Healing pedicure: Here's why you should do it all year round
The healing pedicure is a great way to keep our feet healthy, a part of the body that is often mistreated and forgotten. In fact, the feet should not be treated only in summer when the sandals to wear for the summer somehow force us to worry about the aesthetics of the foot, but it is necessary to do "maintenance" all year round, taking care of the nails and the skin. . One of the first steps is to make the scrub: discover the coffee and coconut one!
Curative or aesthetic pedicure: which one to choose?
Worrying about the health of the feet is an important aspect and it is not just about aesthetics: the feet can become dehydrated, the heels crack or the mycosis. If not treated quickly, these blemishes can worsen leading to very serious situations where the skin bleeds.
It is important to make a distinction between curative and aesthetic pedicure, because while the former is specifically designed to solve foot health problems such as ingrown toenails, mushrooms, corns and anything else, the second is based solely and exclusively on the aesthetics of the foot.
All those who aim to have feet not only beautiful, but also in good health, will have to periodically undergo curative pedicures, to ensure the well-being of the nails and skin that can weaken and flake for a long time.
The curative pedicure, in particular, can be done at home but only if the "problems" to be solved are related to corns or calluses; otherwise, it is better to consult an expert doctor.
The podiatrist is the only one able to express pareos on foot pathologies that do not only concern aesthetics, prescribing, if necessary, suitable drugs to solve the problem.
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Why is it important to do a curative pedicure?
The curative pedicure is important to be carried out often, as a specific treatment to cure blemishes before they worsen. Here are the main problems related to foot health, for which it is best to consult a podiatrist.
- Mycosis of the nails
Toenails are often prone to mycosis, which causes yellow spots on the nails. Fungal infections can be aggravated by making the nails thickened and flaky. Most people who suffer from mycosis go to gyms, swimming pools or sports centers: this is because humid environments can facilitate the onset of fungi.
- Calluses
Calluses are "famous" because they cause discomfort and pain. Generally they form when you wear tight and uncomfortable shoes for a long time, or loose shoes inside which the foot dances. The skin subjected to these types of stress reacts, reddening at first, causing pain and then thickening up to form the real hard callus.
- Ingrown toenails
When we don't treat our nails properly by letting them overgrow, it can happen that we encounter ingrown toenails. As it grows, the nail insinuates itself into the skin of the foot causing inflammation and pain. This often also depends on the use of tight shoes, or when we cut our nails in the wrong way. In the case of ingrown nails, immediate medical intervention is required to prevent the situation from worsening, causing the formation of pus or blood, up to the loss of the nail itself.
Healing pedicure: how is it done?
It being understood that the best solution is to rely on a podiatrist, let's see what are all the steps involved in the curative pedicure.
- Trim your nails
The nail cutting must be done with extreme precision so that when the nail grows back it does not stick under
Skin. The podiatrist tends never to cut the nail too short, with transversal and not rounded corners, so that as it grows it maintains its position.
- Treat corns and calluses
Corns and calluses (skin hyperkeratosis) will be treated with specific professional tools by the podiatrist, so as not to create discomfort and irritation to the skin. After studying the nature of the callus, the expert will also choose the most suitable technique to eliminate it without consequences.
- Prevent ingrown toenails and fungus
The podiatrist, being specialized in foot health, will immediately recognize an initial fungal infection, or a hint of an ingrown toenail. Consequently, he will be able to advise you on the right drug therapy to undertake to prevent the situation from escalating.
Do-it-yourself curative pedicure: the steps to do it at home
If you do not have particular problems to be treated by a doctor, the curative pedicure can be done at home. That's how.
1- Take a foot bath
The first essential step in foot care is to take a foot bath to prepare the skin. Soak your feet in a bowl filled with warm water by letting them soak for ten minutes to soften the skin and make it easier to remove corns and calluses. After this time, pat dry with a towel.
2- Remove the nail polish
Remove any nail polish residue using a cotton swab soaked in solvent and if necessary, also use a cotton swab for the edges of the nail.
3- Remove the cuticles
Push the cuticles down with a wooden stick and then remove them with a clipper.
4- Eliminate dirt
A lot of dirt tends to deposit under the nails, which must be carefully eliminated to prevent thickening on the sides of the nail.
5- Cut your nails
If the nails are very long, then it is better to cut them, otherwise it will be enough to file them. This operation must be performed gently to avoid problems such as ingrown toenails. The cut should be straight and follow the shape of the finger, leaving the corners not too rounded.
6- Smoothes the skin and nails
With a pumice stone, massage the sole of the foot, focusing in particular on the heel. For the nails instead, use a file with firm but gentle movements.
7- Remove the corns
The smallest calluses can be easily removed with a pumice stone or with corn patches to buy at the pharmacy. For larger and more difficult corns or calluses, it is best to consult a podiatrist.
