Foottopia Magazine BBW Feet Issue Nov 2013 | Page 24

2 | FootTopia Magazine - Issue 1 - November 2013
4

D

os

I

f you have diabetes
or poor circulation in
your feet, consult a podiatrist
so he or she can recommend a
customized pedicure that both
you and your salon can follow
for optimal foot health.

S

chedule your pedicure first
thing in the morning. Salon
foot baths are typically cleanest earlier in the day. If you're
not a morning person, make
sure that the salon filters and
cleans the foot bath between
clients.

B

ring your own pedicure
utensils to the salon. Bacteria and fungus can move easily from one person to the next
if the salon doesn't use proper
sterilization techniques.

W

hen eliminating thick,
dead skin build-up, also
known as calluses, on the heel,
ball and sides of the feet, use a
pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub. Soak feet in warm
water for at least five minutes,
then use the stone, scrub, or
foot file to gently smooth calluses and other rough patches.

W

hen trimming nails, use
a toenail clipper with
a straight edge to ensure your
toenail is cut straight across.
Other tools like manicure scissors or fingernail clippers increase the risk of ingrown toenails because of their small,
curved shape. See a podiatrist
if you have a tendency to develop ingrown toenails.

T

o smooth nail edges, use
an emery board. File
lightly in one direction without

using too much pressure, being sure not to scrape the nail's
surface.

G

ently run a wooden or
rubber manicure stick
under your nails to keep them
clean. This helps remove the
dirt and build-up you may or
may not be able to see.

M

aintain the proper moisture balance of the skin
on your feet by applying emollient-enriched moisturizer to
keep soles soft.

U

se a rubber cuticle pusher
or manicure stick to gently push back cuticles. If toenails are healthy, you can use
nail polish to paint toenails.
Make sure to remove polish
regularly using non-acetone
nail polish remover.

D

on'ts

R

esist the urge to
shave your legs before receiving a pedicure. Freshly shaven legs or small cuts on
your legs may allow bacteria to
enter.

I

f you are receiving a pedicure
and manicure, don't use the
same tools for both services as
bacteria and fungus can transfer between fingers and toes.

of shape increases the chances
that painful ingrown toenails
will develop.

E

mery boards are extremely porous and can trap
germs that spread. Since they
can't be sterilized, don't share
nail files with friends and be
sure to bring your own to the
salon, unless you are sure that
the salon replaces them with
each customer.

D

on't use any sharp tools
to clean under nails. Using anything sharp makes it
easy to puncture the skin, leaving it vulnerable to infection.

B

e sure that you don't leave
any moisture between
toes. Anything left behind can
promote the development of
athlete's foot or a fungal infection.

B

ecause cuticles serve as a
protective barrier against
bacteria, don't ever cut them.
Cutting cuticles increases the
risk of infection. Also, avoid
incessantly pushing back cuticles, as doing so can make them
thicker.

I

A

f you suffer from thick and
discolored toenails, which
could be a sign of a fungal infection, don't apply nail polish to cover up the problem.
Nail polish locks out moisture
and doesn't allow the nail bed
to "breathe." Once you fix the
underlying issue, then it is safe
to paint nails. If the problem
persists, be sure to visit your
podiatrist.

D

You can find this article at:http://
w w w . a p m a . o rg / Lea r n / co n t e n t .
cfm?ItemNumber=2243

lthough certain salons offer this technique, don't
allow technicians to use a foot
razor to remove dead skin. Using a razor can result in permanent damage if used incorrectly
and can easily cause infection if
too much skin is removed.
on't round the edges of
your toenails. This type