Category: Health

Itchy feet can be caused by many issues such as dry skin, harsh soaps, medical conditions and much more carry-on reading or causes, cures and remedies to help prevent and put a stop to your itchy feet!

1. Athletes’ foot

Athletes’ foot is a contagious fungal infection that causes itchy skin problems on your feet. An itchy, stinging, burning rash forms on the infected skin. Below are things that you should avoid as this can bring on athletes’ foot.

• • • Things like damp socks
    • Damp shoes
    • Warm, and humid conditions

The following symptoms could indicate if you begin to suffer from Athletes Foot. The foot itself and between the toes become really itchy. Skin is dry, cracked, flaky or redness appears.

Suggested Remedies for Athletes’ Foot

• • • Wear clean cotton socks
    • To help towards keeping your feet dry, change your socks and shoes often.
    • Make sure your feet are completely dry after washing your feet especially in between your toes.
    • Tea Tree Oil according to ‘Medical News Today’ they said “One study found that solutions containing 25 per cent and 50 per cent tea tree oil worked significantly better than a placebo in relieving athlete’s foot between the toes”

2. Psoriasis

Another reason why you may be suffering from itchy feet is Psoriasis, plaque psoriasis can occur on almost any part of our body, including our feet.

What ‘Plaque Psoriasis’ looks like and how to treat it

This type of psoriasis causes red, dry patches of skin known as plaques. These plaques are usually covered in silvery scales and can be itchy and sore. In more severe psoriasis, plaques may also crack open and bleed.

To help ease this form of psoriasis, take care to avoid injury to your hands and feet as even minor trauma can worsen your psoriasis. Another way to look after your psoriasis or even get rid of the condition altogether you can try at home remedies such as,

• • • washing the area gently in warm, not hot, water with a moisturizing soap or even soaking in a warm bath for around 15 minutes, as this helps loosen up the scales and helps reduce the itching and inflammation caused by Psoriasis.
    • An extra tip whilst bathing in your warm (not hot) bath try adding sea salt, oatmeal, bath oil, or a bath gel containing coal tar to the water can further soothe and moisturize your skin, so this will not take away psoriasis but it will help alongside.

3. Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis can be caused by something simple such as a change in laundry detergent. So firstly, the most obvious way to prevent/stop your flare-up with contact dermatitis would be to stop using the product that is the cause of this and try sticking to what you know or using sensitive skin products when trying anything new.

Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis

• • • Redness
    • Itchiness’
    • A patchy or scaly rash
    • Dry and Cracked skin
    • Bumps/Blisters or both
    • Swelling, Burning and/or tenderness.

Treatment for Contact Dermatitis

• • soaking in a comfortably cool bath, according to the ‘Mayo Clinic’ you can also sprinkle the water with baking soda or an oatmeal-based product.
  • Omega free fatty acids are known to help reduce inflammation in the body. According to ‘Health Line’ and I quote “This can be beneficial for psoriasis inflammation is what causes the itchy red flakes”.

Omega 3’s can be found in a variety of different foods such as,

• • • Flaxseed oil
    • Nuts
    • Fatty Fish
    • Seeds
    • Soy

As well as this, you can maybe book a visit to see your local GP just for an extra bit of advice and they may prescribe you some steroid creams, ointments or oral medications.

4. Dry Skin

Lastly, another reason why you may be suffering from itchy feet could be ‘Dry Skin’ this can occur if your feet are lacking in their natural oils and itchiness can be a warning sign that your skin is in a poor condition.

Unfortunately, scratching is likely to damage the area further which can be very annoying as dry skin can be really itchy but make sure you do not scratch your dry skin as this can also make it easier for any harmful bacteria to infect your body.

How to know if you have dry skin on your feet?

Your feet will be,

• • • Often appears on the sides of the feet or the heels.
    • Can appear in between the toes also.
    • May make the infected area itchy, tight, and even painful.

Although having itchy feet may be very irritating, it is rarely ever harmful but if it does cause you a lot of discomfort it may be of some use informing your GP and seek medical help and remedies such as lotions, ointment, and creams!

