What Are Bunions?

A bunion refers to a bony bump at the base of the big toe. The most common form of bunion, “hallux valgus,” is formed by a change in the alignment of the bones and not from bony growth.

A small bump is common and may be part of the normal foot shape. With a bunion deformity, the bones around the great toe have shifted and the metatarsal bone is now pushing out against the skin, creating a more prominent and sometime painful bony bump.

What are the signs and symptoms of bunions?

The signs and symptoms of a bunion include:

• A bulging bump on the outside of the base of your big toe
• Swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint
• Corns or calluses that often develop where the first and second toes rub against each other
• Ongoing pain or pain that comes and goes
• Limited movement of your big toe

In general, these conditions are differentiated based on your symptoms, an examination, and X-rays.

What causes a bunion?

There are several reasons you might develop a bunion.

In general, a bunion develops slowly over years. The bones in the foot shift slowly over time. Certain ligaments stretch out while others tighten. This causes the deformity to occur.

Shoes that are tight around the toes such as women’s heels are a risk factor as they push the great toe into the bunion position. This may be one reason that bunions are more common in women. About 10 percent of cases are in men, however, and there is a hereditary component possibly linked to having looser ligaments.

Less commonly, children or teenagers may develop bunions from the bones growing primarily into the turned position.

Even less commonly, they can occur after a traumatic injury to the ligaments around the great toe.

Are there ways to prevent bunions?

While not all bunions can be prevented, there are ways to reduce your risk for developing bunions:

• Wear comfortable shoes that fit well.
• Avoid high heels and shoes that push the toes together.
• See a specialist if you have a severe sprain of the great toe that does not improve in a couple days.
• Keep track of your feet and monitor any changes over time, especially if foot or ligament conditions are hereditary.

Source

How to Cope With Dry Skin and Cracks on Your Feet

Dry, cracked skin on your feet is a common problem that typically develops over time. It occurs in stages, starting with a lack of moisture in the skin.

Then the skin on the soles of your feet develops calluses—dry, thickened areas of dead skin caused by repeated friction and/or pressure. If left untreated, the skin continues to dry out, leading to cracks or fissures on the heels, soles, or sides of your feet.

Fortunately, dry feet and cracked heels can often be prevented with regular pedicures. You can treat calluses at home with foot soaks, a pumice stone, and moisturizer. If self-care strategies aren't enough, see a podiatrist for more advanced treatments.

What Causes Dry, Cracked Feet?

Dry feet occur when there is a lack of moisture in the skin.

Dry skin, also known as xerosis, can be due to environmental factors or an underlying health condition. Dry skin can also cause other symptoms such as itchiness, rash, and pain.

Dry skin can also set the stage for fissures (cracks in the skin), particularly on the heel. This happens when repeated friction or pressure causes the skin on the bottoms of your feet to thicken into calluses. 

In addition, the protective fat pads in the soles of your feet become thinner as you age. As you lose this cushioning, the skin on the already dry and hardened callouses becomes stressed.

As you walk and put more pressure on the area, the fat pads in the heel and ball expand, causing the skin to split. Over time, these small cracks become deeper, more painful, and may begin to bleed.

Risk Factors for Dry, Cracked Feet

While anyone can develop dry feet and cracked heels, common risk factors include:

• Aging
• Being on your feet for long periods of time 
• Going barefoot
• Obesity
• Smoking cigarettes
• Taking long, hot showers 
• Wearing ill-fitting shoes, hard or unsupportive footwear, or shoes without socks

Structural abnormalities of the foot can contribute to the development of calluses. These include: 

• Bone spurs: Bony projections along the edges of bones
• Bunions: Bony bumps at the base of the big toe
• Hammertoes: An abnormal bend or buckling at the middle joint of a toe

Environmental Factors

Things your body comes into contact with may sap the moisture from your skin and contribute to your feet's dryness. Environmental factors may include:

• Heat and humidity: The inside of your shoe can get very hot—sometimes well over 120 F. This heat and humidity can cause your skin to lose moisture and thicken.
• Skin cleansers: Certain soaps can strip protective oils from the skin. They can also leave irritating residues that contribute to dry skin.
• Cold weather: Dry skin often worsens in the winter months. That's because cooler outdoor air is less humid. In addition, indoor heating further dries out the indoor air.

