Caring for your feet on a regular basis is not only important for your health, but for the health of other people. Having dry cracked feet can be a sign of more than just dry skin. Whether it's athlete's foot or another fungal infection, it can be a painful experience that can lead to extreme discomfort when walking. Fortunately there are plenty of natural remedies that can kill off bacteria and fungus whilst restoring the moisture balance of the feet and helping to stop the spread of infection to other family members and gym goers. Here are a few simple tips to help keep you feet clean and hygienic every day. 

Fungal Nails

Fungal nails are often thick, yellow and unsightly. They can cause large amounts of pain in the toes when walking, which causes sufferers to adjust their gait, which may lead to muscular imbalances. The earlier fungal nail infections are caught the better, as they often take months to treat. Visiting an experienced podiatrist will always be your best option; however, if you aren't able to get to one or would like to take a more natural approach try coconut and tea tree oil. Both oils have anti-fungal properties and can be applied either directly to the nail or used in a footbath. Ideally you should treat the nail twice a day and clip or file away the dry flaking residue when possible. Doing this will allow the oils to penetrate deeper into the fungus and kill it more quickly. Try to apply tea tree oil with a cotton swab though, as direct contact with the skin can sometimes cause mild rashes.

Foot Moisturising

Being able to treat your nails is just one benefit of coconut oil, it also has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties too and so is perfect for treating foot odour whilst moisturising the skin at the same time. Apply all over the foot just before bed, especially in between the toes and on the pads of the feet. You can wear wool or cotton socks as well if you want to stop the oil from making a mess on your duvet; it also helps to stop the feet from drying out. Combining this with eucalyptus gel is a great way to remove dry skin. However, regular use of a pumice stone or foot scrub will also help the oils and gels to penetrate the skin deeper down. 

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