We all have things about our bodies that we don’t like. For some people, it’s their nose or their ears. For others, it’s their feet. If you suffer from feeling you have the ugliest feet on the planet, you’re not alone. Shame and embarrassment can render us unable to go barefoot or show our feet in public. But there is hope! With a little bit of care and attention, your feet can be transformed from ugly ducklings to beautiful swans. Keep reading to find out how.

How common is it to feel like you have the ugliest feet on the planet?

Believe it or not, the feeling of having the ugliest feet on the planet is surprisingly common.

If you’re someone who has ever felt embarrassed to show your feet in public for fear that people will judge them, rest assured that this thought and insecure feeling is shared by many others. In the worst cases, people even feel limited in their daily activities because they just can’t put their foot down. Although the issue seems minor at first glance, these feelings should still not be seen lightly nor overlooked – with the right care and understanding, the problems can be solved over time.

Why do people feel this way about their feet?

People have a lot of insecurities, with feeling ashamed or embarrassed of what they perceive as flaws in themselves. It seems that what makes people feel this way about their feet may be a combination of things. Many times it can be related to what culture and society encourages us to think; likes and dislikes about what shape and size feet should look like. Other contributors could be harsh self-criticism, teasing from peers, or maybe even an underlying medical condition having an effect on the appearance of our feet. Whatever the cause might be, everyone should realize that all feet are unique, attractive in their own way, and normal!

Just the (foot) facts

The truth is that foot problems and physical deformaties are more common than you might think! For instance:

  • Up to 1 in 3 Americans have bunionshttps://www.nsra.org/
  • The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that foot fungus (onychomycosis) occurs in 10% of the general population. That’s one in every ten people!
  • Everyone’s feet are getting bigger! The National Shoe Retailers Association announced in late 2012 that the most popular shoe sizes have increased over the last 30 years, from size 7½ to 8½ for women, and from size 9½ to 10½ for men.
  • Stinky feet are actually normal and pretty rare, and can be taken care of very easily.

How can you overcome feeling ashamed of your feet?

It can be difficult to learn to love your feet after years of feeling ashamed and embarrassed of them. But there are a few things you can do to learn to be more accepting of your feet.

  • Begin by giving yourself compliments and reassuring words that focus on the positive aspects of your feet, such as the fact that they take you everywhere or that they’re stronger than you think. Showing yourself some love will help build confidence in the way you feel about your toes, heels and arches.
  • Another tip is to start wearing open-toed shoes or sandals with pride; this will help you learn to embrace and appreciate what nature gave you.
  • And lastly, make sure you pamper your feet with regular pedicures so that they always look their best, regardless if it for special occasions or just walking through the streets.

Learning to love your feet is entirely possible but takes time – just remember to take baby steps in order for the journey towards self-love not to be too overwhelming.