At-home remedies for dry feet,

• • • A foot file or rasp
    • A pumice stone or foot scrub
    • Foot cream or heel balm
    • Moisturizing gel socks or heel socks
    • Liquid bandage

First of all, what is a foot verruca? Verrucas are foot warts, small lumps on the skin caused by a virus. The NHS website says “Verrucas appear on your feet. They have tiny black dots under the hard skin. Warts do not cause you any harm, but some people find them itchy, painful or embarrassing. Verrucas are more likely to be painful – like standing on a needle.”

What happens if you leave a Verruca?

While the human body is quite adept at getting rid of some of its own problems, verrucas are somewhat of an exception. If they are left untreated, their infectious viral nature of them can cause them to spread on the affected area and create something known as a mosaic wart, which is harder to get rid of. Not to mention, they can spread to other people. They also tend to grow, usually up to a centimetre or wider. All of this means the pain and discomfort can stay for longer and get worse.

So, what should you do if you have one?

First of all, in the short term, change your socks daily while you have one, and it might be wise to put a plaster over the affected area, definitely if you plan on swimming. Wash the affected area daily, and wash your hands anytime you touch a verruca. As for what you probably shouldn’t do, try not to scratch or pick at it, this will only irritate it and exacerbate the problem. Walking barefoot is also not the best idea, and definitely not in public or shared spaces.

For somewhat a more serious and pointed solution, make an appointment with your GP, your doctor or a skin specialist, or a dermatologist. They can recommend treatment options like cryotherapy, creams and ointments. Cryotherapy is a very interesting solution, you may have heard the term or words like it before, it involves using extreme cold, usually nitrogen or argon gas, to freeze the verruca. The effectiveness varies, but usually, the verruca will fall off after a few weeks, with a few sessions of cryotherapy. Another option you may be offered is a cream or ointment, which, with the gradual, sustained application, can gradually kill the virus.

No matter what treatment option is available or that you choose, there is no reason to ignore a foot verruca. If there is one thing we believe at Uufey, it’s that no one should have to live in pain and discomfort.

One of the things we offer at the Uufey store is the eight-piece Plantar Fasciitis Relief & Foot Pain Kit, which is designed to alleviate and correct foot conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, bunions, and heel spurs, as well as provide support to the arch of the foot, and straighten or prevent overlapping of toes. In this blog, you will find advice and guides to using each piece of the kit to suit your needs.

The Pull Strap

The red and blue pull strap is ideal for expanding joint mobility and developing motor function, as well as spasm relief. It is also applicable to those with Plantar Fasciitis pain, foot drop and Achilles tendon rupture, and other foot conditions.

To use, simply place a big toe in either strap and gently stretch the toes against each other. It’s ideal to perform an increasing number of “reps”, starting with three stretches a day for a week or so, and increasing the amount when you feel comfortable.

Spiky Massage Ball

The brightly coloured spiky massage ball is designed to alleviate the pains of Plantar Fasciitis,  muscle knots, and soreness, and increase blood circulation in the feet.

For the massage ball, place it on the floor (preferably in front of a seat, but these exercises can be performed standing if preferred). Then roll the affected foot over the ball until relief.

Bunion Corrector Sleeves

These sleeves offer strong protection for the ankle and foot, reducing the risk of injuries and inflammation during workouts or daily activities, and increasing blood circulation. They can also be used to aid in recovery from other foot pains.

Made of breathable fabric, these sleeves can be worn every day with any shoes or socks, and their elasticity won’t restrict any movement.

Toe Correctors

For those with overlapping toes or those who suffer from toe friction, we have two sets of toe correctors. They can also provide pain relief from hammertoe, bunions, and other foot conditions.

Place them between or on the afflicted toes to keep them separate and reduce friction.

How can diabetes affect your feet?

Diabetes can cause a limited blood flow to the feet, sometimes this can result in weakness of the feet and makes sores difficult to heal. Symptoms of low blood flow can be numbness and pain, as well as dry skin and cold feet. Sometimes tingling may occur, and this may be a symptom of diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage caused by a consistently high level of glucose in the bloodstream. Diabetic neuropathy is a serious medical condition so consistent numbness or tingling in the limbs should be taken seriously and advised by a medical practitioner.

