8 Summertime Foot Hazards

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 tootsies protected. “People have more problems in the summer because they tend to be more active in less supportive shoes or want to be barefoot. With sound foot savvy, however, you can lighten up without putting your feet at risk.

It might feel good in the summer, but Dr. Parth says going barefoot is generally not a good idea for optimum foot health. “The cardinal rule for the majority of musculoskeletal foot problems is never to go barefoot,” he says. 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.

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. “Flip-flops lack any support,” says Dr Parth Parekh , a foot and ankle specialist at CIMS in Ahmedabad. “They are too flat and cause the forefoot to work harder to grasp the shoe in an attempt to keep the shoe on.” For better foot health, look for sandals that offer support and protection to your feet.

The combination of increased activity levels and high heat and humidity mean that many foot and ankle specialist see an increase in swollen feet during the summer months. Dr Parekh says this is a foot pain issue that many people can address with some simple self-care strategies. “It is best to avoid salty foods and get lots of exercise to increase blood flow,” he says. “Also, a cold foot soak at the end of the day never hurts.”

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. “My first suggestion would be to try antiperspirants — the same ones that work on underarms work on feet. If the problem persists, there are stronger products that a foot and ankle specialist can prescribe. Also choose socks that wick moisture away from the skin. Finally, if nothing else works, Botox injections can decrease sweating for many months.”

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. But according to Dr Parekh, , that’s exactly what your unprotected feet are exposed to. He tells that the unwanted nasties 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. He suggests in the  that antibacterial hand sanitizer can also do the trick.

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. Parekh. “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 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, Dr Parth recommends wearing pool or shower shoes as much as possible, keeping feet as dry as possible, applying sweat absorbing foot powder as needed, and choosing socks that wick moisture away from the feet. If you do get an infection, try an over-the-counter remedy, or see a foot and ankle specialist if it is not healing effectively. “The most effective treatment for athlete’s foot on the market right now is Loprox 0.77 percent cream if you have dry skin or the gel formula if you have sweaty feet,” Dr Parth Parekh says. “Always stick to a thin layer of medication between the toes.”

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. Dr Parekh says the best way to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place is to wear supportive shoes and socks whenever you are active. 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.