• Take a Break: Kick off your shoes and put up your feet for a quick reprieve; this will help also reduce swelling.
• Soothe by Soaking: Fill a tub with water, and immerse your feet for at least five minutes for a totally relaxing experience. Diabetics should avoid extreme water temperatures.
• Rub a Dub Dub: For soft feet, apply moisturizer daily. Dermatologist Zoe Draelos recommends looking for products that contain glycerin (such as Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Foot Cream), which is excellent at holding moisture on dry feet. To remove dead skin, she suggests using a urea-based moisturizer weekly, such as Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme.
• Making the Cut: Keep your toenails trimmed. Use toenail clippers and trim straight across. Avoid cutting too close to the skin because this could lead to an ingrown toenail or an infection.
• Happy Feet: Do easy exercises with your feet to release tension. Wiggle your toes, and then flex and point your feet. Next, draw circles slowly with each foot. Massage the bottom of your foot by rolling it around on a tennis ball.

Healthy Benefits
• Wear sandals or shoes that breathe (such as leather or canvas) to help prevent fungal infection. These types of footwear inhibit mold growth and promote air circulation.
• Limit the hours you wear anything with a 2-inch heel or higher. Over time, these shoes can create several problems, from joint pain in the ball of your foot (metatarsalgia) to calluses.

"Pamper Your Feet" is from the April 2008 issue of Southern Living.