How to Prevent Dry, Cracked Feet

Caring for your feet properly can help prevent dry, cracked skin on your feet. Wear supportive, properly fitting shoes with socks and avoid going barefoot.

You also can prevent dry feet by avoiding hot baths or showers and only using gentle soap on your feet. Moisturizing your feet daily, getting pedicures, or using a pumice stone to gently remove calluses at home can help.

If you are overweight, losing weight can relieve pressure on your heels to prevent or reduce cracking.

Moisturize Your Feet

Apply foot cream to your feet twice a day, including after bathing and before bed. Moisturizers provide a seal over your skin to keep water from escaping and drying out your skin.

While any lotion will do, some ingredients work better for tackling callused feet. Look for products that contain the following:

• Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA): AHAs like glycolic acid and lactic acid helps slough off dead skin cells and help the epidermis (the skin's outermost layer) retain moisture. 5
• Lanolin: Lanolin acts as an effective moisture barrier. You can buy lanolin over the counter (OTC) at any pharmacy. It is usually labeled as a product for breastfeeding parents, although you can use it for any form of dry, chapped skin.
• Urea cream: Urea is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient and is very hydrating.

If you are prone to allergies or skin sensitivities, make sure to use hypoallergenic products formulated for sensitive skin.

Get a Pedicure

Getting regular professional or at-home pedicures can help you stay on top of calluses before they become problematic.

Pedicures are very effective at keeping calluses from building up. It’s safe to remove some of the dead, callused skin—as long as you do so gently. 

Here are some tips on how to give yourself an at-home pedicure:

• Soak your feet in warm water for about 20 minutes. 
• For dry skin on the tops of the feet, ankles, and legs, use a loofah sponge or exfoliating foot scrub to remove dead skin cells.
• Next, use a foot file or pumice stone to slough off dead skin on rough areas on the soles of your feet.
• Callused skin is tougher and less sensitive than other skin. To prevent overdoing it, stop when you start to feel it.
• Finish off by applying moisturizer to your feet.

Source

How to Exfoliate Your Feet at Home

Skincare doesn't just stop at your face 一 and if you're dealing with extremely dry feet, then you may want to consider adding some extra steps (no pun intended) to your routine. While foot care certainly isn't glamorous, taking a few additional moments each week to care for the skin on your feet will go a long way in improving how they look and, more importantly, how they feel. And while getting regular pedicures is a great way to keep your feet in great shape, it’s not always realistic. You may not have the time to frequent the salon, and biweekly or even monthly pedicures can get expensive fast. 

Causes of Dry Skin on Your Feet

Before you embark on your foot care journey, you may want to understand why the skin on your feet can look and feel dry. While you can get dry skin anywhere, it’s important to note that the skin on the soles of your feet (and the palms of your hands) is a bit different from the rest of your body. 

For one thing, the top layer of the skin is much thicker in these areas. Another big difference, according to board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Stryke Club Dr. Sheilagh Maguiness, is that the skin on the bottoms of your feet does not have any hair follicles or sebaceous glands, though it does have sweat glands. 

“The thickness of the stratum corneum [the top layer of your skin on your feet] and the lack of oil producing sebaceous glands can lead to drier skin in this location,” says Dr. Maguiness. “In addition, the high concentration of sweat glands produces a moist, sweaty, high friction environment for your feet that paradoxically can lead to irritation. Over time, chronic irritation can lead to inflammation and further thickening of the skin on the soles of your feet.”

Other causes “include allergic contact dermatitis, caused by someone having an allergy to their shoes, tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), a fungal infection of feet (this is probably the most common cause) and eczema,” adds Dr. Jodi LoGerfo, a family nurse practitioner certified in family medicine and dermatology.

