IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH, PART 2

December 24, 2013

February 11, 2014

Last week I exposed the sad state of my feet. This week it's my hands. They're marginally better in that I haven't lost a fingernail (YES!!! Let's be thankful for small miracles!); however, they currently look like WHO DUNNIT AND WHAT FOR?!?!?!?

So here's what happened. I, because I have very long fingers, am of the impression that my hands look best with long nails. I don't think it takes a genius to agree with me. My natural nails will never grow above the tip of my finger, let alone produce ten long nails of the same length.  I also happen to prefer press-on nails to acrylics because they look infinitely more natural (that's my freshly done hand in the first picture). For the past year, I have pretty much kept my natural nails covered. I would soak the press-ons off a couple of hours before my nail appointment-- sometimes a half-hour -- and go apply a new set. Now here's where the problem really began. On the box, it cautions you to remove them 7-10 days after application. I, however,  would get just a tad lazy, and would keep them on 2-3 weeks. Again, I had told my nail tech that I felt I should have gaps between applications so that my natural nails could breathe. She said, "WHY???? Your hands are so beautiful with them. Keep them on." And I did. Ultimately, I developed a fungus under each nail (it's clearly visible under my right index finger); my left pinky nail cracked all the way across from the trauma of being covered; my right middle finger has always had a lengthwise crack, and it was exacerbated by the lack of oxygen; and all ten nails were extremely weak and thin. Once my big toenails detached, though, I decided it was time to deal with the health of all nails on both feet and hands.

This is going to be a long road to recovery. Will I throw on a set of nails for a couple of days to attend an event or go to a party??? ABSOLUTELY!!! Just as I'm going to paint my nailbed when the time comes. But these are temporary measures to soothe my vain ego  on occasion; and in the interim, the only covering on my nails will be Nailtiques and a fungicide. Long-term, my nails will no longer bare the brunt of my desire to look good.  

If any of you have a similar issue, please see our FEETOLOGY page on foot care for remedy options.

IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH

AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL?!?!
DECEMBER 25, 2013

WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!

FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Those are beautiful feet in the picture from December 25th, aren't they?  Little did I know that underneath that beauty was a vey ugly situation just waiting to come to light.

A couple of years ago I got an infection from a salon pedicure. The pain and swelling subsided with the use of an antibiotic ointment; however, on either side of both big toes, there was a thin strip of nail that had detached from the nailbed. I didn't understand that that meant there was still an active infection or fungus. Early last year, I did ask my doctor if there were an issue with which I needed to be concerned, and she said no; the nail seemed to be healthy. It didn't appear to be spreading, so I left it alone thinking that it would ultimately heal itself. Fast forward to the summer of 2013. I, like many women, want my toes to be perfect in the sandal months, so I asked my nail tech to put acrylic on my big toes to keep them from breaking and maintain a perfect square. My natural nails are thin, and crack easily, and that just simply doesn't work when you want to sport strappy stilettos. What my tech didn't tell me was that I needed to be more concerned with my nail health, that I needed to forego the acrylic and make sure that any infection or fungus was eliminated first. 

That warning didn't happen, and a couple of months after the acrylic was applied, I began to notice very strange things with my left toe. One time when I went to get a fill, there was actually a discernible bubble under my nail. When I inquired about the origin of it, she just said she didn't know what the problem was and proceeded to complete the fill. Shortly after that, summer was over, so I decided to let the acrylic grow out so my nails could breathe, and I stopped getting fills. A few weeks after that, my left toenail broke very low, lower than half way down, and there was what looked like a bruise underneath. But again my nail tech said to cover it with acrylic, and I chose to go along with that program so that the break wouldn't rip across. That was a bad decision. A month or so later, I noticed that my left toenail had almost completely detached from the nail bed. A week after that, it ripped off. I then removed my nail polish, and checked my right big toenail, and it, too, had detached. That ugly situation is what is shown in the picture from the morning of February 4, 2014. The night of February 4, 2014, I decided to file off the remaining acrylic on both big toes, and my right big toenail broke half way down. I then removed it down to the point where it was actually attached, close to the cuticle. Now they're twins in ugliness!  OMG!!!!

