Get Your Feet Ready for Sandal Season

(NewsUSA) – The warm weather means one thing: Sandal season is
here.

Get ready to feel the grass, beach or surf beneath your feet with the following
heel-to-toe beauty tips from the American Podiatric Medical Association.

* After soaking, slough away calluses around the heels, balls and sides of your
feet with a pumice stone or foot file. Avoid using a foot razor because it removes too much skin
and can easily cause infection and permanent damage if used incorrectly.

* Eliminate dry skin and calluses by using an exfoliant scrub on the soles, sides
and tops of your feet. Rub in circular motions and be sure to thoroughly rinse off the scrub. Pat
feet dry, paying special attention to the area between your toes. Moisture can promote the
development of athlete's foot or other fungal infections.

* Clip toenails with a straight-edge toenail clipper to ensure they do not become
curved or rounded in the corners. Toenails should be trimmed to just above the top of each toe.

* Remove buildup under your toenails with a wooden or rubber manicure stick. Do not use a
sharp tool to clean under your nail because you may puncture the skin and leave it vulnerable to
infection.

* Smooth nail edges by filing toenails with an emery board. File lightly in one
direction without drastically rounding the corners of the nail. The file should only be used to
smooth the edge of the nail and not to scrape the nail's surface.

* Apply a healthy amount of emollient-enriched lotion over your feet. Be sure to remove any
excess moisturizer from your toenails and from between your toes.

* After cuticles have been sufficiently moisturized, gently push them back with a rubber
cuticle pusher or manicure stick. Cuticles serve as a protective barrier against bacteria entering
the body and should never be cut.

* If you like to pamper your feet with pedicures, schedule appointments for first thing
in the morning. Foot baths are typically cleanest earlier in the day.

* Apply nail polish only if your toenails are healthy. Nail polish locks out moisture and
does not allow the nail or the nail bed to "breathe." Remove the polish regularly.

For more information on foot care, visit www.apma.org.