Foot Care in Summer

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Summer has begun so it is time to take care of our feet, which we often expose in order to keep cool amid hot weather. We want our feet to look good, feel good, and smell good. No one wants bad smelling feet with dry cracked heels, calluses, or ugly fungal infected toenails.

While the sunny days beckon us to beaches and swimming pools, it’s important to be aware of potential foot problems that can. Here are some tips to keep your feet looking and feeling great all summer long.

1. Be sure to wash your feet everyday. Keep your feet dry and clean when away from the water, and apply a topical anti-fungal medication on any cracking or peeling.

2. Avoid going barefoot even when you go to a swimming pool. Wear slippers, shoes, or aqua shoes around the pool, on the beach and in the locker room. If you walk barefoot on warm wet floors of locker rooms, you are most likely to pick up a fungal nail infection.

3. After a long day of sightseeing, hiking or intense exercise, treat your feet to a soak in lukewarm water, a brief massage and then elevate them to take some stress off your circulatory system. Remember to pamper your feet as much as possible.

4. Be sure to wear socks when you wear sneakers. Wear socks made from acrylic fiber or 100 percent cotton and lightly powder them to keep them dry.

5. Wear shoes that fit properly and do not wear the same shoes everyday. It takes at least 24 hours for shoes to dry out after being worn. Wear shoes with good support and a wide toe area, and never wear pointed shoes that press toes together. Sandals should fit properly. The straps behind the heel can cause friction, which causes calluses to form, if too tight. If you don't wear socks, Moleskin can be used inside the sandal to prevent friction.

6. Trim toenails straight across, leaving them longer on the ends of the toes.

7. At the first sign of injury or infection, seek medical attention from a podiatrist.

8. If you have diabetes, take extra care of your feet and never walk barefoot. Minor injuries can become major infections in a short time, which could lead to amputation.