I'm sharing this in the hopes that you will avoid my huge error. I want to place some responsibility with my nail tech (and I DO caution you to do your research and buy your own nail implements when it comes to the person that services your feet); however, the buck stops here. They're my toes, and I should have taken the issues I saw more seriously. I'm blessed that it's February not June, and wearing closed-toed shoes at the moment works well. But rest assured, if it comes down to it and I must show my feet (the bedroom comes to mind), I'll be polishing some nailbed!!!!

To be continued.....

THE FEET WE SEE #15

PRETTY CELEBRITY FEET

We're at the advent of award season 2013/2014, and while we have much to anticipate, it's always fun to take a glimpse at what we've seen. This entry of THE FEET WE SEE chronicles the lovely tootsies of famous celebs.

EVA LONGORIA

JESSICA SIMPSON

KIM KARDASHIAN

KIMORA LEE

ROSARIO DAWSON

5 TIPS FOR KISSABLE FEET

We all know that our feet take the most abuse of any body part. They serve us well by providing balance, without them, no one would be able to stand; they propel us forward efficiently such that we can walk; they endure being squeezed into shoes that force them to conform to an odd shape. And yet, they frequently receive the least TLC, and can look the worst of any body part. So, my focus is to offer some easy tips to keep your feet looking kissable. After all, isn't the goal to be adored from head to toe?

Here are my top 5 tips for pretty feet:

1) Apply a moisturizer DAILY. I typically do this as soon as I get out of the shower, and before my skins dries to a crackly crunch to help seal in moisture;

2) Ladies, BUY the nail color that you choose for your toes when you get your pedicure. Somehow or other, the majority of us do not spring for gel polish on our toes, and the color gets chipped after a week or so, leaving these digits looking woefully neglected. However, if you own your nail polish, you can perform the necessary touch ups to keep them in tip top, kissable shape.

3) Experience the glory of a foot massage. No! I did not say get a body massage where they give your feet five minutes of attention, and the rest of you gets the other 45. I said make an appointment at your local massage establishment  where their sole focus is your feet, and they massage them-- and you-- into a state of ecstasy!!!

4) Attend to your foot woes. If you have hammer toes, bunions, calluses, fungus issues, etc., please do yourself as a whole-- and your feet, specifically-- a favor, and handle those problems.

5) Purchase a product such as T!NTALIZE® concealer for feet to cover unattractive blemishes and even the skin tone on your feet.  For full product information, go to www.tintalize.com.

THE COLOR OF FALL

As summer hastens its march into fall, we follow the transition of pedicure colors from summer's powder blues,  fuschia pinks and coral oranges to fall's navy blues and teals, purples, blood reds and burnt oranges. Here's a sampling of the MUST HAVE shades of the season. HAPPY COLOURING!!!!

NARS, "Seize the Night Night Falls," $17,  L&T

Barielle, "Blackened Blue," $8, Dermstore. com

Nicole by OPI, "Listen to Your Momager," $8, ultra.com

Milani Jewel Fx Nail Lacquer, "Teal 582," $4, drugstore.com

Sephora by OPI, "Who Let the Dorks Out," $3, sephora.com

Maybelline," Tenacious Teal," $4, drugstore.com 

Essie, "Bordeaux," $8, dermstore.com

Babor, "Rouge Noir," $13, dermstore.com

Milani, "Rad Purple," $4, drygstore.com

RGB, Plum, $16, otteny.com

Le Metier de Beaute, "PennyLane," $18, neimanmarcus.com

L'Oreal, "L'Orange," $6, ulta.com

Essie, "Alligator Purse," $8, nordstrom.com

(Source reference: glamour.com)

IT'S FLIP FLOP SEASON

HOW TO WEAR FLIP FLOPS SAFELY

It's the time of year when we grab the easiest to put on, the most readily available, and frequently, the most comfortable footwear we can find, and they're known as flip flops. However, there are some things to take into consideration, so I consulted the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) for their insight. And because of their popularity, I thought they deserved a front page mention. 

• DO shop for a flip-flop made of high quality, soft leather. Leather minimizes the potential for blisters and other types of irritation.
• DO gently bend the flip-flop from end to end, ensuring it bends at the ball of the foot. Shoes of any kind should never fold in half.
• DO make sure that your foot does not hang off the edge of the flip-flop.
• DO wear a sturdy pair of flip-flops when walking around a public pool, at the beach, in hotel rooms, and in locker room areas. Walking barefoot can expose foot soles to plantar warts and athlete's foot.

