Tips for Beautiful Summer Feet

Pedicure Medical Alert: If you have diabetes or poor circulation in your feet, consult a podiatrist so they can recommend a customized pedicure that both you and your salon can follow for optimal foot health.

Pedicure Do's:

• Schedule 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.
• Bring 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.
• When 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.
• 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 the small, curved shape. If you have a tendency to develop ingrown toenails see a podiatrist. (I use to cut my own toenails with the curved nail clippers when I was younger, I use to develop some horrible ingrown toenails and as a result of this I had to have the roots of the sides of my nails killed. On one toenail, it looks deformed and ugly so please be careful how you cut your toenails).
• To 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.
• Gently run a wooden or rubber nanicure stick under your nails to keep them clean. This helps remove the dirt and build-up you may not be able to see.
• Maintain the proper moisture balance of your feet's skin by applying emollient-enriched moisturizer to keep soles soft.
• Use a rubber cuticle pusher or manicure stick to gently push back cuticles.
• If your toenails are healthy, use nail polish to pain toenails. Make sure to remove polish regularly using non-acetone nail polish remover.

Pedicure Don'ts:

• Don't shave your legs before receiving a pedicure. Freshly shaven legs or small cuts on your legs may allow bacteria to enter.
• Don't use the same tools for both a pedicure and a manicure. Bacteria and fungus can transfer between fingers and toes.
• 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.
• Don't round the edges of your toenails. This type of shape increases the chances that painful ingrown toenails will develop.
• 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 cutsomer. Emery boards are extremely porous and can trap germs that spread.
• Don't use any sharp tools to clean under nails. Using anything sharp makes it easy to puncture the skin leaving it vulnerable to infection.
• Don't leave any moisture between toes. Anything left behind can pormote the development of athlete's foot or a fungal infection.
• Don't ever cut your cuticles, they serve as a protective barrier against bacteria. Cutting cuticles increases the risk of infection. Also, avoid incessantly pushing back curicles, as doing so can make them thicker.
• Don't apply nail polish to cover up thick and discolored toenails, which could be a sign of a fungal infection. Nail polish locks out moisture and doesn't allow the nails 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.