People with diabetes can post the correct foot washing process in the bathroom and carefully wash their feet daily.
Washing and drying is a necessary step
- Wash your feet with warm water. Check the water temperature with your wrist.
- Wash thoroughly with mild soap, especially the bottoms of the toes and between the toes.
- Dry the skin by patting gently, avoiding vigorous rubbing.
- Dry the toe crevices carefully. Wet skin can easily harbor bacteria or fungus that can cause infection.
- Clean toenail crevices carefully. Do not use sharp objects. If you can’t see it, ask for help or have it cleaned regularly by a podiatrist.
- Trim the toenail in parallel and smooth the edges. To avoid digging the toenail into the flesh, trim the toenail flush with the end of the toe rather than cutting it in a curve. Use nail clippers, not scissors. Sand the edges of the toenail with an emery board. Do not use a sharp file or wooden stick to clean around the toenail. If you can’t see it yourself or if the toenail is thick, split or yellow, have your doctor or podiatrist trim it.
- Prevent foot calluses by polishing the skin with a pumice stone as explained by your doctor.
- Change clean socks daily.
What should I do after washing my feet?
- Apply lanolin or other moisturizing moisturizer to keep the skin on your feet soft and prevent calluses and chaffing. Avoid applying between the toes.
Cautions:
Avoid strong antiseptic soaps, chemicals (such as laxative salts, iodine, or preparations to remove corns, calluses, and warts), or fragrant lotions.
Do not trim or tear the skin around the toenail (cuticle).