• DON'T re-wear flip-flops year after year. Inspect older pairs for wear. If they show signs of severe wear, discard them.
• DON'T ignore irritation between toes where the toe thong fits. This can lead to blisters and possible infections.
• DON'T wear flip-flops while walking long distances. Even the sturdiest flip-flops offer little in terms of shock absorption and arch support.
• DON'T do yard work while wearing flip-flops. Always wear a shoe that fully protects feet when doing outside activities such as mowing the lawn or using weed eater.
• DON'T play sports in flip-flops. This practice can lead to twisting of the foot or ankle, as well as sprains and breaks.

Please check our product page for specific recommendations for flip-flops. I have specifically sourced footwear that offers shock absorption and arch support, and some are even stylish!!!

KICKIN' OFF SUMMER 2013

SUMMER 2013

ARE YOU READY???

EVERYONE!!!

It's been a long time. So, I'm welcoming myself and you back to the fun of the feet. I thought I'd start afresh with a story of my feet. In turn I hope to inspire you to send stories and pictures of yours. This is, after all, a forum where we can chat about our feet openly; share triumphs, horror stories, great products, anything.

MY STORY

So there I was, it was Memorial Day weekend, and I was looking FINE!!! I was at the San Diego jazz festival to listen to Jesse J, Michael Lington, Jonathan Fritzen, Nick Colionne, BWB (Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun), Will Downing, Brian McKnight, and Jeffrey Osborne featuring Euge Groove-- AMAZING LINEUP!!! I had on some Calvin Klein wedge thongs, and life was good. I'd worn them a couple of times prior and never had a problem, so I felt very comfortable strutting around the grounds, bobbing to the music, sipping on a little libation!!! About an hour into my stroll, I started to feel a twinge that I'd not felt before wearing those shoes, so I decided to take my seat and enjoy the groove tunes from fifth row center. 

Between acts, the DJ was spinning some incredible Old School and R&B. Everyone was in the aisles dancing, so I kicked off my kicks and commenced to do a creative version of the Wobble. I was having a grand ole time, and my feet seemed rejuvenated, so after a bit, I resumed my stroll. I shopped the vendors, mosied up to the outdoor plaza of the hotel (La Costa Resort and Spa) and bought some tacos, and then it hit me. There was something rubbing the outer edge of the soles of both my feet, and my Calvins ceased to be so cute. In about two minutes, my gait went from a strut to just about a lap-legged ramble. And the most devastating reality was that the concert was only about half finished; I had a while to go in those shoes. 

So, I limped my way back to my seat, and took off my Calvins yet again. But you know, when your feet start to hurt, that pain does not subside just because you've freed them from the offending foot gear.  OH NO!!!! That pain lingers, it lingers until you have to put the shoes back on to leave the venue, and then it surges like a sledge hammer just hit you. And we all know that look, and that walk of hurting feet. The face is trying to smile, divorcing itself from the very obvious pain the feet feel. It's just that it's got this slightly pinched look, this minute contortion that belies the frozen grin. And despite all that, the feet continue to move. The ankles may twist out from time to time, practically throwing you to the ground, but the feet still move-- slowly and painfully, to be sure. And little did I know, the worst was yet to come.

You see, I would have been better served had I stopped into one of the shops and purchased a pair of flip flops; OR, when I went to take a look at my room, I should have simply changed shoes. But noooooo!!! I had to stay CUTE!!! Like I said, the worst was yet to come. By the next morning, I had two deep blisters on the outer edges of the soles of my feet. Please remember, this is an area of the foot that hits the ground with each step; walking the next day was an agony I never experienced the night before. Needless to say, I've spent the past two days pampering my poor feet. The only bright side to this story that I can even conceive is that at least it was the bottom of my feet which people don't see,  and I haven't rubbed holes and blisters on my toes!!! Can you imagine covering those brown marks when they healed?!?!?! T!NTALIZE® concealer here I come!!!

I have no idea why I related this story other than to have you laugh with me in my misery. So, that IS my story, and I'm sticking it to it. Please send us yours...