Summertime Foot Hazards Going Barefoot

When the weather is hot, a lot of people tend to walk around barefoot. Although it feels good, going barefoot is generally not a good idea. Being barefoot increases your chance of injury or infection, and it can also cause achy muscles.

In the summer, the pavement absorbs a lot of heat. When the sun is shining, the ground can get hot enough to cause your skin to burn. This is particularly important for certain groups of people who have lost sensation of their feet. Thermal burns are very common in people with neuropathy (lack of sensation) and can lead to serious complications.

Wearing Unsupportive Shoes

One step up from going barefoot in the summer is wearing unsupportive flip-flops or sandals. These can contribute to serious foot pain for many people. Flip-flops are just too flat and make your toes to claw to grasp the ground. Over time, this can lead to toe deformities. In addition, unsupportive footwear can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, various tendinitis, and muscle ache. For better foot health, look for sandals that offer support and protection to your feet.

Sweaty Feet

Everyone gets sweaty feet in the summer, particularly if you must wear shoes and socks all day. Sweating can contribute to several issues such as:

• Athlete’s foot
• General fungal problems
• Bacterial infections
• Toenail fungus
• Discomfort
• Body Odour

As a podiatrist, my priority is to improve the condition of your feet and put a smile on your feet! So, if your feet feel hot and bothered…

– Wash your feet regularly. Using antibacterial soap on your feet can reduce excessive sweating.

– Use antiperspirant. Antiperspirant works by blocking pores from excessive sweating. You may also find surgical spirit useful as it is an astringent.

– Try foot powders. There loads of different foot powders out there that can help absorb excessive sweat. Some of them have anti-fungal properties as well.

– Wear the right socks. Make sure your socks are made of natural fibres and not synthetic ones. Replace nylon socks with bamboo socks or cotton.

Blisters, Corns & Calluses

Blisters are small pockets of clear fluid under a layer of skin. They can also contain blood or pus. They are mostly caused by friction, when your shoes rub the same spot on your foot, when you wear shoes that don’t fit properly, or when you wear shoes without socks. Depending on the cause, blistering may happen along with pain, redness, or itching.

Draining a blister is not recommended because of the risk of infection, but if you must “pop” it, use a sterile needle to allow the skin to re-attach. Try not to cut the skin away unless it is already torn and drying out. Keep the blister clean. Bathe your foot in salt water every day and cover the blister with a dressing or gauze. Change the dressing daily until the area is completely dry.

Corns are small lumps of hard skin. Corns are caused by pressure or friction from footwear and are more likely to develop if you have toe deformities. If you think you have a corn, do not use any medicated corn plasters. They contain salicylic acid and can burn the skin badly. Instead, use a non-medicated corn pad, to deflect the pressure. You can also use a pumice stone or a foot file to rub away the hard skin on top. Most importantly, book an appointment with a podiatrist to have your corns professionally treated.

Summertime Foot Hazards

Calluses are larger patches of rough, thick skin. They are caused by an uneven distribution of weight, generally at the ball of your foot or heel. Calluses also can be caused by ill-fitting shoes, pressure, and friction when you walk. Foot orthoses can help redistribute the pressure when you walk and help in general with your posture and alleviate discomfort. If you want to improve the condition of your feet, you can use a pumice stone or a foot file to rub away the hard skin and regularly use a urea-based cream. Also having professional treatment by a podiatrist can seriously improve your foot health! 

When it’s warm and your feet get hot and sweaty, they can feel uncomfortable and painful. Regular visit to your podiatrist can improve the health of your feet and offer you advice on how to best care for them.

At Medipod Clinics we take great care of your feet. Our experienced staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We offer a very wide range of treatments such as verruca treatments, ingrown toenails management, fungal infections treatment, heel pain management, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations.

For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also welcomed to visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA – we will be delighted to see you!

Thank you for reading – Summertime Foot Hazards. Let Your Feet Do The Talking This Summer!

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

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Summer can be hard on your feet. The combination of heat, sun, and sand can take a toll on your tootsies. But it doesn’t have to. These simple steps to fabulous summer feet will keep your feet healthy and looking their best during warm weather. So, before you slip into those new sandals or holiday flip flops, you may want to do something about those dry, cracked heels and tired looking feet that have been hiding away all winter. Are you ready?

Ten simple steps to keep your feet healthy and looking sandal-ready for summer.

1. 1. Avoid walking barefoot. Going outdoors without shoes in the summer increases the risk of injury to your feet. It also increases the odds that you will develop warts on the soles of your feet (verrucas), ringworm (fungus), and other infections.
   2. Wear the right socks. Acrylic and synthetic blend socks work best to wick away perspiration that can lead to fungal infections. “Dark, hot and moist is the perfect environment for a fungus to grow,” says Faye Vogiatzoglou, our Clinical Director at Medipod Clinics.
   3. Protect your feet from blisters. Sandals often cause blisters on the feet when they rub against bare skin. If you feel a blister coming on, use padding such as moleskin or a blister plaster to reduce friction.
   4. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water on summer days will minimize foot swelling due to the heat.
   5. Use sunscreen. Don’t forget to use sunscreen on exposed parts of your feet in the summer. Be sure to reapply after swimming or sweating heavily, even if the sunscreen is “waterproof”. Use sunscreen with 30 SPF (sun protection factor) or higher to guard against skin cancer and premature ageing of the skin on your feet.
   6. Evaluate your flip-flop wear. Flip-flops can result in sore feet and ankles. But “Some flip-flops are better than others,” says Faye. “Choose styles with good arch and heel support.” Also avoid walking in them for long distances.
   7. Add cushioning to summer shoes. Summer slides and flimsy sandals often have thin soles and little cushioning and foot support. Faye recommends to use cushioned inserts to help provide added support. Inserts are available at chemist stores and more functional ones at the clinic.
   8. Get your hard skin treated. For pretty summer feet, give yourself an at-home treatment or indulge in a professional one. Besides making your toenails look attractive, during a Standard Podiatry Treatment, our Podiatrists can remove hard and dry skin, offer management advice on cracked heels and help you maintain the health of your feet.
   9. Moisturise. Did you know that the skin on our feet is up to ten times thicker than the rest of our body skin? It therefore requires a much more intensive moisturising routine. Invest in a rich foot cream to give your feet the moisturisation they need and deserve. Faye suggests that “ideally, they should be moisturised after every shower, but if you don’t have time in the morning, give them some TLC before you hop into bed at night”.
   10. And finally, make them look pretty! Get creative and have fun experimenting with our Dr Remedy Enriched nail polish colours this summer. Invest in toe separators and don’t be afraid to reach for those hot pinks and gorgeous coral shades! But remember! Take off your polish periodically to give the nail bed some air.

By keeping your feet in tip-top shape during the summer, not only they will look beautiful, but you can also be assured that your feet are in good health and you’re minimising the risk of developing any infections.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

For more information about our podiatry services, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot related questions.

Thank you for reading.

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Direstor
http://medipodclinics.com

The post Healthy and Sandal-Ready Feet for Summer – 10 Simple Steps appeared first on Medipod Clinics.