causing you to be in more pain and that much more susceptible to infections.
Overly callused feet:
Build up of callus can be a sign of improper footwear or that your feet are rubbing in a strange way. However sometimes it can cause you to walk in a strange and painful manner. So taking good care to remove any excess of callus is very important. It's very good aesthetic practice to recommend that clients come back for multiple visits some times even twice a month, to slowly remove large callus build ups. If you take off too much callus at once you can cause your immune system to feel that your feet are under attack and will cause more callus to form.
A good aesthetician will recommend that you take care of your feet at home and suggest the appropriate tools for your specific callus situation. Usually that you file your feet lightly in the shower once a week, after you have done all your regular shower routine. This will ensure that your feet are just soft enough to file.
Long toe nails:
When you do not trim your nails on a regular basis they can rub inside your shoes. This can cause lifting, lifting leaves you susceptible to fungal infections. Once your toe nails have lifted and bacteria has had a chance to enter under the surface of your nail plate, it becomes trapped in the dark and humid environment of our toes. That can quickly become a fungal infection that can spread to the rest of your toes, it can become quite painful if left untreated.
It's very important to keep your nails trimmed to a couple millimetres of white left, and a square shape. This will ensure that you aren't hurting yourself but you don't cause any lifting.
Ingrown toe nails:
Sometimes you can have pain in your big toes, going to get a regular pedicure can make sure that you catch any potential ingrown nails before they cause you too much pain.
Sometimes it can be from cutting your nails too short at home and the nail is having to grow over the skin again. However sometimes the nail can curve inward very deeply and will need the corner cut off. Having someone like your pedicurist look at your feet from a better angle can help a LOT, and they can decide whether or not it's a big deal. If your aesthetician thinks that it's a big deal they will suggest you go see your family doctor and let them take a look. That goes for all foot disorders.
Fungal infections:
To expand on the subject of fungal infections, it's important to go to an educated aesthetician, because we know how to disinfect our tools properly. This prevents the spread of bacteria, fungus and viruses. We will also be able to tell you when we think you should head to the doctors. We also have professional pedicure products that are generally for sale, some of which are targeted to treating fungal infections.
So when it comes to your feet whether you have dry skin, are unable to reach your feet, or even diabetic it's very important to visit a trained aesthetician. Don't be afraid that you might have ugly feet! We've certainly seen worse! We recommend that everyone keep a steady monthly appointment to care for their feet, if that isn't possible bi-monthly with a good home care routine can help tremendously. We want you to come in and let us help you stay healthy and strong.
Live well and be healthy,
Renu U Aesthetics
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