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Everything You Need to Know About Your Feet

You use your feet to walk, dance, kick soccer balls, and more. But how much thought do you put into taking care of them? When you’re a teen, there’s a lot going on with your feet. For one thing, they’re growing—often faster than the rest of your body. Boys’ feet grow until they are about 17, and girls’ feet stop growing when they’re about 15. And in your teens, an increase in hormones causes feet to sweat more, which can make them stink and lead to infections. Here’s what you need to know about taking care of your feet.

Stop the Stink

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When you put sweaty feet in shoes, you create a moist, warm environment where bacteria and fungi can grow. As these tiny organisms feast on sweat and dead skin cells, they release stinky odors. Here are some pro tips to keep your feet smelling fresh:

  • Wear clean socks.
  • Wear breathable shoes made of natural fabrics that allow heat to escape.
  • Wash your feet, including in between your toes, every day. Dry your feet thoroughly.
  • Use a pumice stone or scrub to exfoliate dead skin on your soles.
  • Clip your toenails at least every six weeks.

Fit Check

Illustrations by Kate Francis

It’s great to have shoes that fit your style, but they should also fit your feet. Oversized shoes can cause you to trip, and too-tight shoes can lead to blisters or ingrown nails. Check that your shoes fit like this:

1. Check for a thumbnail’s width of space between your big toe and the end of your shoe to make sure the shoe is loose enough.

Illustrations by Kate Francis

2. To check that the shoe is tight enough, hold the back and be sure your heel doesn’t slide out when you lift your foot.    

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