Have you ever wondered how to take care of your feet? That is, you look at some feet and you wonder how they look so great. What could they be doing differently? Well, one of the things to do is to use a foot relief cream.
As small as the foot is, it is complex. Because of the importance of the feet, any little dryness or lesion can bring immense discomfort and pain.
Foot pain, most times, is caused by many factors such as improper footwear, injuries, diseases, ingrown toenail, diabetes and so on. Foot pain can be debilitating to an active lifestyle but a good foot cream brings comfort.
It is usually made of moisturizing ingredients to keep your feet healthy and hydrated. As we go on, you will learn more about this type of cream.
Table of Contents
Types of Foot Pain
Treatment of foot pain using a cream would depend on the type of pain you have and the cause…
Heel Spur
Heel spur is a bone growth on the heel bone.
Corn and Calluses
Corn are yellowish, callus growth that develop on the toes. They are caused when a toe rubs against a shoe or another toe constantly. They cause pain and discomfort.
Calluses are thickened areas of skin over parts of the feet where excessive amounts of pressure or friction occur.
Bunion
Bunion is a protrusion of bones or tissues around a joint. It occurs at the base of the great toe or at the base of a little toe. Take note: bunion is often in women than men because they usually wear tight, confining shoes.
Hammertoes
Hammertoes are when the toe buckles cause the middle joint of the affected toe to poke out.
Ankle Sprain
Ankle sprain is an injury to the foot ligament in the ankle. They may occur if the ankle rolls, turns or twists beyond its normal range of motion.
Foot Fracture
Foot fracture is when any bone on the foot is broken. When a foot is fractured, the site of the fracture is usually painful and swollen.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the foot where the plantar fascia grows and attaches itself to the heel bone.
Metatarsalgia
Metatarsalgia presents as deep pain in the foot, usually the ball. The shape is given a natural round end by the metatarsal bones.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis causes pain when the sufferer stretches or moves.
Arthritis
Arthritis is when the cartilage in a joint breaks down from too much use.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenail is when a nail grows into, or is pressed tightly into the skin. More times than not, it happens due to the wearing of tight shoes.
Benefits of Using Foot Relief Cream
Re-hydrates Dry Foot
No matter which type of climate you live in, your foot can become dry and irritated, sometimes even from indoor heat. A foot relief cream can help seal moisture deep in the heel to keep it hydrated and supple.
Exfoliates the Feet
It gently exfoliates and removes dirt and dead skin cells from the foot. This gives the feet a fresh feel.
Removes Calluses
This cream improves the condition of the foot and prevents the occurrence of calluses. Applying it helps in softening the skin and removing any hard or callused part.
That is not all; a foot relief cream will leave the skin feeling silky smooth and soft. After prolonged use, your feet get a more attractive look.
Contains Lots of Antioxidants
Foot relief cream helps in eliminating free radicals. This causes the foot to develop a resistance against infections and other foot ailments.
Helps in Relaxing the Body
The feel of gentle softness on your feet as you massage with a foot relief cream can remove stress.
Moisturizes the Foot
Cracked foot is caused by dry skin on the feet. But a foot relief cream keeps the feet moist.
Types of Foot Relief Cream
Every on of this type of cream is made with special ingredients to treat a specific foot pain. Using the wrong foot relief cream may not bring any relief whatsoever.
Anti-fungal Foot Relief Cream
An anti-fungal foot relief cream treats problems caused by fungi. This type of cream is made from ingredients that tackle and weaken fungi in the foot. It usually contains ingredients like peppermint, tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus.
Foot Relief Cream for Callused and Cracked Foot
Cracked heels foot relief cream usually contains moisturizers to keep the foot hydrated.
Antiperspirant Foot Relief Cream
This type is used to eliminate the cause of sweaty and smelly feet. It contains ingredients like aluminium chloralhydrate, aluminium chloride, aluminium zirconium. These ingredients form a temporary blockage in the sweat ducts and stop the excessive flow of sweat to the skin surface.
Plantar Fasciitis Foot Relief Cream
There are special foot relief creams manufactured to treat plantar fasciitis.
