Daily Aha!
Special thanks to YouBeauty for allowing us to contribute to their Daily Aha!
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
Is It OK to Pop a Blister?
We along with YouBeauty answers the question: Is it ok to pop a blister?
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
The Heat Is...OFF! 4 Tips to Care for Your Skin During the Winter
The temperature outside may be falling, but the need to give your skin the proper care is still at an all-time high. Here are 4 tips to help your skin win the battle against Jack Frost.
Exfoliate
Cold weather brings low humidity and high winds that strips your skin of its natural moisture, leaving your skin dry and- over time- thickened and rough. To rid your skin of those excess, unwanted layers, exfoliate your skin 3 to 4 times WEEKLY. You always want to make sure to exfoliate on wet skin (particularly after soaking, bathing, or showering) to prevent causing further damage to your skin.
Moisturize
Once you remove the skin you don't want, the next step is to nourish the skin that you do want. To make your skin go from rough and scaly to supple and smooth, moisturize your skin 2 to 3 times DAILY- giving priority to the areas that are in direct exposure to the cold.
Sunscreen
Yep, you read right! Sunscreen shields you from sun's harmful ultraviolet rays that are problematic, EVEN during the winter months. A minimum SPF of 15 should be used and applied to sun-exposed skin 30 minutes before going outdoors and RE-applied every 1 to 2 hours. Hitting the slopes this winter? Then you should "up" your SPF to 30. High altitudes puts you closer to the sun, making the sun rays even more damaging to the skin.
What the foot !?!
Socks
Avoid wearing cotton socks in freezing cold temperatures. Instead, look for socks made of synthetic materials (nylon, special polyesters, etc.) to wick away excess moisture and alleviate chilled tootsies. To learn more, check out Jack Frost Nipping at Your...Toes.
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
Pssst! Your Epidermis is Showing (Winter Edition)
Coat...check! Hat and gloves...check! Scarf...check! But did you grab your sunscreen? That's right! See why applying sunscreen is a must, even when it's cold outside.
Apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. Even when temps turn frigid, sun rays are still strong enough to be harmful against your skin. That's why it's always best to apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. The combination of cool weather and high altitudes can put you at an even greater risk for sun damaged skin by greater than 10%. In this case, you should look for sunscreen with a SPF of 30.
Make sure all exposed skin is exposed. Even as you bundle up in layers and layers to stay warm, chances are there is still one part of your body that is still exposed...your face! Make sure to cover your face- and any other exposed skin- before braving the sun and the cold. Remember, it takes 15 minutes for your skin to fully absorb sunscreen and it should be applied at least 30 minutes before going outdoors, for maximum protection.
Reapply. Be sure to always reapply your sunscreen every 1-2 hours. Excessive sweating or engaging in outdoor activities may require more frequent applications.
Lastly, be sure that your sunscreen of choice is marked "broad spectrum" and "water resistant." Also, inspect your skin regularly for any potential changes, such as moles and lesions. If you suspect any changes, report to your physician immediately
Learn more about the importance of sunscreen HERE!
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
Foot Fungus Amongus
Our friends at Wake - The Foot Sanctuary & Shop lets us get the word out of the Foot Fungus Amongus....Check it out!!!
Crossfoot: 5 tips to finding the right shoes for crossfit
With CrossFit being the latest workout that is all the craze, do you have the right shoe gear to conquer your workout? Here are 5 tips to find the right shoes that will put the “fit” in CrossFit!
Lightweight
The key for any CrossFit workout is to allow your feet to perform in as close to a minimalistic natural state as possible. The rigors of CrossFit subjects your body to maximum physical exertion. There’s no need to carry anymore unnecessary weight on an already taxing workout. Remember, any shoe for CrossFit should yield the feeling and freedom of being shoeless while providing the comfort and protection of a proper fitting shoe.
CrossFit Activities of Interest: Running, Box jumping, Jump rope
Minimal Heel to Toe Drop
Your heel should not be in a raised position when sporting the ideal CrossFit kick. Having increased cushioning in heel- as opposed to the forefoot- can transfer too much weight towards the toes with any activities involving planting your feet firmly. Also, increased cushioning in the heel promotes premature heel strike impact when landing, giving way to increased pressures to the heel that can be detrimental long term. Instead, cushioning should be as consistant as possible from heel to toe. This allows for pressure and shock absorption to disperse evenly across your feet with activity.
CrossFit Activities of Interest: Any crossfit activity
Minimal Tread
It is always best to “tread lightly” when on lookout for the right shoes for CrossFit. Less tread on the outsole creates more stability, allowing you to stand firm. Shoes with more extensive treading can cause you to lose your footing which may lead to injury.
