You’ve waited all winter for the sun to work its magic, turning cold and dark to warm and light. Now, it’s time to step into this long-awaited season and make the best of it. Store away those boots and get ready for sandal nirvana!
It’s not surprising that National Foot Health Awareness Month also coincides with the arrival of this warmer weather. Exposed feet abound during summer, and so too can problems that lead to long-term discomfort and more.
So, while keeping your feet looking their best, it is also important to make sure they feel their best throughout the summer so you can enjoy more of it.
Explore below how you can achieve good foot health and sandal-ready feet, then step into summer with confidence.
Why Focusing on Foot Health is So Important for Summer Fun
Summer brings with it an increase in bare feet, ill-fitting sandals, and quick slip-on shoes, such as cheap flip-flops. It’s a time of excitement, enticing you to get out and about without having to think too much about your feet. For these reasons, planning ahead can be incredibly beneficial.
According to a study by Harvard Medical School, it is essential to get your feet ready for the warmer day activities and keep them healthy throughout. Inactivity during the cooler months can hold current foot conditions at bay – add activity, and you may be asking for trouble. To avoid being sidelined when everyone else is having fun, consider what you can do to avoid aggravating these lingering foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and bunions. You will also want to take preventive measures so you don’t suffer new foot troubles.
Whether you’re heading off to a seaside vacation or visiting one of the many lakes in Pennsylvania or beyond, foot care needs to be on your health checklist of to-dos. So, be proactive and ensure that you can spend more time having fun this summer.
Free the Feet and Let Them Breathe!
There is something freeing about letting your feet breathe, baring the skin, and finding just the right footwear to keep you moving forward comfortably during the hot weather. It’s not just about wearing the right shoes, however. You need to ensure you know how to stay foot-happy.
If you’ve ever experienced the arrival of a blister on your foot, possibly from hiking, you know how one small problem can wreak havoc on your activities. The pain from such a small sore can limit and interfere with planned activities, and forget any chance at spontaneity.
Foot Health Tips to Help You Step into Summer Confidently
To make the best of this time of year, we offer some seasonal foot care tips below to help you make the most of your time in the sun.
1. Choose supportive sandals
What you wear on your feet can make all the difference in what you experience and how you feel overall. As such, you will want to choose supportive sandals that protect and energize you as the cornerstone of your summer foot care routine. Choosing this type of footwear will be beneficial because it can help to:
- Evenly distribute weight
- Reduce foot fatigue
- Facilitate proper muscle movement
- Alleviate discomfort and pain
- Cushion the bones of the feet
Key inclusions to look for include:
- Arch Support suited to your particular feet.
- Contoured Footbed to provide ergonomic support that conforms to the natural shape of your foot.
- Adjustable Straps to provide stability and help avoid pinching, rubbing, or slipping, which can lead to blisters.
- Shock Absorption in the midsole section, which can increase comfort and decrease the risk of foot injury.
Once you have your supportive sandals, be sure to take the time to break them in before making them your go-to, everyday footwear choice. New sandals are often stiff, resulting in extra applied pressure to the foot’s surface.
While there are so many sandal types out there today, keep in mind that wearing the wrong type of sandal can lead to a number of summer blunders. For example, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) advises those who like to wear peep-toe sandals to do so for shorter timespans. The reason for this is that they increase the pressure on your toes and can cause or irritate bunions and more.
2. Pamper your feet with a therapeutic soak and exfoliation
Wearing sandals and flip-flops can cause the skin on your heels and other areas to crack. Keep your skin supple and cared for with a bit of pampering this summer, including a therapeutic soak and exfoliation.
Therapeutic foot soak
Go for a therapeutic foot soak with Epsom Salt, or try a specialized product like PediFix All Natural Soaking Crystals Foot Bath. Such specialty soaks can not only moisturize the feet, but also relieve itching, soothe aches, soften calluses, and even fight off fungus and bacteria.
Not only is a foot soak therapeutic but also refreshing, especially after a long day of walking or other summertime activity.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is a healthy process that removes dead skin cells to help maintain healthy feet and improve appearance
Exfoliation options include using any of the following:
- Pumice stone and warm water,
- A foot scrub, or
- Exfoliating creams.
Focus on the areas of the foot with harder skin, like the heel, once or twice a week, then be sure to moisturize.
3. Actively prevent fungal infections and treat them if they do occur
The feet are prone to fungal infections, especially during summer months when they are exposed to pool areas, public showers, and other moist environments. If this happens to you, your local pharmacy has several aids to help, including:
- QC Clotrimazole Cream
- Lotrimin AF Clotrimazole Cream
- Tinactin Antifungal Liquid Spray
- QC Athlete’s Foot Relief Power Spray
Also, if you regularly visit a salon for a pedicure during the summer months, stay aware of the potential for developing fungal infections. Be proactive by using a pre-treatment, such as the Maximum Strength Fungi Nail Anit Fungal Pen.
4. Avoid the burn – apply sunscreen
During summer, your feet are exposed to the sun, and sunburn can sneak up on you quickly. Because of this, it is essential to apply sunscreen. Otherwise, those gorgeous sandals you just got will remain in the closet for a while longer.
Be sure to remove your flip-flops or sandals and slather the sunscreen all over the top and back of your feet, as well as your ankles. Reapply after each walk or swim in the ocean, lake, or pool as well.
5. Keep a foot first aid kit available
While you may start off the warm season in good shape, keep in mind that life happens, and to ensure healthy feet for summer fun means being ready for anything.
For this, be sure to keep a foot first aid kit nearby, which might include:
- Band-aids and other bandages,
- Antibiotic cream,
- Moleskin or blister pads,
- Callus treatments, such as Dr. Scholl’s callus removers, and
- Silvadene crème or aloe vera for sunburn.
It’s Summer! Get Out There, Have Fun, and Let Us Help You Keep Your Feet Healthy
Make healthy feet for summer a priority so you can spend more time enjoying life instead of becoming sidelined with foot problems. We can help!
Stop into one of our local Klingensmith’s Drug Stores in Pennsylvania today and pick up items to keep you and your family’s feet healthy all summer long.
