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Flip-Flops Socks: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Are the cooler autumn temperatures keeping you from wearing your beloved flip-flops? If yes, you might want to consider slipping your feet into these Flip-flop socks ($12) by injinji.

Yep, these split toe socks were designed especially to be worn with flip-flops. The split is strategically placed to accommodate the thong – the toe kind. I am just not loving the look since I have never been a socks with sandals gal. If I were these would be the socks for me since the cut would eliminate the annoyance of wadded up fabric between the toes.

I'd love to hear what you think. Are they cool or not? If you think they are cool and want a pair – buy them from Sahalie.

How-To: Heal Cracked Heels

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Warm Summer weather inspires many of us to wear flip-flops and walk barefoot. When your feet are exposed to air, it can cause dry skin on your feet, which will create calluses. The pressure of pounding your feet on the ground when you run can then lead to heel fissures, or cracks in the skin. They most often occur on your heels, but you can get them anywhere you have extremely dry skin. If you continue to run, the fissures can split open further and become deeper. When that happens, the fissures can bleed and expose the underlying tissue to infection. Plus they're really painful, which makes running downright impossible.

Want to know how you can prevent fissures? Then read more.

Before you go to sleep, soak your feet in water or take a bath or shower. Then lather your feet up with intense moisturizing lotion, salve, or body butter, and wear socks over them.
Wear socks and shoes that cover your feet to help keep the skin moist. I know this can be a pain during the Summer, but it will really help heal your cracked heels.

Drink lots of water throughout your day to help moisturize your body from the inside out.

To get rid of dry skin on your heels, try using a pumice stone in the shower. It gently sloughs off dead skin cells, eventually revealing softer, smoother skin. If you already have small cracks, just be careful not to irritate those areas.
If you live in a dry area, try using a humidifier in your home to help keep moisture in the air.
I know it's tempting to continue running, but if you have a deep fissure, pounding your feet will only make it worse. Switch to walking until your cracked heel is under control.
If you already have a big crack, make an appointment with a podiatrist. They can help get rid of the hard, dry skin on your feet, so that your fissure can heal.

Getty

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Camp We Go!

babysugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 -0700

After spending a weekend in camp country, I got nostalgic about the old beat up camp trunk I took on my childhood trips. Camps usually send a list to parents to help them prepare their kiddos for the weeks away from home, but it helps to have a second checklist to cross-reference so mama feels good about putting her sweet babe on the bus. Print this roster out and get to folding!

The Basics:

Towels
Sheets
Sneakers
Swim shoes

To see the rest, read more.

Flip-flops
Hat
Shorts
T-shirts
Jeans
Sweatshirt or fleece for chilly nights
Sweatpants
Underwear
Pajamas
Raincoat
Socks
Swimsuit
Swim coverup
Dresses or clothes for camp dances

Toiletries:

Shampoo and conditioner
Soap
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Dental floss
Deodorant
Hairbrush
Hair clips, headbands, rubberbands, etc.
Hair dryer
Laundry bag to place all dirty clothes
Q-tips and cotton balls
Nail clippers
Sunscreen
Bug repellent

Personal Miscellaneous Items:

Camera and film
Batteries
Water bottle
Sleeping bag
Flashlight
Cards, books and other games
Music player with headphones
Band-aids
Sports gear - tennis racket, baseball glove, helmets or knee pads if the camp doesn't provide them
A protective cup for sporty boys
Stationery, pens and stamps so they can write home!

Source

Fab Blab: Insiders Share Fashion Week Survival Secrets

FabSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:00:08 -0800

Surviving and staying sane during New York Fashion Week is no easy feat. Trust me. Fashion insiders like designer Jason Wu, social and Phil Collins's girl Lily Collins, model Ali Stephens, and PR queen Kelly Cutrone, also know that very well. All four shared their secrets for surviving Fashion Week and all the craziness that comes with it.

