Our feet play a very important role in our life like any other body part and so we need to take proper care of them. Most of the foot conditions that affect us today are caused mainly due to the lack of proper foot care and the use of improper foot wear. One of the common foot conditions that we neglect most often is dry feet or cracked feet. Having dry and cracked feet makes us look dirty and tarnishes the image of the person, especially women, no matter how pretty or how much care the person has taken for their looks. They are not to be neglected as they could lead to several complications leaving our feet in a battered state.

Moisturizers, lotions and creams

Dry and cracked feet occur mainly due to the nature of our skin. In most people, the skin is excessively dry causing cracked feet especially at the heels. The problem of dry skin can be controlled by the use of suitable and efficient moisturizers to moisten the skin from time to time. But in some cases, if the condition is not treated at the right time, the skin would become rough and thick, making it difficult for moisturizers to cause any effect. These foot conditions may not cause any disastrous consequences, but neglecting it would not be wise because, the skin being cracked could lead to other infections such as bacterial and fungal infections. Hence, seeking the right medical attention would not only help to prevent large, open cracks, but would also help to accentuate your looks.

Dr. Mike Cornelison and his highly experienced group of doctors at the Cupertino podiatry could help you find efficient solutions to all your foot problems. They also have the best foot care products available at Dr. Mike’s foot store. So if you live in the San Jose area, you could get the best possible treatment for all your foot conditions at the Cupertino podiatry. Foot care products such as foot baths and foot creams could help you in finding a proper solution for dry feet or cracked feet and they could also help to prevent these conditions from recurring. Dr. Cornelison has some of the best foot baths, foot creams and other foot care products available at his foot store and so your solution is not far away.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely abhor wearing shoes.  This has created a huge problem for me, especially since I started my new job at the newspaper.  They are pretty laid back from most offices I’ve worked in, but they still frown on bare feet.

There is a joke in our family that I can walk on sand spurs and keep on walking, which I do and I don’t feel them.  My feet are that tough on the bottom.  About a year and half ago I found my perfect shoe, I won’t mention the name as they are a rather popular shoe.  They feel like you are walking on pillows, but still allow you to have the feel of being bare foot.  I wore them everywhere, even to church.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any matching ones to wear to work.

So my feet always look horrible.  We have not been in a financial position for sometime for me to have a regular pedicure, so when I heard about Udderly Smooth w/Shea Butter for Dry Feet I wanted to know more.

Foot Cream w/Shea Butter

When I contacted them for a review they graciously agreed to send me a jar of Shea Butter for Dry Feet and Extra Care Cream.  I faithfully used it for 30 days.  My little helpers love to rub lotion into mommies feet each night, most nights there is fight over whose turn it is.  Now a little more than 30 days later, I can actually say my feet are soft.  Not hard, cracked, painful and ugly.  They are soft!  The cracks are gone and they are actually attractive enough to wear shoes that reveal my heals.  People have even noticed the difference in my feet and asked what I’ve been using.  Of course I have to tell them about Udderly Smooth.

This product has definitely made my feet feel pampered.  The best part is you can pick up this wonderful lotion at your local Wal-Mart.  Here is the website for you to enjoy their products:  http://www.udderlysmooth.com/dry-feet-foot-cream-with-shea.shtml

Please make sure if you buy their products to mention you saw their product review on Melissa’s Musings Product Review blog.

M

Hello, I’m going to begin blogging about running. I’m going to provide reviews of products that runners should be using to help prevent everything from blisters, chapped feet, cracked nails and chaffing.

I hope you enjoy my blog and please contact me with any feedback you may have.

Summer is wonderful for lots of things… but it is hard on my feet.  The hot dry weather, sandals, and going barefoot around the house and yard all lead to feet in seriously bad shape!

A trip to the Spa for a pedicure isn’t exactly making it do.  So what’s a girl to do?

I called my Sister-in-Law to be, Jen.  She works for a high-end beauty company and is an expert on the best ways to care for your skin… She was a wealth of knowledge.

• First she recommended soaking your feet in in tub of warm water with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts.  For scent add a few drops of essential oil to the water.  I love lavender, especially at night, it really relaxes me.  Epsom salts are made up of a naturally occurring mineral called magnesium sulfate.
• Don’t forget to exfoliate your feet.  The Ped Egg Pedicure Foot File is a popular and widely available foot file, but I have never used one.  I was given a MICROPLANE Foot File and I love it.  I know it’s a lot more expensive than the Ped Egg, but its really nice.  You can also use a foot file from the grocery store.  Epsom salts can also be used to exfoliate.  Just mix a handful of Epsom salt with a little bath oil and rub it on your skin.
• If your feet get cracked on the heels (my problem, ouch!) you can use super glue on the wound.  For sanitation sake, I keep a separate container of super glue in my first aid box and I don’t use it to fix broken toys or china!  The super glue alleviates the pain almost as soon as it dries.  I think it helps it heal faster too.  (They sell a liquid Bandaid… but superglue works just as well and is a lot less expensive.
• Jen recommends applying a moisturizer just before bed.  She loves Egyptian Magic Healing Cream but its fairly expensive (though it lasts a really long time.)  For a “make it do” solution she recommended good old-fashioned Bag Balm – which is a lot less expensive and also lasts forever.  I just started using Bag Balm on my feet and it works wonderfully.  It doesn’t smell great and is a bit greasy, but I’m sold.
• She said after applying the moisturizer make sure to sleep with cotton socks on.  They will help hold the moisture in.
• Don’t forget to paint your nails- I like L’Oreal Paris and Opi brands because they are less toxic than some.

