FitSugar

Home Spa Treatment: Salt Foot Scrub

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:30:00 -0700

Are your feet just plain sick of pulling on and off those heavy winter boots? Are your dogs tired of being stuffed into dark shoes? Are your feet calloused from hibernating in heavy socks? Well now is the time to do some spring cleaning of your feet. Try this salt scrub to rejuvenate your tired feet while smoothing out the callouses.

Mix together:

1 Tablespoon of coarse, clean sand
1/4 cup light canola oil
1/4 cup liquid hand soap
1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup Epsom salt

If you have any essential oils on hand you can add about 5 to 10 drops. Peppermint oil can bring renewed vitality to exhausted feet.

Apply salt scrub to wet feet and gently massage all parts of your feet, paying particular attention to your heels. Rinse off the salt and pat dry. Moisturize.

Enjoy!!!!

Surgery to Get Your Feet Stiletto-Slim?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:48 -0800

According to Christian Louboutin, Barbie has cankles - but she's not the only one who needs a makeover to fit her stilettos. Apparently, donning perfectly crafted sky-high heels means women need perfectly re-crafted feet to match. In fact, even while most cosmetic procedures are on the decline - thanks to the recession - podiatrists report that the demand for cosmetic foot surgery is on the rise.

The fashion industry is already credited with making women feel inadequate when it comes to their figures, but I was surprised to learn that even a pair of strappy, heeled sandals can wreak havoc on female body image, causing some women to develop body dysmorphic disorder about their feet. Michelle Tzonov, a massage therapist from San Diego, always enjoyed an active lifestyle - an avid runner, hiker, dancer, and snowshoer - who decided her fully functionally, but bunion-covered, feet were in need of a makeover. Multiple surgeries to beautify her feet with intensive cosmetic surgery and a bunionectomy have since left her feet mutilated and saddled her with excruciating pain, likely to be lasting results of her botched surgeries.

To see how three inch heels affect your body, read more.

On their own heels are bad enough - even at three-inches high, they can increase the weight on the forefront of the foot by 110 percent, displacing bones and tissue, according to a recent study by the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. But, surgery to get the foot stiletto-ready can cause severe complications that will eventually radiate throughout the whole body. While I'm certainly not an advocate of any kind of cosmetic surgery, just think of it this way - face work will never jeopardize your ability to walk, but feet support the whole body - mess with them and you're likely to jeopardize any kind of movement, especially the ability to strut your stuff in a pretty pair of Louboutins.

10 Tips for Happy, Healthy Feet

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Sandal season is here for many of us (and approaching rapidly for the rest of us). If your feet are anything like mine, they're not quite ready to see the light of day.

Podiatrists who are part of the UCLA Medical Group have these 10 tips to maintain healthy, happy feet this spring:

Inspect your feet regularly and pay attention to changes in color, texture or appearance.
Maintain good foot hygiene, including washing and drying between the toes.
Hydrate the skin. ~~Southern California~~ Dry weather and open shoes can cause rapid loss of moisture from the skin and may result in cracking or the formation of fissures. It is helpful to replace the moisture content by using lotions or creams on a regular basis.
Buy proper-size shoes. You may not wear the same size in shoes made by different manufacturers. Purchase new shoes late in the day, when feet tend to be at their largest. Always buy the shoes that feel the best.
Don't ignore foot pain. Symptoms that increase or do not resolve within a reasonable period of time need to be evaluated by your podiatric physician.
Cut toenails straight across. Never cut into the corner this could cause an ingrown toenail. Gently file away sharp corners or rough edges with an emery board.
Exercise. Walking is a great way to keep weight under control and is an excellent conditioner for the feet. Be sure to wear appropriate athletic shoes when exercising.
Alternate your shoes each day. Since the feet have sweat glands, your shoes will absorb moisture from your feet, so it is important to allow your shoes to dry out completely.
Avoid walking barefoot to help protect your feet from injury and infection.
Put sunblock on your feet while wearing sandals during the day to avoid sunburn.

Fit's Tip: Think about pampering your feet every once in a while. Your feet carry you around all day, so a nice soak in a foot bath with a bit of peppermint oil will keep them even happier.

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