Jason Wu

In his bag: ChapStick, gum, cell phone, notebook, and a lucky charm from my dad that I carry everywhere.
How he'll unwind: Have a mojito and catch up on Nip/Tuck.

Lily Collins

In her bag: My phone, a touch-up mirror, my lipstick (MAC), and a camera so I don’t miss anything.
How she'll unwind: A cup of tea, a movie, and looking out over Central Park and the city lights.

To hear from Ali Stephens and Kelly Cutrone, read more.

Ali Stephens

In her bag: iPhone, wallet, ChapStick, Bioderma Crealine makeup remover, camera, and sunglasses.
How she'll unwind: Yoga, transcendental meditation, and sleep.

Kelly Cutrone

In her bag: A “Get Out of Jail Free” card, a pink Baccarat heart given to me by my daughter Ava, Paul Smith aviators, BlackBerry charger, BlackBerry with backup charged battery, Rosebud salve, digital camera, Japanese tabby toe socks, MAC concealer, flip-flops, passport, credit cards, a black and gold Roger Vivier ring given to me by Robyn Berkeley.
A.M. fix: Latte, Marlboros, meditation.
P.M. fix: Latte, Marlboros, meditation, and reading to my daughter Ava.

Source and Source

Athlete's foot

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:52:42 -0700

Illustrations

Athlete's foot, tinea pedis

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Athlete's foot is an infection of the feet caused by fungus. The medical term is tinea pedis. Athlete's foot may last for a short or long time and may come back after treatment.

Alternative Names

Tinea pedis; Fungal infection - feet; Tinea of the foot; Infection - fungal - feet; Ringworm - foot

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The body normally hosts a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Some of these are useful to the body. Others may, under certain conditions, multiply rapidly and cause infections. Athlete's foot occurs when a particular type of fungus grows and multiplies in your feet (especially between your toes) or, less commonly, your hands.

Of the fungal infections known as tinea infections, Athlete's foot is the most common. It may occur at the same time as other fungal skin infections such as ringworm or jock itch. These fungi thrive in warm, moist areas. Your risk for getting athlete's foot increases if you:

Wear closed shoes, especially if they are plastic-lined
Keep your feet wet for prolonged periods of time
Sweat a lot
Develop a minor skin or nail injury

Athlete's foot is contagious, and can be passed through direct contact, or contact with items such as shoes, stockings, and shower or pool surfaces.

Symptoms

The most common symptom is cracked, flaking, peeling skin between the toes. The affected area is usually red and itchy. You may feel burning or stinging, and there may be blisters, oozing, or crusting. In addition to the toes, the symptoms can also occur on the heels, palms, and between the fingers.

If the fungus spreads to your nails, they can become discolored, thick, and even crumble.

Signs and tests

The diagnosis is based primarily on the appearance of your skin. If tests are performed, they may include:

Skin culture (fungi from flecks of skin are able to grow in the lab)
Skin lesion biopsy (examination may show fungus under the microscope)
Skin lesion KOH exam (skin scrapings in KOH show fungus under the microscope)

Treatment

Over-the-counter antifungal powders or creams can help control the infection. These generally contain miconazole, clotrimazole, or tolnaftate. Continue using the medicine for 1 - 2 weeks after the infection has cleared from your feet to prevent the infection from returning.

In addition:

Keep your feet clean and dry, especially between your toes.
Wash your feet thoroughly with soap and water and dry the area very carefully and completely. Try to do this at least twice a day.
Wear clean, cotton socks and change your socks and shoes as often as necessary to keep your feet dry.

Athlete's foot almost always responds well to self-care, although it may come back. To prevent future infections, follow the steps listed in Prevention.

Severe, ongoing infections that don't respond to 2 - 4 weeks of self-care, and frequently recurring athlete's foot, may require further treatment by your health care provider. Stronger, prescription antifungal medications may be needed. These include topical medicines, like ketoconazole or terbinafine, and pills. Antibiotics may be necessary to treat secondary bacterial infections that occur in addition to the fungus (for example, from scratching).

