New Year, New Feet: Tips for Keeping Your Feet Healthy in 2023

New Year is the perfect time to take stock of your lifestyle and see if there are any positive changes you can make. If you’ve been experiencing foot pain or discomfort — or have in the past — these tips from our expert podiatrists will help you keep your feet in top condition.

Eat right

The connection between your diet and foot health might not be immediately obvious, but what you eat can really impact every part of your body. How?

Firstly, by eating well, you can maintain a healthy weight, putting less pressure on your feet. Moreover, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake can reduce inflammation — they contain essential vitamins and minerals that can reduce your risk of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Nutrition also plays an important role in diabetes management. Those with this health issue are at greater risk of nerve damage and poor circulation. By ensuring you have a good balance of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat proteins, you can help minimise complications.

Moisturise

Are your feet prone to cracking and chapping? Getting into a moisturisation routine can help keep your skin soft and supple. The weather, sports and dance activities, and environmental factors can lead to dry skin on the feet. In turn, this can cause soreness and discomfort. 

While moisturising won’t solve all foot problems, it can minimise the risk of cuts and infections, leading to fewer trips to the podiatrist.

Keep your feet clean and dry where possible

We all know that bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, damp conditions — and your feet can offer a very tempting environment. That’s why keeping them clean and dry is such an important part of your foot health.

By changing your shoes after the gym and taking the time to dry your feet properly after showering, you can lower your risk of developing fungal foot and nail infections, athlete's foot, and more. It also reduces your chance of passing these conditions on to other people.

Keeping your feet clean and dry has other benefits, too — you’ll be far more comfortable and can reduce unpleasant odours.

Find the cause of your foot pain and have it treated

It’s not uncommon for people to go years experiencing foot pain or discomfort only to find out there was a straightforward treatment! Sometimes, foot pain will just dissipate on its own, particularly if there’s an easily-identifiable trigger, such as an injury. 

However, this isn’t always the case. If you notice anything unusual, it’s always best to get it checked out by a professional podiatrist. They’ll be able to carry out a full assessment, work out the reason behind the issue, and prevent it from getting worse. 

Sports injuries also require special attention to ensure they don’t become a recurring issue.

From metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of your foot) to bunions and verrucae, a podiatrist can help with a whole range of common foot problems. So don’t suffer in silence, make 2023 your year of foot care!

City Foot Health: London’s leading podiatry clinic

No matter what kind of foot issue you’re experiencing, the City Foot Health Team can help. With years of experience in all areas of podiatry and chiropody, we can support you in finding the best treatment for your needs.