How Can You Prevent Dry Skin on Your Feet?

“Preventing dryness on your feet is similar to how you prevent it on the rest of your body,” explains Dr. Maguiness. “Gentle cleansing and immediate application of a moisturizer immediately after bathing is an extremely helpful way to keep the skin on your soles well hydrated and, in turn, improve the skin barrier on the soles of your feet.” 

Dr. LoGerfo also has some additional tips for keeping the skin on the bottoms of your feet as soft and supple as possible, such as keeping your showers under ten minutes, since bathing for too long can dehydrate your skin. She also suggests using lukewarm water; water that’s too hot is another dry skin culprit.

Another preventative measure you can take is moisturizing your skin while still slightly wet and immediately putting socks on afterwards to lock in that hydration. 

Finally, Dr. LoGerfo advises to avoid walking around barefoot. “This can expose already dry and cracked feet to bacterial or fungal organisms.” 

Benefits of Exfoliating Your Feet

Still, dry skin on the soles of your feet is something of an inevitability. That’s where exfoliating comes into play. 

“If you have thickened, dry skin on your feet, it might be an indication that the skin barrier on your soles is impaired,” says Dr. Maguiness. “Paying attention to that and making sure you soften/exfoliate the skin and regularly moisturize might help prevent painful cracks, fissures and ultimately infections that can occur on the feet — both fungal and bacterial.”

Basically, exfoliating will help slough your soles of dead skin cells, smoothing any roughness and making your skin feel much softer.

How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Feet?

The frequency with which you should exfoliate your feet depends on your skincare habits, namely how often you are moisturizing them. If you moisturize your feet regularly, you may only have to exfoliate a few times a month. You may also find yourself needing the refresh more often in the dryer winter months.  

How to Exfoliate Your Feet in 4 Easy Steps

Step 1: Soak

Like a pedicure, there’s no reason why the exfoliation process shouldn’t feel relaxing and indulgent. Plan to do this at night time so that you can let your feet exfoliate overnight for the best results. 

Start off by taking a nice bath or, if baths aren’t your thing, soaking your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes. You’ll want to keep them submerged until they get that familiar wrinkled appearance so you know the water has penetrated the top layer of your skin.

Step 2: Apply a Keratolytic Cream 

According to Dr. Maguiness, using a cream with keratolytic properties is essential to properly exfoliating your feet. A keratolytic is “a compound that helps to break down keratin in the outer layer of your skin, making it softer, more supple and easier to hydrate,” she explains. “Common keratolytic agents include Urea 40% cream, lactic acid or other AHA/BHAs, such as salicylic or glycolic acid.” 

Once you’re out of the bath, pat your feet dry and apply the cream of your choice, taking care that it contains one of the keratolytic ingredients mentioned above. 

Step 3: Seal It in With Petroleum Jelly and a Sock

Let your cream absorb into your skin for a few minutes, then apply a basic petroleum jelly ointment all over your soles to lock in the exfoliating properties. Finish by putting a dampened cotton sock on each foot. 

Step 4: Bedtime!

Slip dry socks over your damp ones, so you don’t get your sheets all wet and messy, and you’re ready to hop into bed. After enjoying a hopefully restful night of sleep, you’ll wake up with unbelievably soft, hydrated feet! 

Other Foot Exfoliation Methods 

Don’t have time or the necessary supplies on hand to try Dr. Maguiness’ foot exfoliation tutorial? Here are some other methods. 

• Use a Scrub

Just like you might use a scrub to exfoliate dead skin cells on areas like your scalp, arms, legs and more, this method can also be effective on the feet. It’s best to apply your scrub to your feet in the shower or when they’re damp as skin is easiest to exfoliate when it’s soft. 

• Use a Pumice Stone 

If a scrub isn’t effective enough for you, give a pumice stone a go. Pumice stones are made from lava and water; together, they make a hard stone with an abrasive texture. They may be too harsh for areas like the tops of your feet, but they’re great for buffing away hard, dead skin on the heels and sides of the big toes. All you’ll need to do is gently massage the pumice stone in circular motions on your skin to exfoliate. 

