The "Man Pedicure": 5 Reasons Men Need Foot Care Too
For many men, the word "pedicure" conjures images of spa days and nail polish. But a pedicure isn't about decoration; it’s about maintenance.
Just like you wouldn't drive a sports car without changing the oil, you shouldn't walk 10,000 steps a day on city concrete without maintaining your foundation. At The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine, we are seeing a rise in male patients taking their foot health seriously. And we’re all for it!
Read on to learn why so many guys are adding foot care to their routine…and why you might want to join them.
1. The "Ingrown" Prevention
If you trim your nails with clippers in the bathroom, you are likely doing it wrong.
The Mistake: Cutting nails too short or rounding the corners deep into the skin.
The Result: The nail grows forward into the soft tissue, creating a painful, infected ingrown nail that makes wearing dress shoes or cleats unpleasant.
The Fix: A professional trim ensures the nail is cut straight across and smooth, preventing the "digging" before it starts.
2. Callus Control (Not Removal)
Calluses are a part of your body's natural defense system. You need some callus to protect your skin from friction. But when they get too thick (hyperkeratosis), they can crack, bleed, or cause pain like a stone in your shoe.
The Danger: Ignoring them leads to deep fissures that can become infected. Aggressive scrubbing at home can leave you raw.
The Goal: Professional care debrides (thins) the callus precisely, leaving enough for protection while removing the painful bulk that catches on your socks.
3. Fungal Defense
Locker rooms and gym showers are petri dishes for Athlete's Foot and Toenail Fungus.
The Reality: Once fungus sets in under a nail, it is incredibly difficult to kill with topical creams.
The Prevention: Regular foot care allows you to spot the earliest signs of fungal changes, often before they become visible to the naked eye. Catching it early prevents the thick, yellow, crumbling nails that take a year to grow out.
4. The "Professional" Standard
In a competitive world, details matter. Whether you are in the boardroom or at the gym, cracked heels and jagged nails are distracting.
· Healthy feet are a sign of self-respect and hygiene. Taking care of your feet signals that you take care of yourself.
5. The "LeBron" Factor
Elite athletes, from NBA players to NFL linebackers, get regular pedicures. Why? Because their feet are their moneymakers.
The Logic: If your feet hurt, your game suffers. A corn or an ingrown nail changes your gait. That change in gait leads to ankle, knee, and hip injuries.
The Lesson: You don't need a multi-million-dollar contract to treat your body like an athlete. Preventive care keeps you in the game, whether that game is basketball or just chasing your kids.
Stop ignoring your equipment! Putting some time into foot care pays off in comfort, performance, and health. Your feet (and your partner) will thank you.
At The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine, we offer busy New Yorkers prompt diagnosis and treatments specific to their individual needs. Podiatrists Dr. Jonathan M. Levy, Dr. Nadia F. Levy, Dr. Diane M. Castro, Dr. Josef Geldwert, and Dr. Katherine Lai are eager to help you at our convenient mid-town Manhattan or Upper East Side locations. Contact us today.