Anti-blister Foot Relief Cream
Some of these creams are manufactured for the purpose of treating blisters on the foot.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Foot Relief Cream
Ingredients
Every kind of foot problem requires a special ingredient to treat it. However, look for the following ingredients in a foot relief cream: tea tree, urea, Neem oil, shea butter, karanja oil, Eucalyptus oil.
Your Budget
Your budget would determine the type of foot relief cream that you can afford. By setting a budget, you can narrow your search.
More expensive foot relief creams are likely to contain more natural ingredients and essential oils to give soothing relief. But the choice is yours.
Skin Type
No matter what, always consider your skin type when choosing a foot relief cream. If you have dry feet, choose a thick foot relief cream. This is important especially in the cold, dry winter months.
If your skin type is oily, choose one that is oil-free and light in texture.
People with sensitive skin should be careful when selecting a foot relief cream.
Brands
There are numerous brands that make foot relief creams, ranging from low end to high end products. Select from brands that have proven effective products.
Reputable brands are the best bet and likely to be most effective and safe.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are often naturally found in plants, although many vitamins can act as antioxidants as well. They keep the cells working properly and reduce damage on your foot.
Tips to Get the Best Experience When Shopping For a Foot Relief Cream
Know Your Foot Problem
If your foot problem is a fungal infection on the foot, you need a foot relief cream that will keep your feet dry.
Take note: If you have a fungal infection, do not use one with moisturizing ingredients.
Why does this matter? Moisturizing ingredients add moisture to the feet, which means more wetness. Fungi thrive on damp or wet places so this is not exactly a good idea.
Get a Good Bargain
You should compare prices among various sellers of foot relief creams before buying. To get an idea of the prices of various brands, visit different buying and selling platforms. Doing this will help you get a good deal.
Avoid a Foot Relief Cream with Fragrance
Some foot relief creams contain fragrances in them to give an appealing aroma. But these types may make your feet dry, which would damage your skin.
Select one that doesn’t contain fragrance to protect your skin from irritation and dryness.
Choose a Foot Relief Cream with Sunscreen
Using a foot relief cream that contains sunscreen is important. The reason is that it offers extra protection against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation on your feet.
Read Reviews
Reading reviews reassures you that you are making a good buying decision. Take your time to read reviews on your choice of foot relief cream to get more information.
Expensive does not Mean Effective
There are many great brands at affordable prices. Don’t get carried away by how expensive a cream is. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is effective.
Know the Return Policy
This requires going through the store and website to know their policies on their products. It is better to buy a foot relief cream from a shop that has a good return policy. This gives you guarantee for your money.
Select One with Essential Oils
Consider looking for a cream with essential oils. Peppermint, an essential oil used in foot relief creams, is naturally antibacterial and leaves behind a cool, soothing feeling on the foot.
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How to Get the Most from Using Foot Relief Cream
Massage your Feet
Your feet can gain from the tremendous benefits associated with massaging. It improves circulation, reduces tension, and stimulates muscles and relief pains.
If you stand for long periods, your foot needs massages. Give your foot self-soothing massages using both hands to work over the whole feet and squeezing the toes gently. Press your foot in a circular motion while massaging.
Do a deeper massage by pressing the knuckles of your right hand into your left foot. Work the skin and muscles by holding a foot with both hands and pressing your thumbs into the skin. Using your hands, pull the toes back and forth or apart. This helps to stretch the muscles underneath.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Comfortable shoes will help improve your foot health in many ways. If shoes are too tight, they encourage the growth of foot fungus, blisters and worsen existing foot pain. To avoid all these from happening, wear comfortable shoes every day.
Also, do not wear the same shoes daily. Changing your shoes will give them time to air out, which will help prevent foot odor and foot fungus.
Keep the Feet Clean and Dry
It is important to keep your feet dry and clean. Always remove the insoles of your shoes and sneakers to allow them dry out overnight.
Eat Well
Try to ensure that you eat good food, including iron-rich ones, which can help prevent brittle nails. Eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help aid nail growth and development.
Moisturize Feet after Shower or Bath
Be sure to always put some moisturizer on your feet immediately after a bath. Use a specially formulated moisturizing foot cream to soothe and nourish them.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating your feet is a good skincare practice. Exfoliation eliminates the build-up of tough, ugly calluses. Similarly, it keeps your pores open and protects the feet. It also gives your feet a healthier look and softer feel, relieving it from foot pain.
