In the movie based on the novel of Cynthia Voigt “Homecoming,” the Tillermans were often seen walking around their grandmother’s property without proper shoes on.
Set in a humble little town called Crisfield, once you see how hard everybody works, you would think that going barefoot most of the time is truly the logical thing to do to minimize physical stress.
But really, every opportunity to let THE feet breathe after being “constricted” in shoes is not only great for comfort, but it’s a source of delight as well.
If you enjoy walking barefoot most of the time, do you know that you’re actually at lower risk of developing fungal infections than someone who’s constantly in shoes? Good for you, right?
As long as you clean your feet properly when you bathe and before going to bed, you’re not likely to suffer from foot odor and even toenail infections. Most of these foot health issues stem from environments where spores are present and can easily be transmitted – shoes that don’t get properly dried out (say, after a whole day of work or hours of exercising) and socks that have been worn repeatedly without washing are usual breeding places for fungus, along with “moist” places like the gym.
According to a podiatrist in Greenbelt, Maryland, fungal infections are easy enough to prevent and treat and one of the proven effective ways is by going barefoot every now and then, just to let the feet breathe and dry properly especially after they have perspired a lot.
Another is through proper hygiene, of course, such as washing the feet with warm water and germicidal soap, soaking them in a solution of warm water and Epsom salts (which also offers therapeutic benefits), drying the feet thoroughly before wearing socks or shoes, properly drying your shoes after wear then spraying them with Lysol (and perhaps alternating with different pairs of shoes every few days), changing socks daily, regular clipping of the nails, etc.
However, if the fungal infection persists, it’s best to seek the help of a trusted podiatrist for specific medication (like upping certain vitamins, taking antibiotics if infection is serious, and using topical creams) and advice on other treatments that would be effective in eradicating the problem or preventing reinfection. Sometimes, some lifestyle changes are also recommended by these medical professionals to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment.
The feet are subjected to a lot of stresses every day, so naturally, their “health” can easily get compromised. With these tips and pieces of advice, you can take better care of these important body parts that hold you up.
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