Sole therapy: Quick and easy foot care tips for the monsoon

Monsoon can be a nightmare for hygiene lovers. One of the first casualties of the season are your feet, which come in contact with dirty water. Monsoon can lead to smelly feet, fungal infections and allergies. These problems can easily be dealt by following simple foot care tips like wearing comfortable and breathable footwear, say experts. Shikhee Agrawal, Head Training, The Body Shop, and Aakriti Kochar, beauty and make-up expert at Oriflame India, share some tips.

* Hygiene is most important to avoid fungal infections during the monsoon. Damp feet, socks and shoes in rain lead to skin-related problems on the feet. Make sure they are dry and neat at all times.

* Once a week, soak your feet in hot water with salt or mild shampoo for 15 minutes. This kills bacteria and softens the skin. You may want to use an exfoliator post-soaking for deep cleaning and avoiding any fungal infections. Follow it by applying foot cream.

* Monsoon may be moist but it leaves your skin dehydrated. So, ensure you keep your skin hydrated using a foot cream, then apply body cream after your shower and evening before bed (make sure to always apply cream on clean feet).

* If monsoon makes your feet smelly, then use lemon drops in hot water to soak your feet twice a week. Lemon kills bad smell and avoids too much sweating on the feet.

* Just like your face, your feet also demands extra care, especially during the monsoon. Apply a good moisturiser that works effectively on hard skin and helps keep the heels soft and smooth.

* Another thing to remember during the monsoon is to keep your nails short. It will prevent the dust and dirt from getting collected underneath your nails which may cause fungal infections.

* Ditch your high heels and covered footwear for flip-flops, slippers or other open footwear. In such footwear, the water gets washed out easily, evaporating quickly and making your feet dry.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more