Preparing your feet for summer

Common summer foot problems

Finally the weather is starting to warm up and your feet are coming out of their winter shoes. Whilst this will improve your winter related foot issues, it can bring on a different set of foot troubles altogether. Below are some common foot problems that can occur in summer and some hot tips to help prevent them from occurring.

Cracked Heels

Wearing backless sandals and not wearing shoes around the house can cause the skin around our feet to dry out. A common area to have this dryness is around the heels. If not looked after, your heels can become cracked and painful.

To avoid cracked heels this summer make sure to moisturise your feet most days with a good heel balm and try not to spend all summer in open back shoes. Seek out a podiatrist if you think your heels may be cracked or if they are causing pain.

Blisters

More moisture equals more friction and this can cause blisters on your feet.  If a blister does occur it is best not to puncture it as this can make the area more prone to infection.

Blisters can generally be avoided by alternating footwear so that the same areas are not being consistently irritated. If you are unable to get comfortable in shoes when a blister has formed see a podiatrist to have the blister drained safely.

Tinea Pedis / Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are a common problem in summer. This can manifest in a number of ways but it is common between the toes in the form of tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) and in the nails as onychomycosis.

Using an anti-fungal cream or gel on your skin should help prevent and treat tinea pedis, but fungal nails can be much harder to treat even when using a topical anti-fungal nail solution.

The following are some useful tips to prevent these infections:

• Protect your feet in public areas by wearing thongs around pools and public showers.
• Dry well between your toes following swimming and showers. Moisture that builds up in this area can be a breeding ground for fungal infections.
• Wear good fitting footwear to avoid nail damage and decrease the risk of fungal nail infections.

If you think that you may have a fungal nail or skin infection it is best to see a podiatrist for assessment and advice.

Footwear

The boots are out and the sandals are in. Be aware of your shoe choices in summer as many summer shoes, such as thongs, have poor support and can cause foot pain if walking long distances.

Look for sandals that have an arch support built in them. These kinds of sandals can be found in many sporting stores and specialist shoe stores.

Sunburn

That’s right feet are just as vulnerable to sunburn when they are out in the sun as other areas.

So make sure you don’t forget to slip slop slap all the way to your feet this summer to avoid any nasty burns.

Your feet are vital to your health

In the summer months with warmer weather it is natural to spend more time outside and on your feet. Remember your feet are vital to your health so it is important you look after them.

If you have any concerns visit one of our Melbourne podiatrists. We will get your feet comfortable, looking and feeling great this summer.