All summer long we’ve been polishing up and moisturizing legs, arms and feet. In warm weather we pay attention to how these parts of our bodies look, because warm weather clothing and footwear expose them for all to see. Now that these areas are going undercover during the cooler weather, they tend to get ignored more.

Elbows, knees and heels are especially prone to becoming dry, flaky and cracked when the air is dry and they get neglected.

For extremely thick, dry heels I recommend Avon’s Foot Works Cracked Heel Relief Cream. It contains a topical analgesic and works as an antiseptic to soothe and protect against infection.

For less dire cases, the old home remedy of applying petroleum jelly under a pair of socks overnight does wonders. This works well for hands too. Whenever doing any activity that requires gloves, such as cleaning or yard work (like raking all those fall leaves), just apply petroleum jelly to your hands before putting on your gloves.

The best treatment is to prevent the dry skin before it gets started. Exfoliating with a body scrub is a first step. Then moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Apply your body lotion or cream immediately after getting out of the shower to lock in moisture. Keep a protective moisturizing hand and body lotion at both the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Remember that when you unveil these areas again next spring, you don’t want to have to start a reclamation project.

With warm weather bowing out to cooler autumn days, the carefree flip-flops and sandals of summer will soon give way to more seasonal footwear. Hot on this fall’s list of must-haves are booties and ankle boots in leather and suede to accentuate those long sleek leggings.

But now that your toes are going to be kept inside for several months, be sure to protect them from common injuries and ailments.

The term “ingrown toenail” is an unattractive one, but the medical term, onychocryptosis, is not much more appealing. Ingrown toenails can occur as the result of injury, such as stubbing the toe but more often the causes are simply ill-fitting or too-tight shoes and incorrect trimming of the nail. An ingrown nail curls into the nail bed as it grows. They can be very painful and if not treated can become infected. Ingrown toenails are most common on the big toes.

Prevent ingrown nails by trimming the toenail straight across. Resist the urge to cut the nail to follow the curve of the end of the toe. If an ingrown nail starts it can be treated at home by soaking the foot in warm soapy water, and inserting a wad of sterile cotton under the edge of the nail to keep it from growing into the skin. If the condition becomes chronic or there are signs of infection, seek advice from a medical professional.

Always be sure that the shoes you wear are the correct sixe and that the toebox gives adequate room to prevent ingrown nails from becoming a painful price to pay for fashion.

“My feet hurt!”

Chances are if you say this at the end of a long day as you kick off your shoes to reveal pinched toes and tired soles, you also may have a tendency to develop calluses and corns.

Calluses and corns are areas of thick skin that result from pressure and friction over a bony prominence. On the bottom of the foot these are called calluses and on the top, they are called corns. The most common area for a callus is the ball of the foot, where the pressure on the foot is greatest.

Over the counter callus removers contain acid that burns off the callus but should be used with caution as they can burn healthy skin as well.

If you have a callus, then soak your feet in warm water with bath oil or a moisturizing bubble bath product to soften the area. This will make it easier to file off with a pumice stone. I don’t recommend shaving the callus as this could lead to infection.

There are also creams that “roll” away dead skin to keep calluses from forming, such as “Pretty Feet”. Avon has several creams in their “Foot Works” line that help with dead skin, cracked heels and calluses.

Of course, the best way to deal with corns and calluses is to deal with the root of the problem. Reduce pressure on the foot by wearing low-heeled shoes and avoid pointy-toed shoes that squeeze the toes into an unnatural shape. Use lotion on your feet to keep the skin moisturized and supple. Keep ahead of emerging calluses by using a pumice stone or emery board to file away dead skin.

After a good foot treatment and the application of a good moisturizing lotion, remember to treat the feet with care. Try pampering them with thick padded socks, cushion insoles and low-heeled shoes that are kinder to feet.

If you have a chronic callus problem, you should seek the advice of a medical professional.

Now that it’s summer you can’t wait to slip your feet into those sexy sandals but are your feet ready to be seen? Here’s your guide to feet as fabulous as your footwear.

Soak feet first in warm, soapy water. If you have very dry and cracked feet, use a little bath oil in the water. Soaking will also make nails easier to clip and shape. After toweling off your feet, clip your toenails evenly and straight. Next, use a pumice stone to smooth out rough areas from heels and the ball of the foot. Follow this with a foot massage using a moisturizing lotion. For a tingly, fresh feel, try a lotion with peppermint. You can rub the lotion into your cuticles and push them back gently if you like.

You’re now ready to polish those nails up pretty. Choose a color that will get attention, but nothing garish. Unnatural colors such as green or blue will not look fashionable on your toenails. Coral, pink, rose, peach, bright red or even a french manicure will make your feet look feminine and begging to be shown off. Add a toe ring as an added attention-grabber.

Now slide those sexy feet into a pair of great sandals and take them out for a walk!