Pedicures are the height of luxury and what a lovely way to treat your tired and aching feet. Feet work hard for you and they really take a beating, so a pedicure can be more than just having polish put on your dainty little toes.
Feet, especially older feet, are prone to problems that should be taken care of on a regular basis. Pedicures are nice and if it makes you feel like a princess to have someone else tend your feet go ahead, but only after taking a few sound precautions. If you do have diabetes or circulatory problems get an okay from your doctor first. He/she may recommend having your nails trimmed by a podiatrist and then you can follow up with soaks and cream treatments at home or at a salon.
While some foot problems are inherited, many are simply the result of wear and tear. Older people are often prone to diabetes and circulatory problems and if you are one of them you should seek professional help. Excessive dry skin, thick and discolored nails, swelling, redness and decreased sensation are warming signs that you should be mindful of.
What can you do at home to keep your feet comfortable and attractive? Feet should be washed every day with soap and warm water, especially between the toes, and then dried with a soft towel. That is pretty simple, as far as routine care goes, but people spend much less time on foot care than they do washing their hair and applying lotions to other parts of the body. After all, until the weather warms and you pull out your summer shoes, you don’t spend much time looking at your feet.
Picking a nail salon is serious business and you want to be sure that proper cutting and safety measures are followed. The person who does your nails should be licensed and you should be comfortable with their procedures for sterilizing tubs and instruments. If you are still nervous about infections you can ask if you can bring your own equipment (clippers, pumice stone, file, buffing brick, orange stick, moisturizers and oils, and even polish). Infections are not unheard of in salons so being mindful of their protocols is a legitimate concern.
I also think going to a salon that uses a clean liner instead of washing out the pedi station is the way to go.
Posted by: Christine Reed | May 15, 2012 at 08:32 PM