• Use a Foot File 

Another great at-home option is using a foot file, such as the Tweezerman Sole Smoother Antibacterial Callus Stone, to buff away calluses and dead skin. You can get an affordable one at most drugstores, and they’re often made with a pumice-like material or a surface which resembles that of a cheese grater. Foot files can be intense, so be sure to buff it gently onto the skin and work up the intensity as needed. 

• Try Paraffin Wax

If you’ve ever gotten a pedicure 一 often called a “spa pedicure” 一 where wax was applied to your heels and wrapped in plastic seal, it was probably paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is a malleable wax that when melted, applied to the feet and left to sit, will take off the dead skin cells when removed. If a trip to the nail salon isn’t in the cards at the moment, you can purchase an at-home paraffin wax kit. 

• Apply a Foot Peel Mask

Unlike gentle peeling products for the face, a foot peel is a type of mask specifically formulated to remove dead skin from your feet, leaving you with baby soft, good-as-new skin. It’s a chemical peel that usually comes in the form of what looks like plastic socks. You’ll leave them on for the directed amount of time and, over the next few days, your feet will shed the dead skin. 

Source

How To Make Nails Dry Faster

When there are emails to write, kids to retrieve, and the need to get up and go, you can’t afford to be hands-free for long. This is why we’ve rounded up our experts to share how to make nails dry faster, no chips allowed.

Choose the right shade

Did you know that some shades dry faster than others? If you’re in the market for a super quick manicure, Glitter Shades have the shortest drying time, whereas yellow nail polish will take the longest as the pigment particle size is larger than it is for other shades.

Try OPI Drip Dry Nail Lacquer Drying Drops

Give your nails a few minutes post mani, then apply one to two drops of OPI Drip Dry Nail Lacquer Drying Drops to each nail. Within five minutes, you'll have a perfect mani that won't smudge with nourished cuticles to match.

Head to the kitchen

Did you know that you can use cooking spray to dry your nails? This kitchen essential provides a protective layer of silicone to your manicure and moisturizes your skin and cuticles at the same time. Simply apply a layer of cooking spray on top of your nails and leave for a minute or two.

This essentially works by soaking into the nail and thinning out the polish. Once you see it starting to bead at the top of your nail, you can gently wipe it off with a tissue and find strong, dry polish underneath.

Try hairspray or a hair dryer

Not just made for blow drying your hair, you can grab a hairdryer, pop it on the cool setting, and quickly blow dry your nails. Just wait 30 seconds before doing this to prevent any smudges.

Invest in a quick dry top coat

Try OPI RapiDry Top Coat to speed up the drying process of your nails as well as strengthen them and offer them protection. Expect your nails to develop a long-lasting, non-yellowing, high-gloss shine.

Time to freeze

It’s been proven that cold air can harden polish, so why not employ the same cool principle with water? Leave your nails to dry for a minute before dunking them into a bowl of freezing ice water. You may get cold hands, but a two-minute dip should dry your nails enough for you to carry on with your day.

Get the right coat

To get your nails to dry faster it’s all about painting them the right way. We recommend painting 3 thin coats of nail polish rather than 2 thick and to allow plenty of time between applications. Waiting between coats also helps prevent any air bubbles for a smoother bubble-free finish.

Source

How Your Feet Affect Your Health

It is often stated that the eyes are the windows into the soul and, while this may be the case, a truth that is often ignored can be found in a soul that is much more concrete: a soul with the durability to carry us more than 70,000 miles over the course of a lifetime and the versatility to endure not only walking, but running and jumping as well.

This soul can be found on the bottom of our feet though, much like the eyes, they are the gateway to something greater. In many ways, the feet are like the contents of a sought after treasure chest that, if discovered and opened, can offer riches beyond belief. This treasure chest can be personally found and, with care, unlocked. Look down; discover your feet and the hidden treasure of alignment that waits.