CrossFit Activities of Interest: Burpee, Squats, Lunges
Wide Toe Box
Our feet naturally expands outward (called splaying) with weightbearing or establishing a firm stable stance. That’s why you want to make sure to find the right shoes with a toe box that can accommodate for the expansion. But take care to not sport shoes that give too much room. Find shoes that are roomy enough for comfort, but snug enough to prevent side-to-side movement.
CrossFit Activities of Interest: Deadlifting, Kettlebell swinging, Tire flipping
Breathable
An intense crossfit workout is best tackled with shoes that are made with breathable- often mesh- material. As heat build-up mounts, mesh lining provides increased ventilation helping control sweating which can minimize problems such as chaffing, foot odor, slippage within the shoe, and the formation of blisters.
Crossfit Activities of Interest: Any crossfit activity
Check our Soul Searching Series and Get Sporty for more info on finding the right shoes for the right activity!
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
Can I get athlete's foot from my yoga mat?
Southern Hospitality answers the question: Can I get athlete's foot from my yoga mat? Courtesy of YouBeauty!
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
5 Ways to Keep Your Feet Infection-Free in Public Places
Whether you’ve made the trek off to college or have a knack for going barefoot in public facilities, there is no doubt that you will need to protect yourself from the dreaded staph infection. Not just any staph infection, but MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Staph infections are spread through skin-to-skin contact. However, MRSA is a form of bacteria that is resistant to common antibiotics used to treat other forms of staph infections. Contact with MRSA can range from just a simple pimple on the skin to a severely invasive infection that can lead to amputation. College dorms, gyms, locker rooms, public pools and hospitals are all common breeding grounds for MRSA. Here are 5 ideas to follow to keep your feet infection-free!
Protect Open Wounds: Any cuts, wounds, or breaks in the skin give easy access for bacteria to invade your body and cause an infection. The solution? Make sure these areas are securely covered to prevent being infected. It is also great as an added precaution to inspect your feet regularly depending on how frequent you share public facilities.
Wash Socks After Use: The warmth and moisture from your feet absorbed by your socks can allow bacteria to fester. You should never where the same pair of socks for consecutive workouts. Instead, wash them after working out and sport a fresh clean pair for each workout.
Don’t Share Personal Items: Sharing is NOT caring in the case of MRSA. Personal items such as towels, razors, shoes, or even socks can bring you in direct contact with the bacteria. Even if another person’s item may appear to be clean, don’t trust it! You run the risk of not truly finding out until it is too late.
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
Dx Beach Feet: 4 Ways to Heal Your Summer Heels
Summertime fun means sporting sandals or- in many cases- going barefoot, that exposes your feet to the harsh elements of the season. Check out these 4 tips that are just what the doctor ordered to heal your summer heels!
Wash
It’s just not enough to let the water and suds trickle down to your feet when showering and claim that they are clean. A barefoot day at the beach or a simple saunter in your favorite flip-flops can expose your feet to all sorts of yuck-n-muck. The solution? Take care to give your feet a thorough washing DAILY (that means rubbin’ and scrubbin’). Foot washing is like hand washing and should be done routinely. It is also a great idea to soak your feet with warm water and Epsom salt. Soaking your feet provides a one-two punch of deodorizing and drawing out toxins to keep them funk-free!
Inspect
Bacteria, Virus, and Fungus….oh my! Your feet can become infected with any of these “beauties” with any cuts or openings of the skin. Whether you have the displeasure of stepping on rocks, shells, or any foreign object openings of the skin can be dangerous- large and small. That’s why it is essential to regularly inspect your feet for any open wounds or lesions that may be present. Warts can indicate viruses (such as HPV), while redness, swelling, and/or itching can be signs of bacterial (E. coli) or fungal (Athlete’s foot) infections.
Exfoliate
Unforgiving surfaces such as hot sand and pavement can lead to a load of calluses on the feet. To transition your feet from rough to smooth, exfoliate the callused areas. Be careful to ALWAYS exfoliate WET skin- preferably when showering or soaking. Tools, such as pumice stones or foot files are most aggressive, but scrubs can also do the trick.
Moisturize
Once you remove the skin you don’t want, you always want to show a lil love to the skin you do want. And nothing says T-L-C like a rich moisturizer. A daily slather of moisturizer to clean feet smoothes the skin and provides nutrients to make your feet very supple. It’s the perfect finish to healing those summer heels!
Oh!...and as always, if you’re going to continue to be out in the sun… DON’T forget the sunscreen!!
Putting your best FEET forward,
SH
