In our first article in this series, we took a look at the type of dance footwear you want to wear to keep your feet healthy. Now we’ll consider some of the other vital topics to keep in mind. These would include incorporating regular foot care habits into your schedule and treating your feet properly if they get injured.
Steps for Your Foot Care Routine
1. Keep your feet well moisturized with a thick, rich lotion.
Ask your instructors what foot moisturizing lotion they would most highly recommend. Keeping your feet carefully moisturized can lessen the likelihood of serious damage to your skin. Pay close attention to the surfaces of your feet most likely to experience blisters, calluses, and corns. If you want to make the most out of your moisturizing routine, apply the foot lotion right before bed and sleep in your socks. This will help lock in the moisture so it can penetrate your skin during the hours when your feet are at rest.
2. Avoid painting your nails with colored nail polish.
If you paint your nails, especially with dark-colored nail polish, you will be less likely to notice problems such as ingrown toenails, bruising, or nail fungus. If you do choose to paint your nails for a special occasion, don’t leave the polish on them. You can, however, use clear nail polish since it is see-through.
3. Keep your toenails carefully trimmed.
Make sure not to let your toenails grow too long. You should only allow a minimal amount of white to show. Also, use clippers to cut them in a straight-across style rather than rounded. This length and shape will help prevent you from getting ingrown toenails.
4. Trim calluses on your feet.
When you dance, you’ll inevitably build up calluses on your feet. Don’t panic when this happens. Instead, be thankful that these calluses can protect the skin on your feet from developing cuts and blisters. That’s why you shouldn’t try to completely remove them. You may, however, need to trim them if they get too thick and cause discomfort.
5. Don’t cut open or soak calluses.
When you notice the appearance of calluses on your feet, treat them with care. Don’t cut into them to the point that you cause an open sore. Such a wound could invite a nasty infection on your foot. You can trim them down gently by using a pumice stone to file them. Don’t soak your callused feet, because you could make the skin more likely to break.
6. Know how to properly treat different types of blisters.
Blisters are bound to happen when you’re a dancer. They tend to pop up more when you’re wearing a new pair of shoes. This is normal. Different types of blisters require different treatments. You should be able to pop clear blisters with a sterilized needle. Then drain out the liquid and cover with a sterile bandage and athletic tape to hold it in place. Avoid removing skin from the blister. Leave red blisters alone instead of popping them. Cover them with a sterile bandage and athletic tape. If you get blisters frequently, your shoes may not be a proper fit or style. Consult with a professional at a dance shoe retailer for advice.
In our next article, we’ll look at a list of foot care supplies you should stock up on as well as discuss how to deal with foot injuries.
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