Summer can be fun, but the heat can be rough on your feet. Here’s how to steer clear of — or, if needed, manage — the most common foot health threats of summer.
Who doesn’t want to wear less during the hot days of summer? Lightweight fabrics and sun-baring choices are cooling. But poor choices in footwear can directly lead to foot pain or other foot health issues if you don’t keep your feet protected. However with sound foot savvy, however, you can lighten up without putting your feet at risk.
Going Barefoot
It might feel good in the summer, but generally not a good idea for healthy feet. Being barefoot increases your chance of injury or infection, and it can cause foot pain in other ways, too. For instance, if you have normal or high arches, going without the arch support you’d get in supportive shoes can be very uncomfortable.
Wearing Unsupportive Shoes
One step up from going barefoot in the summer is wearing unsupportive flip-flops or sandals. These can cause foot pain in their own right due to lack any support. For better foot health, look for sandals that offer support and protection to your feet.
Swollen Feet
The combination of increased activity levels and high heat and humidity mean that many podiatrists see an increase in swollen feet during the summer months. Swollen feet can be addressed with some simple self-care strategies, such as reducing your salt intake.
Sweaty Feet
Hot and sweaty feet can turn into a foot health issue because they can be more prone to infections. Also, they are just plain uncomfortable. However, there are simple strategies to combat summer’s sweaty feet. Choosing socks that wick moisture away from the skin.
Germy Feet
When you’re sightseeing on a hot city street wearing a new pair of strappy sandals or flip-flops, you’re probably not thinking about germs. There are unwanted germs lurking on the pavement include Staphylococcus aureus (which can cause skin infections or blood poisoning), E. coli, and various drug-resistant bugs like MRSA, and having cuts or blisters on your feet can increase your chances of exposure. What’s the solution? Wash your feet when you get home.
Sunburned Feet
The main reason feet have a greater risk of sunburn is that people simply forget to apply sunblock to their feet. “The trick is remembering,” says Dr. Scheffler. “Often people apply sunblock to the back and shoulders, but forget to treat their feet.” If you do get sunburn on your feet, you can treat the resulting foot pain just as you would other areas of the body — cold compresses or a soothing aloe vera cream should provide some sting relief.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is common year-round, but the greater concern in summer comes from the increased risk of spreading the disease because of all the extra bare feet running around. To reduce your risk for this foot health woe, is to wear pool or shower shoes as much as possible and apply sweat absorbing foot powder as needed. Also, choosing socks that wick moisture away from the feet will help.
Corns and Blisters
All the sweating, swelling, and sunburn that are common in the summer can conspire and lead to other foot health issues, such as corns and blisters. Wearing supportive shoes and socks whenever you are active will help reduce corns and calluses. If they do develop, try putting blister pads over the blisters and unmedicated donut pads over the corns to make tender feet feel better and help you get back to your summer fun.
Achilles Podiatry is the Athlete’s Foot Specialist of Indiana and If you are experiencing pain or believe you have a stress fracture, contact Achilles Podiatry for further evaluation and treatment.
source: everyday health