Oh wow, I’m feeling pampered already!

But what if your problem is stinky feet?  Try washing your feet with soap and water and dry thoroughly, then rub your feet with equal parts powdered sage and baking soda.  Sprinkle a little in your sock or shoe as well.

When my son’s Keen’s (with rubber soles) started to get unbearably stinky, I threw them in the washing machine and set them out to dry.  But the odor was still there.  So I used a cotton ball and rubbed the insides of the shoe with Tea Tree Oil.  They have stayed odor free for almost a month.  They have just started to smell a little and I am going to repeat the process.  But I am seriously impressed!

You don’t need to spend a fortune to take care of your feet.  And after all the hard work I did today… it sure feels good to take a few minutes for myself.

SNL Supplies Inc creates it’s own SNL Brand of  Unrefined Shea Butter to soften and heal dry, cracked heels and feet for the summer months ahead.  Unrefined Shea Butter is an inexpensive therapy for many uses but one of my customers came in last week and I noticed how dry her feet were.  I asked her if it was a constant problem for her and explained how the Shea Butter would moisten her skin and heal the dry cracked skin she was experiencing.  She purchased a jar of my SNL Brand Unrefined Shea Butter and called me two days later to tell me how much her feet were already improving. 

SNL Brand Unrefined Shea Butter is also a fantastic treatment for many other conditions such as Psoriasis, Stretch Marks, Burns, Chapped Lips, Sun Damage, Diaper Rash, Insect Bites & Stings and even a terrific moisturizer for your hair.  One jar of Shea Butter will save you money at the drug store by treating many conditions.  Come into our store today and pick up your jar of SNL Brand Unrefined Shea Butter!

SNL Supplies Inc. is located in Burien and is committed to excellent customer service.  We carry massage supplies for massage therapists and have many items at great prices for consumers such as Unrefined Shea Butter and Dead Sea Salts.

Discover the Cure for dry, scaly feet!  Now going barefoot can be beautiful again.

So your feet and heels are so dry, cracked, and scaly, they feel like a sandpaper feet?  And moisturizers haven’t helped?  The condition you have may be a form of athlete’s foot.  Really!  And Lamisil^AT Cream is clinically proven to cure it.  And when you have a cure, your beautiful feet will make you feel confident all over.  Take cure of your feet.  –call 877-404-FEET

Photo courtesy:  dermstore

We are so pleased to be contributing to NSIDE MD Magazine here in San Antonio.

Keep the fungus away

If you are in the habit of wearing shoes without socks, chances are you may have fungus.

Keep your feet dry by applying cornstarch between your toes daily.

If you have sweaty feet and hands, soak them in the following solutions for 10 minutes:

Tea. In a pail of warm water place two tea bags. Allow water to turn brown. Tea contains tannins that help absorb the excess moisture.

Vinegar. Mix 10 parts water to one part vinegar.

Epsom salts. To remove fungus, mix one gallon of water with 2 tbsp of Epsom salts. A daily soak will prove very effective.

Fight bladder infections fast

The worst thing that can happen to you while on a trip is to suffer a bladder infection. Telltale signs: burning sensation when you urinate, and a frequent urge to urinate even after having relieved yourself. Also, cloudy urine.

Remember, the more often you urinate, the faster you get rid of the bacteria. Try these:

Drink 15 glasses of water daily.

Take one glass of coconut water every three hours.

Drink cranberry juice three times daily.

Drink sambong tea (bluema camphora), which is native to the Philippines. Its leaves made into tea can flush out toxins from your kidneys. Or, take it in tablet form three times a day.

Your meditation for today: “My life will get better day by day.”

Love and light!

Ref: dailyinquirer/Cory Quirino – World of Wellness, the health, beauty and wellness

When some of my local friends got wind that I was a beauty blogger, they were full of suggestions for their favorite beauty products.  One of them even sent me an amazing assortment of locally owned skincare products from a company called, “In Your Bonnet.“  Thanks Ruth!

“In Your Bonnet” carries handmade and finely crafted skin balms, creams, and bath products.   Their skincare products are made with beeswax, plant oils and botanicals to create a simple and yet very effective line. 

“In Your Bonnet is a family business located in a high desert valley of Utah, the beehive state. Our weather is one of extremes, from near zero cold winters with lots of the “greatest snow on earth” to hot, dry summers with temperatures over 100 degrees and humidity less than 20%.

In Your Bonnet started as a means to an end… we wanted high quality, natural products for our dry, sensitive skin. Honey has long been used for its medicinal properties and as hobby beekeepers, we knew the addition of honey and beeswax would benefit any products we produced. When demand exceeds our own supply we use honey and beeswax from local Utah hives rather than imported honey in our soap, lotions, and balms.”

