I'll spare you the photos of my feet in this post! But lets just start off by saying that anyone who runs, walks a lot, or even just spends a long time wearing heels isn't going to have the prettiest of feet.
I've never suffered from black toenails from running, but blisters and hard skin are definitely a more common occurrence. It's not something you necessarily want to admit to, but in the summer the desire to wear sandals and flip flops can leave you searching for a solution.
Flexitol sent me a couple of products from their footcare range recently which have been a great help in dealing with two common foot issues.
Dry heels
Repeat pressure from walking/running can lead to dry, rough heels. The Flexitol Heel Magic is a general day-to-day use product, which is designed to moisturise and hydrate skin. It comes in a stick format so is really easy to use, and doesn't get your hands messy. Amongst the list of ingredients are olive oil and shea butter, great natural moisturisers.
Calluses/hard skin
Excessive pressure or friction from running can also cause hard skin to develop, as a normal protective measure against blistering or damage. This is usually on the heel or ball of the foot, but can be elsewhere caused by badly fitting shoes. In this case, it's best to make sure you're wearing the right footwear first, but products like the Flexitol Callus Remover Cream can soften and gently exfoliate the skin while replenishing moisture to the deeper, newer layers of skin at the same time.
I've been keeping both these products on my bedside table to use before I go to sleep - you can even slip on a pair of socks if you want to enhance the moisturising effects.
Ok, so a whole blog post about feet isn't the most glamorous of topics, but as runners they're pretty much the foundation of our sport and deserve a little attention! Along with proper fitting shoes and good blister-preventing socks, aftercare can ensure you keep running pain free and can slip on those Havaianas come BBQ time!
What are your top tips for footcare?
Beki x