Did you know that the average person takes 8,000 - 10,000 steps each day? That’s a lot of miles on those poor tootsies. Also women experience foot problems up to four times more than men. Shoe choices are mainly to blame, high heels and pointy toes with narrow toe boxes can cause multiple problems. No shock there as us ladies love our shoes, and let’s be honest even if they hurt we still wear them. We take fashion more seriously over the overall good of our feet.  But on a serious note, 75% of Canadians will experience foot problems in their life so read on to learn how to avoid becoming a statistic.    

Pedicures, they’re not just about pretty feet!

Pedicures are the cure for everything, that’s why they are called pedi-CURES...see what I did there.  Well maybe not everything, but they are the ultimate stress reliever, better than therapy, and as an added bonus they’re actually good for you in many ways. 

Let’s list the top 5 to start with:

1. Early detection - Estheticians are trained to find problems in your feet if there are any. These problems include ingrown toenails, infections, corns and bunions.  It's better to be advised so that you can get treatment right away and prevent any further problems or current ones getting worse.
2. Circulation - The massage portion during pedicures promotes good circulation and helps keep good blood flow circulating in the lower extremities where we don’t often have good circulation, especially if you are in a desk job where you are sitting for long periods of time.
3. Exfoliation - Not only will exfoliating keep your feet feeling smooth but it will get rid of or drastically reduce calloused areas while helping with cracks and corns.  It also lessens the opportunity for bacteria to form by shedding the dead skin on your feet.
4. Moisturizing - Most pedicures start with soaking your feet in a warm foot bath which in turn helps soften your skin and nails (to prepare for trimming).  After all of the callous removal and exfoliation is done, a massage with oils or lotion (or if your really lucky paraffin) will help deeply moisturize and nourish the skin. (HOT TIP: try to find a provider that uses all natural skin care for added benefits)
5. Infections -  Regular pedicures will lessen the chance of getting an infection you might get otherwise. After trimming nails we also use a tool to remove any debris or dirt under your nails, and the bad bacteria that comes with it. This can help prevent nasty infections like cellulitis, paronychia (inflammation around the nail caused by bacteria) and athlete's foot.

How regularly should you go?

While most women love to treat themselves to a nice Spa Day or whether it's part of getting ready for that yearly trip you take, regular maintenance is not a bad idea.  Not only will your feet stay looking more esthetically pleasing but it's a great way to maintain the health of your feet. Follow this guide to help you decide how often you should be going in for treatment.

• Do you suffer from Cracked Heels or have trouble reaching down to your feet to properly care for them?
  We recommend every 4 weeks.
  
  
• Do you have Peeling, Scaly dry skin and Calluses?
  We recommend every 4 to 6 weeks.
  
  
• Do none of the above apply to you -  and you love to relax and need minimal upkeep?
  We recommend every 6 to 8 weeks.

Diabetic feet 

We can't emphasize enough the importance of foot health if you suffer from Diabetes. Sufferers are more likely to have poor foot circulation to their extremities which can make healing slow and tricky. Being susceptible to nerve damage as well, this can prevent them from feeling any pain or infection before a foot problem grows serious.  That being said it is equally important for a person who has diabetes to ensure their foot care provider has received proper training to be dealing with diabetics. And as always contact your doctor or physician right away with any foot problems you may have.

Ending on the right foot

So as you can see, there is more to a pedicure than just having beautiful toes. And when you can exfoliate one foot with the other it is most definitely time for a pedicure! What's stopping you? Get on your phone, tablet or computer and book yourself in. There’s a time for everything and right now would be the perfect time for a pedicure. 

P.S. If anyone gives you a hard time you can tell them you're consolidating and saving money as it's your therapy session, mental health dedication and foot health all in one. Oh and because you are worth it… obviously!