Our feet serve as the foundations for our bodies, yet we often neglect them and fail to give them the care and maintenance they deserve. Foot health is an important part of maintaining overall well-being and health, and when one has various foot issues like fungus or dry skin, it’s often a reflection of what’s going on inside our bodies.

Based in Chandler, Arizona, Dr. Emily Splichal is a podiatrist, human movement specialist, and global leader in Barefoot Science and Rehabilitation whose Functional Foot Programming is built around evidence-based principles in fascial fitness, foot to core sequencing, and barefoot stmulation. She has developed a keen eye for movement dysfunction and neuromuscular control during gait, and was originally trained as a surgeon prior to shifting her practice to focusing on functional and regenerative medicine.

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Dr. Splichal is also a big fan of VOESH, a safe vegan line of self-care products for hands and feet that were designed to create a cleaner and safer spa experience in and out of salons. A favorite among spa professionals and beauty enthusiasts, VOESH’s popular products include their Pedi In a Box, Mani In a Box, Glove and Sock Treatments, and Shower Care products.

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“I like VOESH because the brand brings an awareness to the importance of foot health, specifically as it relates to the skin,” says Dr. Splichal. “They also stand behind using safe, clean products that are free of all harsh and toxic chemicals. It’s important that consumers think about the products they’re using on their feet. I’m a big fan of VOESH’s Pedi In a Box, which includes a foot soak, scrub, masque and massage butter; as well as their Heel Socks, which are hydrating, nourishing, and can be used up to 50 times. It’s all about consistency—incorporating these habits and rituals into your day or week so that you can keep your feet healthy.”

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Read on to discover Dr. Splichal’s best tips for healthy feet, her favorite VOESH foot care product recommendations, and more.

What are some of the most common foot issues and concerns that people deal with?

From a skin perspective, calluses and dry heels are the most common. If you neglect dry heels too long, if you can get a crack in the skin called a fissure. Then that becomes a break where bacteria can enter and cause an infection. Also, dry heels become thicker and can be very difficult to manage at home, so then you would have to go to a podiatrist to undergo a more aggressive debridement treatment procedure using a blade to remove the dead or infected skin. Toenails can also develop fungus if they’re not property cared for.

What’s the difference between a corn and a callus?

A corn and a callus are similar, but they're technically different. A corn is caused by acute pressure from shoes and occurs on the top or side of a toe, whereas calluses are on the bottom of the feet and are caused by more diffuse pressure from weight bearing. 

Is getting a regular pedicure good for feet?

I recommend getting one every four to six weeks. I personally get a pedicure every four weeks. Based on the rate at which skin on the foot thickens and nails grow, that’s typically around the time that one could use a professional exfoliation. The skin on the bottom of our feet is 10 times as thick as the skin on our face so that's a lot of skin to exfoliate!

Why is good foot health important and what do you recommend people do on a regular basis?

Our feet are the foundation for our bodies and a mirror to the rest of our health. If you have persistent fungal infections in your feet, it can actually represent your gut biome and a decrease in your immunity. If you have thinning skin or you’re losing the hair on your legs, that can represent that they have an autoimmune or microvascular issue.

Nails and skin can often represent if there are more inflammatory dermatological conditions like psoriasis and eczema elsewhere on the body. So your feet really are a representation of your overall health, which is why I advocate taking care of them.

For your foot muscles, you should release them daily with something like a golf ball or lacrosse ball. To care for the nerves in your feet, you should walk barefoot around your home or in your yard for sensory stimulation. Movement is the best way to support circulation in your feet. And be sure to incorporate the right foot care and skincare products into your routine to care for your skin as well.  

What types of foot care products should people incorporate into their self-care routines?

To address dry skin, use a product containing urea and/or lactic acid, which are natural debriding agents. I also recommend using some sort of mechanical debridement tool like a foot file. I always advocate the stainless still foot files more so than the pumice stones because the stones can capture fungus and bacteria so they’re not as clean. It’s also important to make sure that you are hydrating the skin on your feet with lotion or heel socks. VOESH Pedi In a Box packets are a great way to provide TLC to your feet at least once a week. And make sure that you have a good nail care routine and that you're cutting your nails the right way to avoid ingrown toenails.

How do seasons and climate affect our feet?

Seasons dictate footwear, which affects the feet as well. In winter we typically wear closed-toed shoes and socks, which when worn for long periods of time can result in lots of moisture leading to odor, bacteria, and fungal infections. Boots and stiffer shoes can rub the back of the foot or the heel, which can cause heel calluses or hard skin on the back of the heel. 

During the warmer summer months people wear more sandals and flip flops, which are notorious for stressing the heels as well because the pressure on the sandal is putting localized pressure on the back of the heel, which accelerates heel calluses.

And in certain months and climates the air is drier, which also affects skin. If you’re in a place where there is a lot of heat, or even artificial heat from indoor heaters during the winter months, skin will also be affected. and artificial heat that's obviously dry in the air as well. I live in Arizona where it’s very dry. It  killed my skin when I first moved here from New York, so to create balance I have to hydrate externally with products and by drinking water.

Please share anything else you'd like us to know.

Many people experience fungal infections, which are often related to poor diet. They tend to have high inflammation in the body and they're not supporting the body's natural immune response to fight fungus. Fungus is very persistent, it’s like mold on carpet—it’s hard to get rid of it! If someone also has an inflammatory flareup such as eczema or psoriasis, often you'll see that in their feet as well.

Another interesting thing to note: people will see dry scaling on their foot and think it’s just dry, but it's actually a fungal infection. I try to teach people what fungus looks like and what it doesn’t look like and how to protect and care for their feet. Just like we take care of the skin on our faces, we should also take good care of the skin on our feet.

For more information about Dr. Splichal, visit her website and follow on Instagram: @thefunctionalfootdoc. For more information about VOESH products and to purchase, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @voeshny

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk