Summertime Foot Care

With warm, summer days encouraging hiking, sightseeing and hanging out at the beach or by the pool, your feet are working overtime – and, with sandals and flip-flops, they’re at the mercy of the elements!

Here are nine tips for keeping your feet healthy and sandal-ready all summer long.

1. Keep your shoes on. Going shoeless is one of the joys of summer, but be cautious. Sharp stones bruise bare feet, and stepping on rusty metal can let you in for a tetanus shot, so avoid doing outdoor chores while barefoot. When visiting a public pool or using a community shower, be sure to wear flip-flops to prevent athlete’s foot and other conditions.

2. Keep feet clean & dry. Sweaty feet can leave you feeling hot and tired, and moisture puts you at risk for fungal infections. Wash your feet as often as necessary and dry them thoroughly. Dust them with foot powder before you put your shoes on – choose an anti-fungal or fresh-smelling variety. Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row so they’ll have time to dry before you wear them again. Wear acrylic, moisture-wicking socks, and change them when they become damp.

3. Moisturize. Between high temperatures, sun exposure, extra washing, and salt or chlorinated water, it’s easy for feet to develop dry skin and cracked heels. Moisturize your feet with a good cream or lotion, but avoid applying it between your toes. This can cause a moisture build-up that will encourage a fungal infection.

4. Treat your feet to a massage. If you do a lot of walking, relax your feet with a professional foot massage every few weeks. There’s nothing like a foot massage to ease foot cramps and refresh, revitalize and restore sore, tired feet. It’s a great way to relieve stress, too!

5. Make sure your shoes fit. Those sandals might be cute, but that doesn’t mean they’re comfortable! To avoid calluses and blisters, wear shoes that aren’t too tight or too loose, and be sure they don’t rub anywhere. If you’re going to be doing a lot of walking, avoid sandals or flip-flops that put a strap between your toes.

6. Take a walk. The best exercise for keeping feet in shape is walking. When you get back from a particularly long walk or hike, soak your feet in tepid water for a few minutes, then elevate them to encourage circulation.

7. Let feet “breathe.” To help them stay dry, feet should be exposed to the air as much as possible when the weather is hot and humid. Sandals, flip-flops and open-toed shoes help give feet a chance to breathe.

8. Beautify feet with a pedicure. Worried that calluses and dry patches will take away from the effect of your adorable new sandals? A professional pedicure is a luxurious treat! Colorful polish adds summer color to the toes, but if you’re worried about chipping, ask the beautician to skip the polish and buff your toenails to a high shine instead.

9. Put on sunscreen. Don’t forget – your feet can get sunburned, too! Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more when your feet are bare or if you’re wearing sandals.