Foot care: 10 tips

Ten tips on how to take care of your feet, including how to cut your toenails.

Wash your feet often

Dry your feet well

Moisturise and file

Cut toenails carefully

Shoe shop in the afternoon

Footwear tips for work

Limit time wearing high heels

Change your socks often to avoid foot odour

Watch out for foot bugs in communal changing areas

Take care with flip flops

Foot pain advice as you get older



Your feet take the weight of your whole body, so foot problems can quickly lead to discomfort and affect the way you walk. This can in turn cause knee, hip and back pain.

Research from The College of Podiatry shows that nine in 10 of us experience some sort of foot problem, with one in five admitting to suffering with foot pain often or constantly.

Podiatrist Lorraine Jones says: "What this research shows is that a huge amount of people are willing to put up with sore, aching and painful feet.

She adds: "Your feet shouldn't hurt on a daily basis. If you are experiencing discomfort it is usually because you aren't wearing the right footwear. You don't need to put up with it so do seek professional advice."

Here are 10 tips from the College of Podiatry to keep your feet in good condition and prevent problems:

## Wash your feet often

Keep your feet clean by washing them every day in warm soapy water, but don't soak them, as this might destroy your skin's natural oils.


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## Dry your feet well

Dry your feet thoroughly after washing them, especially between the toes which is where fungal infections such as [athlete's foot](/health-library/conditions/athletes-foot) can develop.


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## Moisturise and file

If your skin is dry, apply moisturising cream all over the foot, except for between the toes. Gently remove hard skin and calluses with a pumice stone or foot file – don't overdo it though or skin will grow back harder than ever.


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## Cut toenails carefully

Trim your toenails regularly using proper nail clippers. Cut straight across, never at an angle or down the edges. This can cause [ingrown toenails](/health-library/conditions/ingrown-toenail).


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## Shoe shop in the afternoon

Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Your feet swell as the day goes on and if shoes fit in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest, you can be assured they will always be comfortable.

## Footwear tips for work

If you have to wear smarter shoes at work, wear comfortable shoes to and from the workplace and change them once you're at work. Also, try to vary the heel height, between low, medium and high. Read how to choose the right footwear for work.

## Limit time wearing high heels

Be shoe savvy. Wear high heels and pointed shoes for special occasions only, and always wear the right shoes for the job (so no sandals for mountain climbing). 

## Change your socks often to avoid foot odour

Change your socks daily to keep your feet fresh. Read advice from the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists on buying socks.

## Watch out for foot bugs in communal changing areas

Wear flip-flops to avoid catching [athlete's foot](/health-library/conditions/athletes-foot) and [verrucas](/health-library/conditions/warts) when you use public areas such as gym showers, swimming pools or hotel bathrooms.

## Take care with flip flops

You can't wear flip-flops all the time. They don't provide support for your feet and can give you arch and [heel pain](/health-library/symptoms/heel-pain) if you wear them too much.

## Foot pain advice as you get older

Foot care becomes even more important as you get older. Age takes its toll: your skin thins, your joints begin to stiffen and your feet become more vulnerable to the cold.

Not only that, but as podiatrist Emma Supple says: "Physically, it can get more difficult for us to reach and care for our feet."

Emma says: "Go to see a professional for a foot MOT every six months and never put up with [foot pain](/health-library/symptoms/foot-pain) as if it is normal. Your feet shouldn't hurt."


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References

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Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Read our top 10 tips on how to look after your feet, with special advice for the over-60s. (Foot care:)

Read our top 10 tips on how to look after your feet, with special advice for the over-60s.

Foot care: 10 tips - Healthily

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