What Your Feet Are Trying To Tell You

Everyone wants to be fit and in good health, but did you know that your feet can help to keep you healthy?

Cold Feet

Men's feet tend to be warmer than women's, however extremes of coldness or warmth should not be ignored. If you suffer from feet that are constantly cold, this may be due to an underactive thyroid, while hot and sweaty feet might be due to an overactive thyroid. The thyroid has the responsibility for regulating the body's temperature, and malfunction can mean tiredness, weight gain, mood swings and thinning eyebrows. If you do have concerns, be sure to visit your doctor or health advisor to check them out.

Colour changes

Feet that are pale when you are sitting with them up, but get very red when standing could be telling you that there is a circulation issue. Your heart may be experiencing difficulty in pumping blood around your body. This could be because of several reasons - a common one is a hadening of the arteries.

Toe Nails

Nails which are hard, yellowish and ragged looking can indicate a fungal infection. Until given the green light by your doctor, it's best to wear clean socks at all times - including in bed - in order to minimize spreading a possible infection. Indented nails, especially when combined with persistent tiredness and fatigue may be an indication of anaemia. Speak to your doctor.

Size

Feet swell during the day, so when choosing new shoes it is wise to shop in the afternoon or evening. This way you will have a more comfortable fit that will ensure your feet and body stay healthy.

Poorly fitting shoes can easily cause foot pain and may lead on to muscular, skeletal and postural problems. Feet that are persistently swollen (known as oedema or edema) may be a sign of high blood pressure (hypertension), especially if accompanied by coldness and a tingling sensation.

Other health difficulties that swollen feet may indicate include diabetes, edema and obesity.

If the above is not responsible then self-help options include regular exercise, reducing salt intake while ensuring you drink enough water, not standing in one place for extended periods and not overusing laxatives.

Cracked heels

A thickening of the skin around the heel area or red flaky skin under the heel can lead to cracks and fissures.

Often the culprit may be poorly fitting or open backed shoes or standing for extended periods of time, however cracked heels may also be symptomatic of diabetes, psoriasis, obesity or flat feet.

Burning feet

A feeling of burning and stinging within the feet, often accompanied by swelling and redness, can be a symptom of long term alcohol abuse and liver damage, thyroid issues, kidney damage or simply a material that irritates the skin.

Foot Rashes

Rashes on the foot may be caused by a number of things from heat rash or an insect bite to sexually transmitted infections. It's possible to eliminate the more common possibilities by daily washing and thoroughly drying your feet and wearing properly fitting shoes, socks and tights etc.

If you have any concerns about your feet's condition, then it would be wise to visit your doctor or medical practitioner who can advise you.

Alleviate The Dry "winter Skin Blues"

It may be winter, but that doesn't mean your skin has to be dry and flakey. It's time to put an end to those cold season skin issues! We gathered a list of tips to help combat the "winter skin blues". Check out these 10 ways to take better care of your skin this season.

1. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Don't overlook this most important step. Dead skin cells on the skin's surface can prevent your moisturizer from doing its job, so make this a top priority. It is most effective to exfoliate before showering. It can be done while showering, but is more effective when the skin is dry. Body scrubs exfoliate the skin using sugar or salt usually mixed with oil to slough away dead skin cells. Using a body scrub regularly will improve the appearance of your skin, as well as stimulate circulation.

2. Always moisturize your skin after showering or bathing. Applying moisturizer often makes a big difference, but it is especially effective when applied just after washing. This works by capturing the moisture on your skin. After bathing, gently pat excess moisture from the skin and quickly apply a good moisturizer while skin is still damp.

3. Use a different moisturizer during winter. Mechanics often suggest changing the type of your automobile's oil with the seasons. We should also do the same with our skin moisturizer. As weather conditions change, so should your skin care routine. Consider swapping the lighter, water-based summer lotion for a heavier, oil-based skin cream during the winter.

4. Do your hands feel like sandpaper? It is a must to apply moisturizer on a regular basis, especially after you wash your hands. Get several containers of lotion and keep them handy. Put them beside the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, in your handbag, on your night stand, etc. Put on a good amount of lotion before putting on your gloves every time you leave the house. It's a good habit to do all winter long.

5. Moisturize your skin overnight. Bedtime is a good time to use heavier products on your skin such as oils, creams and body butters. Greasier products tend to hold in moisture best. So slick your skin up and slide into the sheets. Moisturizers made with shea butter are particularly good. In the morning your skin will feel better hydrated.

6. Try extra humidity. Windburn and chapping can be the price for venturing outdoors in cold weather, but indoor heating can also dry out your skin. Humidifiers add moisture to dry household air. Forced air furnaces and heaters are very drying. A good humidifier is helpful for dry skin, and actually makes it easier to set the thermostat lower since moist air feels warmer. Humidifiers help prevent frizzy hair and static cling too. Anything that adds moisture to your indoor air helps. Water fountains are another way to add moisture to the air, and can be fun and soothing as well.

7. Don't Forget To Drink Water. Beautiful skin really does start from the inside. A bad diet shows up on your skin and deprives it of the nutrients it needs to stay soft and supple. Sometimes we forget to drink enough water during cold weather. Drinking eight 8 ounce size glasses a day is recommended.

8. Love hot baths? A long soak or steamy shower feels terrific, but streams of water hotter than 98.6 degrees can strip the natural oils from the skin. If you can't resist, just try to limit that sizzling shower to five minutes. Always finish by applying body oil or moisturizer before you dress.

9. Unlike the body and face, our hands are subjected to more daily assaults from exposure to the environment. The sun, wind, water, and harsh chemicals punish the hands and accelerate premature aging in a noticeable way. Using a thicker hand cream will soften, soothe, nourish, and protect your hands.

10. Sunscreen's not just for summer. Ultraviolet rays linked to skin cancer and premature wrinkling can wreck havoc even when it's cold and overcast. And when you hit the slopes or lace up those ice skates - remember that snow and ice reflect up to 85% of the sun's damaging rays. So be sure to protect your skin from UV rays, even in the winter!

Dry skin is a very common skin problem and is often worse during the winter when environmental humidity is low. Banish dry skin and give your winter skin care regimen a boost. Follow these winter skin tips to get through the winter season with less dry and itchy skin than ever before.