Footcraft Friday: Spring Flowers

Spring is here, and Houston podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider wants to help make sure your feet look their best in all your cute new sandals! You see, even though our Texas winters aren't notoriously cold, they can still take a toll on your foot health. At this time of year, when temperatures do drop, Houstonians love to whip out our winter boots, along with our warmest and thickest pairs of socks. 

Unfortunately, this combination can increase your risk for blisters, corns and calluses. Add in the dryer winter air and you're also more likely to develop dry skin on your feet. (If left untreated, that can cause you to develop cracked heels, leaving you vulnerable to foot infections.) Want to help protect your feet and restore the health and beauty of the delicate skin that covers them? Check out our favorite at-home Spring foot health tips. Then stick around until the end to enjoy a playful kids footprint craft that will get the whole family into the Spring spirit! 

Spring Foot Health Tips for Skin Recovery

As we mentioned above, colder winter weather can lead to dry skin on feet, resulting in cracks and other concerns. To help get rid of rough dry skin, and to infuse the new skin below with healing moisture, follow these Spring foot health tips from Dr. Schneider. 

1. Always Exfoliate

   Taking dry, dead skin off your feet can help them look and feel healthier. But you have to be careful about how you remove that skin to avoid damaging your foot skin. We recommend keeping a pumice stone in your shower and gently going over the skin on your feet for mild exfoliation. But you should skip this step if you're in need of diabetic foot care. 

       2. Consider Foot Soaks

Instead of going to the salon and having your cuticles removed during a pedicure, you can simply soak your feet in warm (never hot) water for up to five minutes. This will soften the cuticles so that you can gently push them down, a much safer option than removal. Want to upgrade that soak? Consider using the Tolcylen Daily Micro-Cleansing Foot Soak. Packed with moisturizers, cleansers, and conditioners in a relaxing salt base, this product leaves your feet feeling soft and rejuvenated after those damaging winter months. It's perfect if you're already dealing with mild skin or nail issues, but it's also a great pampering product for anyone who just wants their feet to look fresh and healthy every day. 

3. Bump Up the Moisturizing

This Spring foot health tip is for those of you who've noticed dry skin on feet. If you want to quickly restore moisture, invest in a pair of gel-lined moisturizing socks to wear at night. When you wear them while you sleep, they deliver hours of nourishing and restorative moisture to your delicate foot skin. Then, when you wake up, they'll be visibly restored, and much softer to the touch.  Don't want to invest in a professional pair? It's easy enough to make your own.  Before bed, just lather up your feet with Aquaphor, Vaseline or another favorite moisturizing product. Then, cover your feet with nice thick socks and enjoy the same effect when you wake up the next morning! 

4. Switch Out Socks for the New Season

Maybe you spent the winter slipping on your thickest and coziest socks. But now that Spring is here and temperatures are rising quickly, it's time for a change to your sock game. In warmer weather, we recommend finding pairs that are light and breathable. If you struggle with excessive foot sweat, or have frequent athlete's foot infections, its best to invest in a pair of moisture-wicking athletic socks to help protect your feet. 

Have you followed all our Spring foot health tips but are still struggling with issues like dry skin on your feet? We're here to help. Reach out to the office to request an appointment and get your feet ready for sandal season. And now, as promised, let's dive into that awesome Spring-themed kids footprint craft. If you love the project, feel free to share your own results in the comments! 

Kids Foot Print Craft: Spring Flowers are Here

Spring has sprung in Houston, and with it will come all those beautiful flowers we’ve missed over the winter months. Do you want to help us welcome this most beautiful of seasons? Then check out this kids foot print craft project from The Thrifty Couple. We hope it can help you smile a bit as you envision all the sunny, springtastic flowers you'll be planting in your garden this year. Hope you enjoy!

Hand and Foot Print Flowers Craft

Supplies

All you need for this simple craft is paint, paper and your little one—an easy project to cheer up friends who’ve been displaced from their homes or classrooms.

Directions

1. Paint hands with one or two colors of paint.
2. Place both palms down on paper, with bottoms of palms touching and fingers spread.
3. Paint stem coming from palms to the bottom of the page.
4. Paint feet green.
5. Place foot prints on either side of stem, angled out like leaves.
6. Add in grass, sunshine, names, ages—any decorative detail you like. Let dry and enjoy!

It is all too easy to overlook minor aches and pains in ourselves, but your child’s foot pain should never be ignored. So here's our final Spring foot health tip to send you off with this season. If your son or daughter is complaining of discomfort in their feet, toes or ankles, schedule an appointment with Dr. Andrew Schneider as soon as you can.