Expectations (prognosis)

Athlete's foot infections range from mild to severe and may last a short or long time. They may persist or recur, but they generally respond well to treatment. Long-term medication and preventive measures may be needed.

Complications

Recurrence of athlete's foot
Secondary bacterial skin infections such as cellulitis
Lymphangitis, lymphadenitis
Systemic side effects of medications (see the specific medication)

Calling your health care provider

Call your doctor right away if:

Your foot is swollen and warm to the touch, especially if there are red streaks. These are signs of a possible bacterial infection. Other signs include pus or other discharge and fever.
You have diabetes and develop athlete's foot.

Also call your doctor if athlete's foot symptoms do not go away within one month of using self-care measures.

Prevention

To prevent athlete's foot, follow these measures:

Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing or swimming.
Wear sandals or flip-flops at a public shower or pool.
Change your socks often to keep your feet dry. This should be done at least once a day.
Use antifungal or drying powders to prevent athlete's foot if you are susceptible to getting it, or you frequent areas where athlete's foot fungus is common (like public showers).
Wear shoes that are well ventilated and, preferably, made of natural material such as leather. It may help to alternate shoes each day, so they can dry completely between wearings. Avoid plastic-lined shoes.

References

Habif, TP. Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2004.

Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier, 2003.

Review Date: 4/12/2007

Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Fit Gift Guide: White Elephant

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:30:00 -0800

Christmas is so near. I can feel it nipping at my heels. I have been sharing some gift guides with you, but in terms of humor, this one takes the cake.

Gag gifts go a long way in my family. It is a hearty tradition! Here are some White Elephant, I mean Ele-fit gifts, for you to consider.

Flip-flop Socks: Yep, these split-toe socks were designed especially to be worn with flip-flops. The split is strategically placed to accommodate the thong - the toe kind.
Wholesome Wear Swim Suit: This modest swim wear that leaves a lot for the imagination. It combines the swimsuit and beach cover up into one garment. It protects from lustful gazes as well as sun rays.
Z-CoiL Sneakers: If Dr. Seuss designed orthopedic shoes, he might have dreamed these up. The shoes are designed to help relieve foot, leg, and back pain by reducing impact to the body.

Flip-Flops Socks ($12)

Wholesome Wear Swim Suit ($65)

Z-CoiL Sneakers ($189)

Source

Just What You've Been Waiting For: All About Nail Fungus

BellaSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:00:31 -0700

Here's the main thing you need to know about nail fungus: AVOID. Seriously, the best way to treat this stubborn condition is to prevent it in the first place. I've compiled a few suggestions on how to do just that, plus some treatment options if you wind up with an infection.

What it is: Nail fungus is an infection of the nail bed. It often begins as a white or yellow spot under the nail, then spreads to the entire nail. Full-blown fungus usually makes the nail thick, brittle, and yellowed, with crumbly edges to the nail. (You can see pictures if you like, but you've been warned: it ain't pretty.)

How it's transferred: Fungi thrive in warm, dark, damp places, then happily transfer to your toenails or fingernails.

How to avoid it: Never walk barefoot in a public place such as a shower or swimming pool; instead, wear flip-flops to protect your feet from potential fungus hangouts. If you've battled nail fungus before, wear shoes and socks that "breathe," rather than nylons or socks that trap moisture. Take your own tools to nail salons, and never use the Jacuzzi-type foot-soaking tubs - they're harder to sanitize, so you risk picking up someone else's fungus.

To find out how to treat nail fungus, read more.

If you already have nail fungus, you have my condolences. This is one stubborn infection, and it won't go away on its own. In fact, left untreated, the fungus will grow and grow, and it may spread to other nails. While it won't kill you, it's smart to tackle it rather than ignore it.

