As you grow older, you may find that personal foot care becomes a more important part of your daily hygiene routine. Paying close attention to it can reduce your risk of injury and infection. Although you may see a podiatrist for foot care procedures at their clinic, there's a lot you can do at home too. By learning more about it, you can protect your feet and enjoy a better state of health.

Clip your toenails regularly

When you allow your toenails to grow too long, you're increasing your risk of a foot infection. While wearing form-fitting shoes, your toenails will press into the surrounding skin and gradually wear it down. In some cases, you may develop an ingrown toenail, which can feel quite painful.

Make sure you keep a pair of toenail clippers at home and trim your nails down to a comfortable size. If you struggle to trim your own nails because of mobility challenges or back pain, you may want to approach a podiatrist and inquire about their foot care procedures.

Keep your feet soft

As the skin on your feet begins to harden, cracks may appear. Cracks in your feet act as a portal for infection, which can soon become dangerous if you suffer from a condition such as diabetes.

To keep your feet soft, make sure you exfoliate and moisturise them regularly. You can use long-handled foot exfoliators for your comfort, and if you use a moisturiser, you can encourage it to settle in faster by wearing socks for 30 minutes after applying it. If you start to see cracks and fissures, consider using a more intense foot moisturising product to address the issue. If this doesn't work, ask your podiatrist for advice.

Wear footwear that fits correctly

Your feet change over time, which means you need to adapt your footwear too. Whenever you buy a new pair of shoes, make sure you walk a few metres to identify rubbing and loose areas. Footwear that fits correctly supports the bones and muscles in your feet, which then reduces your risk of injury.

When your footwear starts to grow old, make sure you replace it. The soles will wear thin over time, which means the arches of your feet won't receive as much support.

Personal foot care procedures are easy to engage with at home. By dedicating a little time to your feet, you may not need to see your podiatrist as often.