Pamper Your Skin
As we age, the skin on our feet becomes thinner and drier. After a shower or bath, treat your feet to a massage with your favorite lotion or cream. Avoid leaving lotion between your toes as this can promote the growth of fungal infections. For rough patches, try an exfoliating foot scrub.
Care for your toenails.
Trim toenails keeping the edges aligned with the tips of the toes. Because nails become more brittle as we age, they're typically easier to trim after a foot soak. Be sure to cut toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails.
Some of the most common foot problems in older adults include bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, ingrown, thickened or discolored nails, diabetic foot conditions, poor circulation, and heel pain. Regular visits to a podiatrist can help you maintain your foot health as you age.
A lot of people will get it in their 30s or early 40s. Their big toe hurts with activity. Some people think it's a bunion, but it's actually arthritis.
Best essential oils for feet
Cypress. Eucalyptus Globulus. Geranium Bourbon. Lavender.
The growth rate of nails decreases when people get older. This results in thickening because nail cells pile up. The process of nail cells piling up is referred to as onychocytes. Another reason why fingernails don't thicken as much is their growth rate is smaller than the growth rate of toenails.
Thick yellow toenails are usually caused by a fungal infection called onychomycosis. This can be irritating or painful. It's less common, but the infection can affect your fingernails as well.
This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.
Use an Overnight Treatment – Vaseline® Jelly can be used as an effective overnight cosmetic treatment for dry, cracked feet and heels as it helps create a sealing barrier, locking in the essential moisture your feet need to repair themselves .
Mature skin makes less oil and elastin, which leaves it drier and less supple. Without regular care, your heels may harden, crack, or hurt.
You should clean your feet once per day, and the process should involve warm water, soap, and some scrubbing. A washcloth is good, but a bristle brush can really get that dead skin off. Washing your feet regularly can help prevent irritation, which can contribute to calluses and cracks.
Once your toe is numbed using a local anesthetic, the toenail is removed and an acid (Phenol) is applied to stop the nail cells from ever producing a toenail. This will eliminate the regrowth of the thickened toenail permanently.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
By regularly filing your toenails at home, you can help to reduce the thickness of your nails. This can also assist with the appearance by removing the outer layer which is often discoloured.
Surgical Treatment for Thick Toenails
In some cases, the thick toenail can be surgically removed in order to relieve pressure and eliminate the infected tissue underneath. Topical anti-fungal medication is then applied until the nail completely returns.
The nails change with aging, growing more slowly, and becoming dull and brittle. The color may change from translucent to yellowed and opaque. Nails, especially toenails, may become hard and thick and ingrown toenails may be more common.
Petroleum Jelly
Our grandmothers knew that using this little gem was how to soften feet fast. At bedtime, simply apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly to the feet, heel and toe area, and cover your feet with cotton socks. By morning, your feet should feel soft and supple.
Applying warm coconut oil to your feet before you go to bed is a great habit. This will offer your feet sufficient moments to revitalise and soak up the oil.
If you tend to run hot at night (or in general), coconut is a good choice. If you tend to have cold feet, sunflower or sesame work well. If you're not sure which oil to use, sesame or castor oil generally work for most people; experiment to see what works for you.