07/14/2009 12:00 am
Step Up to Summer-Perfect Feet, by Dr. Suzanne Levine
Tempted to keep your tootsies tucked away this summer? Forget it! With these at-home, purse-friendly remedies from Institute Beauté's Dr. Suzanne Levine, you'll have your calluses, blisters, bunions and more prettified in no time.
© Shutterstock
Editor’s Note: Suzanne Marin Levine, D.P.M, PC, has been a podiatric surgeon in Manhattan for more than 20 years and is currently on staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital and the Center for Specialty Care in Manhattan. She is the author of several books including My Feet Are Killing Me
and 50 Ways to Ease Foot Pain. Dr. Levine was thrice nominated as one of America’s Top Podiatrists by the Consumer Research Council of America and serves as the Vice President of the International Aesthetic Foot Society. Click here to learn more about Dr. Levine.
Along with sunshine and beautiful weather, summertime brings excitement about warm-weather fashion – those sexy shades, flowing summer dresses and, most importantly, open-toed shoes. Nothing trumps sashaying down a busy street in a pair of your sassiest sandals, or dancing the summer nights away in your most seductive peep-toe stilettos. But with the pleasure sometimes comes the pain …
Maintaining sandal-ready feet in between doctor visits and pedicure appointments may be difficult for women, especially when we’re all trying to cut back during this recession. But don’t let the pressure of the economic downturn cause you to keep your toes hidden away! Podiatrist Dr. Suzanne Levine, D.P.M., offers home solutions to some of the most pressing problèmes des pieds, remedies that will help you keep your tootsies soft and beautiful during these rough economic times.
Q: I have calluses. How can I get rid of them?
A: To be rid of calluses, treat your feet with a mask. Combine a half-cup of kosher salt, five tablespoons mineral oil and four tablespoons of rosemary. Cover your feet with the mixture, sit back and let the mask work its magic for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Looking for a store-bought option? We also use Head to Toe Urix 40 and Revitaderm 40, some stronger products that we sell at Institute Beauté.
Q: I have blisters. How can I take care of them?
A: To treat blisters, spray your feet with antiperspirant deodorant and then massage them with the contents of a few Vitamin E capsules and some fresh aloe. We often give patients Band-Aid Advanced Healing Blister or Dr. Scholl’s For Her Miracle Shield.
Q: Bunions seem like a more serious problem because it involves the bone. How do I deal with them?
A: When bunions are inflamed, soak your feet in lukewarm water and a half-cup of Epsom salt. Afterward, pat them dry and rub a little Preparation H on them. For hiding your bunions in great summer sandals, here is one of the best-kept tricks: pat a little Color Science Mineral Makeup on the bunion.
Q: I have athlete’s foot. How do I manage it?
A: To treat athlete’s foot, first spray your feet with apple-cider vinegar from a spray bottle. Then, spritz them with a little antiperspirant. Finally, massage your feet with some tea-tree oil mixed with either rosemary or oregano. Fungus loves darkness and moisture so remember to dry them well. In addition to Tineacide’s Shoe Spray and Fungal Cream, Institute Beauté does a great new laser procedure to get rid of fungus, cleanly and simply. Click here to learn more.
Q: At the end of each day, I need to relax my feet and reduce the swelling from wearing strappy sandals all day. What’s the best remedy for that?
A: To reduce swelling and relax your feet, soak them in a half-cup of Epsom Salt with fresh lavender and four chamomile teabags. Other products that can help are the Bliss Sock Salve.
Tell us: How confident are you when it comes to your feet? What’s the biggest reason you’re tempted to keep your toes under cover?
Click here to visit Dr. Suzanne Levine’s blog.
- Email this Post
- login or register to post comments
12 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
I’m never tempted to keep my well pedicured toes under cover. I take care of my bunion , callous and corn free feet. I expose them for all the world to see. I have nice feet and work to keep them healthy and attractive.
I’m shocked by some of the feet I see exposed for the world to see. Huge bunion, callous, corn dirty unpedicured feet. I can’t describe some of the nightmare feet I’ve seen. Some people have no pride.
thanks for the advice. Was up in the mountains in sandals and could have used the recipe for the foot mask.
As a Type II diabetic, I’m tuned in to the whole foot-care regime not only for beauty reasons but for health reasons. Since I don’t like having others (except my podiatrist) touching my feet, I do it myself, and find it a relaxing and fun way to combine a little pampering with health care. I’ve got a great "library" of fun nail colors, and lots of nice scented salts to soak my tootsies in after a long day. (Right now, I’m sporting a blue-green color to celebrate pool season!) I definitely look forward to summer flip-flop and sandal weather to show off my handiwork, if only to amuse my college students, who get a charge out of their old prof with the neon toes! (How little they know about what REALLY lurks behind that mild-mannered exterior - hehhehheh!)
I have always had trouble with my feet and have found that any product with tea tree oil is a real balm. This remarkable oil seems to have been hiding under a leaf for a long time as, only recently, have I heard of it and it seems to be in everything. There is a cream from PhysAssist that actually helps my feet stop hurting at night (due to vasculitis) so I can sleep. I never thought a topical product could help but this sure does. And, it beats taking aspirin or Aleve internally to use an external product for relief.
Living in So Cal, I wear sandals pretty much all year and indulge in bi-weekly pedicures. In between appointments, conditioner or shampoo on the pumice works well. So does the PedEgg! I also found these most fabulous ‘booties’ to wear at night. The heels contain some sort of gel moisturizer that makes my feet incredibly soft. It’s a bonus that they are ‘toeless’ - my feet can breathe while sleeping!