5 healthy feet tips for men

Men aren’t usually concerned with the look, feel or smell of their feet. Flip-flop season’s coming—tame those “bear claws” with a solid grooming routine.

Here are five easy ways men can maintain the health and appearance of their feet.

1. Change your socks daily. More often if needed. Feet sweat throughout the day, so fresh socks help prevent excess moisture.

Some men have hyperhidrosis, causing excessive foot sweating that can make their feet slip inside their shoes. This condition can cause foot infections and foot odor.

Wear breathable fabrics and use aluminum hexahydrate on your feet to control sweat.

2. Wash your feet with soap and water.

Daily washing with soap and water can help prevent athlete’s foot, a common condition in men.

Athlete’s foot is an itchy, sometimes painful rash that appears on the toes or soles of the feet. The skin can occasionally blister, and it is highly contagious.

Patients are treated with oral or topical antifungals, and doctors advise spraying shoes regularly with Lysol. 

3. Thoroughly dry your feet. After washing your feet, it’s important to focus on drying the areas between the toes. Apply lotion, but avoid the areas between your toes to prevent skin breakdown and ulcers.

4. Cut toenails straight across.  Sterilize your toenail clipper with a little rubbing alcohol and make a few small cuts. Don’t try to cut the whole nail at once, and don’t dig at the corners of your toenails. Cut nails straight across and leave them slightly long to reduce the risk of infection.

It’s also important to cut nails when they are dry. Wet nails may tear or bend because they are softer.

5. Don’t hack into your foot to solve a problem.

Men might prefer a hands-on approach to managing a benign foot issue, but it's not a good idea to engage in "bathroom surgery."

Skip DIY cutting—use a pumice stone or add cushioning to your shoes instead.

Nail fungus may be treated with debridement or OTC antifungal nail products.

For a simple at-home remedy, try applying Vicks VapoRub or Listerine to the affected nail daily to help treat fungus.

And blisters should be left alone. If a blister breaks, clean it, leave the skin intact, then apply ointment and a bandage.

Need to make an appointment with a Piedmont physician? Save time, book online.