If you have diabetes, to properly care for your feet you should:

• Have your diabetes reviewer refer you to a podiatrist if you experience numbness, tingling, cold feet, or foot pain.
• Keep feet clean and moisturized to avoid cracked skin and sores or wounds that could be difficult to heal.
• Wear comfortable shoes that don’t cause friction sores, calluses, or ulcers.
• Don’t walk on surfaces that may graze or wound the skin of the feet.
• See a podiatrist for other foot health issues that can escalate such as ingrown toenails, corns, or hard skin.

How to keep feet clean and minimize the chances of infected sores.

Foot baths not only help keep the feet clean and skin moisturised but can also help in inflammation reduction and an increase in blood flow to the feet. Diabetics can benefit from regular foot baths if dealing with the symptoms of diabetes. For the added benefit of its antifungal properties, 2-4 drops of tea tree oil can be added to a foot a bath to help keep feet and nails bacteria-free. If dry skin on the feet is an issue, Epsom salt or coarse sea salt can be added for an exfoliating effect. Always moisturise feet after a foot soak to protect the moisture barrier of the skin.

How to keep feet moisturised to avoid cracked skin.

Avoiding cracked skin is important for diabetic feet because cracked skin can lead to infections and sores that are hard to heal. Cracked skin is more common in feet that lack blood flow. By keeping feet moisturised you can reduce the chance of dry and cracked skin. To remove dry skin, consider using a pumice stone during a foot soak, then moisturise. Use a moisturiser that is thick and made for feet or hands as a facial or body lotion will be less moisturising because it is designed not to clog facial pores. Look for moisturisers with added moisturising properties such as Hyaluronic Acid that helps the skin to hold onto its moisture.

A foot massage with a moisturiser also helps to increase blood flow and to absorb the moisturiser into the feet. With a generous amount of moisturiser, apply all over and use the thumbs in upwards and outwards T-motions across the length of the foot to soothe muscles and stimulate blood flow to the area.

How to keep feet warm and dry.

Because of the chances of decreased blood flow in diabetic feet, the feet may become cold, sometimes going tingly or numb. Cold feet can cause discomfort, muscle cramps, and dry skin. To keep feet warm, wear insulating socks such as specialized thermal socks or thick wool socks, and wear slippers when walking on cold surfaces. Additionally, keeping feet dry can be beneficial for heat retention and to decrease the chances of sores from tender skin. Wearing boots or shoes that are designed with leather or suede over non-waterproof materials such as canvas can be beneficial if in a wet climate.

Footwear for diabetics.

Diabetic shoes should be well fitted, not too small or too large, to reduce the chances of corns, calluses, or blisters forming from friction and pressure. Signs of an ill-fitted shoe include redness, tenderness, and pain. Diabetic feet can sometimes be prone to swelling or inflammation, so a wide fit that does not constrict the feet may be a good option. Cushioning with an insole is also good for diabetic feet to help in pressure distribution to stop calluses from dry skin. Shoes such as flip-flops, backless shoes, and high heels are not advised as they can cause uneven weight and pressure distribution.

Here at Uufey shoes, we offer a range of wide-fit shoes and boots, with added cushioning from our orthotic inserts, that are ideal for sensitive feet. Our full leather, suede, and leather-lined shoes are a perfect choice of footwear to keep feet warm and dry, and thick rubber soles add height and stability without damaging high heels. Uufey shoes are designed with a wide fit and deep heel cups, giving sensitive feet stability, cushioning, and support.

According to the NHS  ‘A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise’, therefore any walking is beneficial, if you don’t have the time in your day to fit in a full 30/60-minute walk, doing a quick and easy 10 minutes is still effective and very achievable.

Walking to improve our physical health

There are many reasons why walking daily is massively beneficial to our day–to–day life starting with weight loss, it’s proven walking 30 minutes a day helps reduce body fat, although walking may not be the most strenuous form of exercise, it is an effective way to get in shape and burn fat. While you cannot spot- reduce fat, walking can help reduce overall body fat (including belly fat), which, despite being the most dangerous type of fat, is also the easiest to lose!

As well as this walking 30 minutes daily can also help towards increasing cardio cardiovascular fitness, if you go at a brisk pace at least 3 miles per hour. This can also help strengthen our bones, walking at least three to five miles a week can help build your bone health.

