This is why so many assisted living communities offer regular foot care and manicure/pedicure services in their beauty salons. In honor of Foot Health Month this August, we round up the top five benefits of getting a pedicure – we hope this inspires you to make your next appointment!

Many of us take our two feet for granted. How often do we think about infections invading our little tootsies? Not often enough, but it’s very possible. One of the best prevention methods is to get a pedicure from time to time. Pedicures get down in the nooks and crannies of our nails and toes and remove any nasty bacteria that might be lurking around, and it cleans any dirt so infections don’t have a fighting chance. This also helps with fungi nail diseases and that pungent and prominent foot odor that can occur.

You exfoliate your face to make it nice and soft, brighter, and feel brand new. Why are you forgetting about your feet? Getting a pedicure exfoliates your foot skin, making it fresh and free of dead skin. It helps promote new cell growth so your feet are left nice and soft, and look even better!

We know massages help with body circulation, and it’s often popular to get neck, back and shoulder massages, but again, your feet are left out in the cold. Don’t forget about your feet anymore! Get a pedicure, and get those feet massaged. It will help ease any tension in your feet. They are your only way of getting around, so you have tension in more places on your body than just your neck and shoulders. Help get the blood in your feet moving again to evenly distribute your body heat and relieve any pain that might be occurring.

You moisturize the rest of your body, right? You probably even have special creams for your body and face. But again, your poor lonely feet are left out of the equation. Let a pedicure make up for your negligence and get those toes looking and feeling good again with some moisturizer. The massage in combination with some nice oils will feel great, no doubt, but it also helps prevent any cracks and blisters that you might be prone to. This is especially great for those who love wearing open shoes and maybe walk barefoot often. You need to moisturize even more since your feet are exposed to the elements. Moisturizing also helps your nails from splitting which can be a nasty task to take care of, and of course leaves you open to infections.

Well, of course! Pedicures can make you feel good and more confident, and they will undoubtedly feel amazing. The combination of getting your feet renewed through exfoliation and cleaning, then moisturizing to make them like you’ve never walked on them a day in your life, and the simple act of sitting back, relaxing and enjoying yourself, all make for a great reason to treat yourself to a pedicure.