The feet are an access pathway to the spinal cord which bridges to the central nervous system. This allows for training through the feet to change the dynamics with which we move and function. If the feet are able to learn new things as simple as lifting or spreading the toes, the body changes its movement pattern and increases its functional capacity. This adjustment improves the quality of daily activities as well as any sport or fitness training.

Put Your Feet to the Test

When you step up to your Kettlebell or to the front of your yoga mat, shift your awareness to your feet as you spread and lift all ten toes. This brings an awareness into the legs. Press down into each of the four corners and root the feet in to the floor. You will notice the resting power of your lower legs increase.

The art of grounding down through the feet and pulling the strength up through the legs (root to rise) is important for every technique, pose or movement. The four quadrants of the foot should be imprinted in your memory bank and recognition brought to each point. The ball of the big toe, the joint of the fifth digit, and the outer edge of each side of the heel serve as the grounding points for rooting the feet.

Problems with your feet translate to the rest of your body.

Things that constrict the muscles of the foot are ill-fitting footwear, hard surfaces, and even overzealous sporting activities. If the feet are not treated with care and regard to their function, the support structures break down and the arches collapse or weaken. This weakness is transferred up through the rest of the body.

Neck pain, for example, may be a result of the collapse of the foot arch. Practicing barefoot training (flat soled rubber shoes) with the arts of kettlebells and yoga allows the feet to regain their original flexibility and strength, returning to their organic blueprint that predated the ability to walk. As you train with consistent awareness of your feet, notice how their outer appearance and structure changes over time.

Regardless of your activity, awareness of the foot’s importance in all your movements is critical. The foot’s complex anatomy propels you forward with each step you take. If the functional foundations of the feet are solid, other areas of chronic injury or pain may be affected in a positive way.

What does all this mean? Begin to pay attention to your feet for the first time in your life. This minor shift in perception could open a treasure chest of previously unimaginable personal improvement.

Source

10 DIY Spa Ideas To Promote Self Care

Whether it’s a stress-relieving massage, an uplifting facial or a little foot pampering bliss, a relaxing spa treatment has to be the ultimate in self-care. For many of us, a spa-day spoil the ultimate way to pamper ourselves so much so that it has now become part of our regular wellness routines – which in today’s world is something we could all use...

1. Scrub From Head To Toe

For starters, a stimulating and rejuvenating all-over scrub is one at home spa treat all our bodies can do with. Body scrubs don’t just make your skin look and feel fantastic, but have other benefits too.

Besides removing the buildup of old dead cells which dull and clog up your skin, the rubbing action itself helps drain and detox your lymph nodes and boosts the circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the skin to give you a healthier glow. Exfoliation also speeds up skin cell renewal and helps other skin products penetrate deeper, so makes everything work better all round.

Grab some salt scrub infused with skin-loving lavender, mix with a little coconut oil, and then gently rub in circular motions from head to toe, paying special attention to any rough spots. Finish off with a luxurious lavender body lotion for a deep drink of moisture for your skin. 

2. Have An Invigorating Aromatherapy Shower

If you aren’t much of a bath person, you can actually create a wonderful at home spa-like experience in your shower. Adding the brisk, refreshing scent of eucalyptus is guaranteed to give you an instant boost of energy, clear your mind, and ease away all that stress…

Hanging a fresh sprig of eucalyptus leaves in your shower is an Insta-popular trend that not only creates a brilliant spa vibe in your bathroom, but the heat also releases the fresh healing scent that’s perfect for when you need a quick pick-me-up.

Otherwise, just scatter a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on your shower wall (away from the water spray) and let it do its magic. End your shower by turning the water onto cold for 30 seconds to kick your circulation into gear and for a big burst of endorphins (the happy hormones).

Finish off with a luxuriously rich and reviving body lotion, and you’ll quickly find that any anxiety will soon be a thing of the past. Literally like smelling a breath of fresh air… 

3. Flood Your Face With Steam

What with the daily assault of dust, pollution and makeup, steaming your face is a great way to get rid of all that grime and clean the gunk out of your pores.

