After the hot, exhausting and sweltering summer, the rain has brought much relief. Monsoon is the season of romance, fun, greenery and scenic beauty. But there is another side of the season too.
Walking on filthy pavements, jumping in water-logged streets, moist cool atmosphere and dampness lead to sticky footwear, sweating feet, bacterial and fungal infections like ring worm, itching and redness. Your feet bear the real brunt of monsoon. You can avoid foot and toe infections by taking some extra care, beauty expert Shahnaz Husain tells you how.
The main problem during monsoon is high humidity and sweat. The feet are among the areas where germs accumulate and odour forms. The waste matter and sweat have to be removed by daily washing to eliminate odour and keep the feet fresh and clean.
Make sure you wash your feet every time you come back from outside with gentle warm water and a mild soap. Dry the area between your toes and apply an anti-fungal powder daily.
Pay special attention to your feet while bathing. After washing them well, dry them thoroughly and apply talcum powder. Keep your feet dry and avoid wearing wet shoes. Several bacteria breed in humidity and wearing closed shoes makes it the perfect environment for pesky fungal infections during the monsoon season.
If you wear closed shoes, talcum powder can be sprinkled inside the shoes. However, in the hot season, avoid high heels and covered footwears. Slippers and open sandals are best because they allow maximum ventilation and help the perspiration evaporate quickly. But open footwear also attracts dirt and foot hygiene becomes all the more important. After a hot day, soak your feet in cold water mixed with salt.
A foot problem called Athlete’s Foot develops more easily during hot and humid weather because it thrives on soggy skin. If neglected, it can become a stubborn problem with an itchy condition. Athlete’s Foot starts as a fungal infection. So if there is dry scaling on the feet, especially between the toes, with some itching, consult a dermatologist without delay.
Anti-fungal preparations are effective in dealing with the problem in the initial stages. However, excessive moisture caused by excessive sweating, tight shoes and humid weather can lead to bacterial activity and this worsens the condition.
Avoid socks but if it is necessary to wear them, use cotton ones. In fact, during the hot and humid season, the feet should be exposed to the air as much as possible. Regularly cut short your foot nails during the monsoon to prevent dust and dirt from getting collected under your nails to check fungal infections.
Use foot scrubber and then apply a good moisturiser that works effectively on hard skin and helps keep the heels soft and smooth.
Here are some home remedies for monsoon foot care:
Foot soak: In one-fourth bucket of warm water, add half cup of coarse salt and 10 drops of lemon or orange essential oil (if you cannot get essential oil, use half cup of lemon or orange juice). If your feet tend to sweat a lot, use a few drops of tea tree oil as it has germicidal properties. It helps to deal with bad odour. Soak the feet for 10 to 15 minutes.
Foot lotion: Mix three tablespoons of rose water, two tablespoons of lemon juice and one teaspoon pure glycerin. Apply on feet and leave on for half an hour.
Footcare for dryness: In one-fourth bucket of cold water, put two tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon of herbal shampoo and one tablespoon of almond oil. Soak your feet in it for 20 minutes.
Cooling foot bath: Add rose water, lemon juice and a splash of eau de cologne in cold water and soak feet in it. It cools, cleans and removes odour.
Cooling massage oil: Take 100 ml of olive oil and add two drops each of eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil and three drops of khus or rose oil. Mix together and keep in airtight glass jar. Use a little of this for foot massage. It cools and protects the skin and keeps it healthy.