My favorite product has to be In Your Bonnet’s “Heel Thyself.”   This heel balm has a mild honey and lemon scent and is in a deoderant stick container (very smart).  You simply twist the container and apply this wonderfully soothing balm onto your heels, elbows, or any rough spots around your body.  This balm goes on a bit greasy, but absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling soothed and protected.  My cracked and dry heels have been loving this!

They also carry a lovely nail and cuticle cream, lip balm, and their own facial skincare line and handmade soaps. 

Support our locally owned and small businesses by checking out the inyourbonnet website store.   I promise you won’t bee disappointed!

By Ben Berger

On July 9, 2005, Maykel Galindo, a forward on the Cuban National Soccer Team, walked away from his team hotel in Seattle and soon after sought asylum in the United States.  By 2007, Galindo was the fifth leading scorer in Major League Soccer (MLS) (for an excellent feature on Galindo, see Jonah Freedman’s article on si.com).  On March 14, 2008, seven members of Cuba’s U-23 National Team slipped out out their Tampa hotel during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.  Within weeks, at least three of these players were trying out with the LA Galaxy for a chance to join David Beckham and Landon Donovan on MLS’ most notorious side.  The players were ultimately signed by minor league soccer teams in the U.S.

While there are visa rules and procedures for athletes seeking to ply their trade in the U.S., Cuba presents an interesting exception.  The “Wet feet, dry feet” policy, established by the Clinton Administration, is unique to Cuba and permits any Cuban who makes it to U.S. shores to remain in the U.S. (See Cuban Adjustment Act).  Thus, players who walk away from international competitions in the U.S. are afforded the opportunity to immediately seek work in the United States.  In addition to an escape from Castro, these asylum seekers have an opportunity to earn huge wage increases by coming to the U.S.

The Cuban exception has long been a point of contention for immigration activists, but from a soccer perspective Cuba is unique for other reasons.  Soccer players in Central and South America countries typically play in well-funded leagues and earn ample salaries.  Soccer is a “first choice” sport for many in these countries and provides an avenue for financial success.  Talented players in these regions are actively scouted by MLS and European leagues and often transfer to well-known teams around the world.  Thus, there is little reason for a soccer player in, say Mexico, to emigrate to the U.S. (legally or illegally), as Mexican soccer salaries are typically higher than MLS salaries.  Conversely, Cuba is a baseball country and soccer salaries compare to those of other Cuban professions.  Cuban leagues are not particularly well-scouted.  Accordingly, an escape to the U.S. may a Cuban player’s best opportunity to to pursue a career in professional soccer. 

Whether additional players will follow in Galindo’s footsteps remains to be seen.  But his story, and that of those who followed him, presents an interesting sidenote to our current Cuban immigration policy.

Attorney Ben Berger, an avid fan of soccer and MLS, is an attorney at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, in Hartford, Connecticut.  Ben can be reached at bberger@uks.com or 860-548-2636.

“Hey, I can’t have athlete’s foot, I’m not an athlete!”

According to The Mayo Clinic Athlete’s Foot is actually a type of ringworm which most people will get at some point in their lives. Most commonly it is picked up in a public shower (hint: wear shower shoes) perhaps at the gym, a hospital or hotel. It is a fungal infection which thrives in the warm, cozy, sometimes moist environment created by feet wearing damp socks. It’s spring time here in New England and soggy feet abound!

The big symptoms of Athlete’s Foot are dryness and pain. The pain can be as varied as fissures on the bottoms of the feet, itching, burning, or peeling skin, or troubles with the toenails which may be falling apart or peeling away from the toes. Owie!

You don’t have to use the toxic chemicals available at the drugstore to combat Athlete’s foot (although you can if you wish.) Perhaps the best way to immediately treat the condition is to run out and get a fresh pair of flip-flops and wear them to get lots of air flow around those feet and toes. The fungus will go away in a hurry if the feet are cool and dry.

The question of socks is a very interesting one regarding Athlete’s Foot. Often, people assume that it’s important to have nice, clean white cotton socks, or organic cotton socks. What is important to get rid of the fungus is “dryness” and in order to keep the feet dry, socks should be made from a fabric that breathes or which wicks moisture away from the skin.

The picture above was taken from Dermnet, which is a wonderful resource for learning about really nasty skin conditions.

In addition to keeping the infected feet dry, anti fungal essential oils such as Tea Tree can be used. You can buy Tea Tree and other oils here.

Other oils which may be helpful are Peppermint (one of my favorites), Lavender, Thyme, and some blends designed by ND Gary Young, Melrose, Thieves, Purification, ClaraDerm. Oils may be added to a foot bath with Epsom salts or natural bath salts or diluted 50:50 with a natural carrier oil or massage oil. They may also be applied directly to the affected areas, usually between the toes and around the toenails.

Getting a foot fungus is no fun, it’s best to be rid of it as quick as possible. As with any medical concern, a person should always see their primary care physician, for a professional diagnostic opinion.

I wish you a fun-filled, fungus-free spring!