Last week, our reporter Deirdre O'Shaughnessy discovered the benefits of an intensive pedicure at the Heaven Scent Beauty Spa.

As one of our most neglected body parts, feet are often covered up in ill-fitting shoes and stifling socks. However, as Deirdre discovered, looking after your feet can leave you walking on air.

This week, Health in the City delves even further to answer your questions in relation to foot problems and foot care.

While we may not be able to afford a professional pedicure every day, there are steps we can take to ensure our tootsies stay in top form this winter.

Step in the right direction

Practice good foot care. Check feet often, or have a member of the family check them. If there is a problem with feet, a family doctor can help or a podiatrist.

One easy step to take is to remember to put feet up when sitting down. This helps keep blood moving to feet. So can stretching, walking, or having a gentle foot massage.

A warm footbath is also helpful, but make sure feet are dry before putting on shoes.

Make sure the shoe fits

Wearing comfortable shoes that fit well can prevent many foot problems.

Here are some tips for making sure shoes fit:

• Most people have one foot that is larger than the other; fit the shoe to fit the larger foot.
• Don't buy shoes by the size without trying them on first.
• Choose a shoe that is shaped like your foot. Styles like high heels or pointed toes can hurt feet.
• Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the shoe.
• Don't buy shoes that feel too tight and hope that they will stretch.
• Low-heeled shoes are more comfortable, safer, and less damaging than high-heeled shoes.

Something's afoot: Common problems

Fungal infections, such as athlete's foot, happen because feet are in shoes most of the time. Shoes are warm, dark, and moist?the perfect place for fungus to grow. A fungus can cause dry skin, redness, blisters, itching, and peeling.

To prevent infections keep your feet clean and dry. Be sure to dry the area between your toes. Change your shoes and socks or stockings often to help keep your feet dry and use cotton socks if possible.

Dry skin can cause itching and burning feet. Use mild soap in small amounts and a cream or lotion on your legs and feet every day.

Corns and calluses are caused by pressure when the bony parts of your feet rub against your shoes. Wearing shoes that fit better or using special pads may help.

Bunions develop when the joints in your big toe no longer fit together. They become swollen and tender. Bunions tend to run in families. If a bunion is not too painful, wearing shoes cut wide at the toes and instep (middle part of the foot), taping the foot, or wearing pads that cushion the bunion may help.

Ingrown toenails are caused by a piece of the nail breaking the skin. This can happen if you don't cut your toenails straight across so the corner of the nail can be seen above the skin. Use clippers made to cut toenails. Ingrown toenails are very common on the large toes.

Hammertoe is caused by a shortening of the tendons that control toe movements. The toe knuckle grows and pulls the toe back. Over time, the joint gets bigger and stiffens as it rubs against shoes. This can affect your balance.

Spurs are calcium bumps that grow on bones of your feet. They are caused by stress on the feet. Standing for long periods of time, wearing badly fitting shoes, or being overweight can make spurs worse.

Don't get off on the wrong foot

Good foot care and regular foot checks are an important part of personal health care. If you have foot problems, talk to a doctor.

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