Men aren’t usually concerned with the look, feel or smell of their feet. But with flip-flop season just around the corner, it’s important to file those ‘bear claws’ and establish good grooming rituals to whip those talons into shape.

Here are five easy ways men can maintain the health and appearance of their feet.

1. Change your socks daily. Feet get sweaty during the day, so it’s important to change your socks once or twice a day to prevent excessive perspiration.

Some men develop hyperhidrosis, a condition in which their feet sweat so much that they may slip around inside their shoes. This condition can cause foot infections and foot odor.

Wearing cotton and other breathable fibers and applying the antiperspirant aluminum hexahydrate to your feet can be very effective in controlling perspiration.

2. Wash your feet with soap and water.

Daily washes with soap and water can help control or prevent tinea pedis or athlete’s foot, a common condition for men who typically wear shoes that don't breathe as well as women's shoes.

Athlete’s foot is a scaly, itchy and occasionally painful rash that spreads along the toes or the soles of the feet. The skin can occasionally blister, and it is highly contagious.

Patients are treated with either oral or topical antifungal medications, and physicians recommend regularly spraying the inside of your shoes with Lysol. 

3. Thoroughly dry your feet. After washing your feet, it’s important to focus on drying the areas between the toes. You can apply lotion, but don’t put it between the toes because it can cause skin or tissue breakdown and ulceration.

4. Cut toenails straight across.  Sterilize your toenail clipper with a little rubbing alcohol and make a few small cuts. Don’t try to cut the whole nail at once, and don’t dig at the corners of your toenails. Simply cut straight across, leaving the nails a little long, as cutting too short can put you at risk of infection.

It’s also important to cut nails when they are dry. Wet nails may tear or bend because they are softer.

5. Don’t hack into your foot to solve a problem.

Men might prefer a hands-on approach to managing a benign foot issue, but it's not a good idea to engage in "bathroom surgery."

Instead of removing pieces of your own flesh, try treating calluses with a pumice stone or putting accommodative padding in your shoe.

Nail fungus can sometimes be treated by removing part of the nail (debridement) or with over-the-counter antifungal medications specifically for nails.

For a more homeopathic treatment, you can use Vick's vapor rub or apply Listerine to the nail daily to get rid of nail fungus.

And blisters should be left alone. If a blister has torn, cleanse the area with soap and water, leave the skin flap in place, and apply antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage.

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