Walking to improve our mental health

A daily exercise can help wonders with your mental health such as anxiety and depression, walking thirty minutes can help keep your anxiety at bay, just as chronic anxiety and stress release excess hormones that wreak havoc on your physical and mental well-being, exercise and walking, specifically release feel-good endorphins that serve as natural painkillers.

Not only this walking daily is great to help your, self–perception and self–esteem, as after exercise you, mainly tend to feel a lot more focused, alert and feel like you’re able to complete the tasks of your day more efficiently. A study found that walking was positively associated with better and improved sleep. The individuals who averaged the most steps during the month-long- study and who spent the most minutes being active reported significantly better sleep, on average than those who walked the least.

3 quick tips to prepare you for walking daily

1. Make sure you have the correct footwear as this will help towards the ultimate comfort whilst getting, your daily steps in which will make you enjoy your daily walks a lot more, as you’re not going to feel good walking in uncomfortable shoes and could result in serious foot conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis.
2. Be sure to warm up, starting out with a slow-paced walk then building up into a brisk walk won’t feel as hard when first starting to walk daily!
3. Make a playlist of all your favorite songs, this will help you enjoy your walk that little bit extra and get you in a good mood! Not only does music pump up our mood it is also proven to help improve our workout speed (quicker calorie burn). This is because we synch our stride with the music’s tempo or BPM (beats per minute). The faster the BPM the quicker you will go, which will then lead to more calories burned! To improve, as well as this, make sure you’re using the correct technique, walk at a steady pace, swing your arms freely and stand as straight as you can.

Podiatrists are healthcare professionals who have been trained to diagnose and treat abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs, as well as this they also correct and prevent deformity, keep people active, mobile treat infections, and relieve pain. Not only this a podiatrist will give you and your family advice on how to look after your feet and what type of shoes to wear.

How can a podiatrist help you?

Podiatrists are medical specialists who have been trained to assess, diagnose, and treat conditions related to our feet, ankle, lower limbs, and their associated structures. Injury, overuse, or conditions causing inflammation involving any of the bones, ligaments, or tendons in the foot, can cause foot pain.

So, if you’re struggling with sore feet and don’t know why you can book in with a podiatrist, and they can give you advice and even medical help with the issue and tell you what the condition is, etc.

If you’re an individual who has recently noticed pain on your toenail or you’re noticing the skin next to the toenail becoming tender or swollen this could indicate an ingrown toenail, a podiatrist can also help with this by removing the ingrown toenail and may prescribe something to also help!

Ingrown toenails and sore feet aren’t the only conditions podiatrists help with those are just a few examples, if you’re having trouble with any sort of foot conditions like the ones listed above that is what a podiatrist can help with.

What foot conditions do podiatrists treat?

• Toenail problems such as thickened toenails, fungal nail infections, or ingrown toenails
• Corns and Calluses
• Verruca’s
• Athlete’s foot
• Smelly feet
• Dry and cracked feet
• Flat Feet
• Bunions
• Heel pain
• Blisters
• Gout
• Sport Injuries

How to know if you need to see a podiatrist

You may want to see a podiatrist for advice and treatment if you have painful feet, thickened or discoloured toenails, cracks or cuts in the skin, growths such as warts and verruca’s, scaling or peeling on the soles, or any other foot-related problem.

How can Uufey Shoes help with any of these issues?

Uufey Shoes provide footwear with amazing support and comfort although anyone can benefit from wearing Uufey Shoes products, individuals with foot conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, Flat Feet, Sensitive Feet, Diabetes, etc will benefit the most from our products.

Uufey shoes are designed with comfort as its number one priority as who wants to wear uncomfortable shoes? With built-in orthotic features. Uufey’s footwear range includes many features such as removable inserts, EVA midsole technology, orthotic footbed, wide fit, deep heel cups, and stability improving soles.

Three  Zone Comfort is infused in every pair of shoes during the production process, providing you with,

• Stability: Reduces muscle strain and helps you to maintain balance.
• Arch Support: shock-absorbing arch supports are ideal for preventing and treating heel pain and plantar fasciitis.
• Cushioning: extra support for ultimate comfort and durability.