By Amerley Ollennu
While our faces tend to get a lot of attention, our hardworking feet rarely get a second thought. Yes, there are the obligatory summer pedicures, but how many of you hide your footsies away because you ‘don’t have nice feet’ and are under the false impression that nothing can be done to improve their appearance? Well, if that’s you then read on for the five foot treatments you wish you’d known about sooner…
Laser benefits
In the same way that lasers are used to youth boost the skin on our faces, they can also be used on the feet for a whole manner of concerns. From veins, sun spots, pigmentation, and hair removal, to lessening the appearance of scars and eliminating fungal infections.Lasers make for a great option for turning back time on your feet as they are generally painless and quick. For example, when it comes to treating fungal infections that leave nails yellow, all it takes is about 10 minutes of laser exposure per infected toe to destroy fungal pathogens, compared to up to a whole year when using topical treatments.
Meanwhile, scars are incredibly difficult to improve with even the most active skincare (FYI you can and should use your active packed bodycare on your upper feet too), which makes laser treatment a worthwhile option.
Fractional laser light is used to break down scar tissue and trigger healthy new tissue to form in the same area. The new skin tissue should look more like unscarred skin, meaning it will be more even in texture and the shade should match the rest of your skin too.
Sweaty soles
Wrinkle relaxing injections aren’t just for frown lines: botulinum toxin, the active used to freeze lines and wrinkles, also helps with hyperhidrosis aka excess sweating. It works by blocking the nerve signals responsible for sweating, which stops sweat glands from producing an abundance of sweat. It’s more commonly used in the armpits but can also be injected into the soles of the feet.Cushion feet
If you’ve been wearing slippers and comfortable walking shoes since Covid hit, wearing heels or what many doctors dub 'fashion shoes' – anything that doesn’t have adequate arch and ankle support – has probably been an uncomfortable endeavour. Cue dermal filler injections.Not only do dermal fillers help replace lost volume on the face, plump wrinkles and pouts, but they can also be used on the balls of the feet. When injected here they offer a cushion-like effect that provides relief from pain and discomfort, making it easier to don a pair of heels for longer.