For a spa-like steam treatment at home, simply fill a bowl with hot water and add a few drops of essential oils. Choose mix of lavender and tea tee oil for oily, acne prone skin, or lavender and rosehip essential oils for a dry skin. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the bowl for a few minutes to allow the steam to softly penetrate and decongest your skin, leaving it nicely plump and hydrated.

4. Refresh Tired And Tattered Feet

Often the most sadly neglected part of our bodies, your feet deserve a much-needed pampering spa day treat from time to time - especially if they are prone to drying and cracking - and even more so after a strenuous bout of exercise.

Start off with a soothing foot soak. Toss a handful of lavender bath salts into a bowl of warm water and let your feet bliss out while you catch up on some Netflix. Once the water chills, move onto a soothing foot mask for a little bit of heat and healing at the same time. Then lather your favorite foot balm all over your feet to mask in the moisture!

5. Soothe Sore And Achy Muscles

Whether you are suffering from sore muscles post workout or even in need of some pain relief from stiff joints or back pain, the healing power of eucalyptus essential oil can help make everything better. Consider this a shortcut to a mini spa aromatherapy massage plus a little bit of heat therapy to help ease away all toes aches and pains.

6. Give Your Hands Some Extra TLC

When your hands are as dry as the Mojave Desert and your cuticles are looking a touch shabby, it’s time for some intensive at home spa therapy to bring them back to life.

Hands also love the soothing moisturizing heat treatment you did for your feet. using circular motions to apply it your hands and nails to soothe and repair. You can also squeeze in a quick bonus massage as you work the cream into your hands.

7. Soothe Sore, Tired, Dry Or Puffy Eyes

You’ve heard of the chilled cucumber slice remedy to help refresh and soothe your eyes, right? But did you know that using essential oils together with a hot or cold compress can give you the same – and often better – result?

Many essential oils are natural anti-inflammatories and so can act a bit like headache pills for your eyes. Just toss a lavender spa mask into the freezer, light some candles, put on some relaxing music and lie back with the mask covering your eyes for about 10 minutes. It will not only soothe and cool tired, sore eyes, but also help knock back any puffiness you have, shrink under eye bags and reduce dark circles.

8. Deep Condition Your Hair

You don’t need to splash out to get a perfect head of hair. Just borrow a popular deep conditioning spa hair treatment to get those lustrous shiny locks you’ve always wanted.

Heat up some nourishing coconut or argan oil, add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil and mix well. Gently massage into the scalp, working the blend through the hair to the ends, wrap it in a shower cap for about 30 minutes, and rinse off.

9. Take Time For A Relaxing Bath

Instead of rushing through a two-minute shower, find a little me-time to soak in the bath uninterrupted. Step up the ambience with lots of candles, calming music and some bubbly for the ultimate end-of-home-spa-day escape.

Copy Cleopatra’s famous beauty trick by indulging in a nourishing milk bath. The lactic acid in milk softens your skin, and can also help soothe eczema and psoriasis. Add a few cups of whole milk to warm bath water, mix in some drops of lavender oil, and float a few rose petals on top for a pretty spa finishing touch.

10. Prioritize Healthy Sleep

Now that you’re feeling all pampered and relaxed, don’t spoil all your good work by landing up tossing and turning all night. Sleep is arguably the best ever thing you can do for good health, and to make it as high-quality as possible, it’s best to take a little time to unwind before you go to bed.

The value of a regular bedtime ritual should never be underestimated. Set aside a couple of chill-out hours for a relaxing bath, burn a few calming candles, spritz your bed linen with lavender spray and then slip into bed with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book. This also means powering off your mobile to give your brain a chance to unwind.

Source

The Easiest Marble Nail Art For Summer

 

 

Check out this fun, summer marble nail art look! Super simple and bold with color using OPI Summer Make The Rules Nail Polish.