A woman with silver-streaked hair cupping warm water at a stone basin, a towel and a wooden brush beside it

Skin & hair · 10 min

Ten minutes for your feet

Wash, dry between the toes, look, moisturise, but not between the toes. Feet carry us all day and rarely get a second glance.

10 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps

Feet are easy to forget: out of sight, hard to reach, and covered all day. A ten-minute routine once a week, or every day if you have diabetes or poor circulation, keeps the skin healthy and lets you notice problems early.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Sit down somewhere comfortable with a towel, a bowl of warm water if you like, and a plain moisturiser.

  2. Wash your feet in warm water, testing it with your elbow or a thermometer first, then dry them well, especially between the toes.

  3. Look at the tops, soles, heels and between the toes, using a mirror if needed. Notice cuts, blisters, cracks, colour changes, swelling or hard skin.

  4. Smooth moisturiser over the tops, soles and heels, but not between the toes, then put on clean socks.

The reason

Why it helps

Dry, cracked heels and damp skin between the toes are common and can lead to soreness or infection. Washing, drying well and moisturising help keep the skin intact. For people with diabetes or circulation problems, daily checks matter more, because small injuries may not be felt and can heal slowly.

A gentle variation

If reaching your feet is hard, use a long-handled sponge and a mirror on the floor, or ask someone to help. Soaking is optional; a warm wash and careful drying is enough.

Neighbours setting a long table in a green garden

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

If you help someone with their feet, make it a pleasant ten minutes: warm water, a towel on your lap, and a little conversation. Many people find someone else's hands on their feet comforting.

Try it today

Today, sit down with warm water and a towel, wash and dry your feet well, look them over, and moisturise the tops and soles.

Add it to your day

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