The best bet is to see a doctor, who may prescribe an antifungal medicine such as Lamisil. (See the little guy up there? He's their fungal spokesperson.) This type of medicine helps new nails grow without fungus, but it takes months to grow a new nail. You may also need to have tests to make sure your liver stays healthy while you take the medicine. Worse yet, these medications can run into the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Over-the-counter treatments are more or less worthless. Any drugstore will have topical anti-fungal products, but read the label; most, if not all, treat the skin around the nail, but not the nail itself. Folk remedies include using tea tree oil on the nail every night, but that's a hit-or-miss plan. Some people swear by using Vicks Vapo-Rub on the nail; while I haven't had nail fungus, the hypochondriac in me thought I did, and I wore Vapo-Rub to bed for two weeks. (Sexy.) It turned out that my fungus fears were for nothing, but the Vicks treatment did improve some of the discoloration left over from wearing red polish.

As you can see, battling nail fungus is not easy. Once again, it all goes back to prevention. If you can avoid picking it up, please do.

Get in Gear: Keen Roatan Shoe

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Summer means you may (hopefully) be spending a little more time near the water. I tend to move around a lot while I am at the beach, though most of the time I am chasing after my kids in tide pools. Regular flip flops just weren't cutting it...

Keen's Roatan ($35.00) shoe was the perfect match for my active waterside lifestyle. The stretch Neoprene along with the carbon rubber non-marking outsoles make this shoe super comfortable and versatile. If you're on a boat a lot in the summer, these shoes would be great because they won't slip or mark up the boat like a lot of rubber bottomed shoes. Like to Kayak across the lake for a little stroll on the opposite shore? Can't do that barefoot, now can you? The Roatans will take you from kayak to shore easily. They remind me of AquaSocks (ah, remember those), but are way cuter. Buy them online from TrackandTrail.com.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Life is Good

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:15:00 -0700

It sure is, and now you have the t-shirt to prove it. Life is Good is a unique clothing company that supports our healthy, active lifestyles. You can order long and short-sleeve shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, pants, capris, hats, bags, socks, flip flops, and even jewelry so you can announce to the world how you like to move.

Their designs are simple and adorable, and they've got a ton. Whether you're into running, hiking, camping, kayaking, sailing, golfing, baseball, yoga, surfing, gardening, soccer or lacrosse, they've got the design for you. They even have gear for kids, babies (love the bibs), and pets!

I love their line of fitness gear too made from Good Tech, a fabric that wicks away moisture so you "Stay dry," and "Smell good." They have Harmony Halter tops and Harmony Racerback Tanks, both with built-in shelf bras. Their capri pants are also made with Good Tech technology.

Fit's Tips: If you're looking to ditch the disposable water bottles to help Mother Earth, Life is Good teamed up with Nalgene, so check out their re-usable water bottles.

Want to see lots more of their designs? Then read more

View 26 Photos ›

Weekend Well-Being: Get a Pedicure

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Winter is a beautiful time of year, filled with days on the mountain, nights sipping hot cocoa, and snuggling in front of a good movie.

Unfortunately, winter and feet don't really get along too well. You're always cramming your toes into boots that don't let your feet breathe. I hate how my feet feel so constricted - my feet are always cold, so they're usually hidden away in socks.

The heat you crank up to battle the frigid air totally dries out your skin, and the soles of your feet are left hard and cracked. I hate the way they feel so dry, and it's embarrassing when I go to a Pilates or yoga class, where your feet are bare.

So, why not treat yourself to a pedicure? They'll lovingly clean and massage your tootsies, leaving you feeling relaxed and calm. And you can say goodbye to rough heels, because they'll get rid of the dead skins cells, leaving your skin soft and moisturized. Your feet will feel more fresh and alive, and they'll look good too.

In the winter, you don't want to ruin your pedicure by shoving your toes back into your boots. Check out these Bootie Pies - they're boots made especially for pedicured toes. They're warmer than flip-flops, so you can protect your feet from the cold without smudging your polish.