5 Tips For Taking Care Of Your Feet This Summer

Summer is a time when the risk of foot infections is higher. It is therefore important to carry out some care. What should be taken into account? We will detail it for you in this article.

Summer is the time of year when most people have more free time. This, together with the climate and rising temperatures, causes a lot of daily habits to change. Some people forget completely that they have to take care of their feet like at any other time of the year.

If you ignored it, the feet tend to suffer more from infections and skin attacks in the summer. The change of shoes, barefoot activities or swimming pools create an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi. To avoid it, we want to give you some advice.

Why is it important to take care of your feet in summer?

The feet are one of the most important parts of the body. They act as a support, help maintain posture and without them one would not be able to walk or run. Despite this, many people tend to overlook them.

In the summer, they are more exposed to factors that affect their health because heat and humidity create a favorable environment for the growth of infectious microorganisms. Also, outdoor activities increase the risk of injury or horns.

It is indeed normal to frequent public areas such as swimming pools or beaches, in which  there is direct contact with bacteria, fungi and other elements that make this part of the body vulnerable. This explains why pains and infections do not take long to appear. So how do you take care of your feet?

Tips for taking care of your feet in summer

As detailed in a study published in the medical journal Annals of Family Medicine ,  the incidence of foot problems increases in the summer. Thus, it is common to find them swollen due to a buildup of fluid, which can be extremely uncomfortable.

Also, wearing open shoes like sandals or flip flops makes this area more prone to any trauma. When we wear closed shoes that hug the foot well, the blows are, in fact, better cushioned.

1. Choose good shoes

It is important to know which shoes to wear for each occasion. Flip-flops are not suitable for exercising or walking for a long time. However, it is advisable to take them with you for protection when walking in wet areas.

Indeed, as we pointed out a little earlier, fungi proliferate more easily in areas loaded with humidity. It is therefore strongly advised not to go barefoot in the communal showers, in the access areas to the swimming pools or in the changing rooms.

2. Do not share items for personal use

Shoes, like towels and other items for personal use, should not be shared. These measures help reduce the risk of infections and are part of good hygiene. Using the same utensils as other people can produce onychomycosis, athlete’s foot, and other contagious foot diseases.

3. Maintain adequate hygiene

To take care of your feet in summer, it is not enough to wash them with soap and water. If there has been any contact with water, whether from a shower, the sea or a swimming pool, they must be dried well. Drying should include the area between the fingers and nails.

4. Use sun protection

The skin in this area is also sensitive to sun burns. Therefore, sunscreen should be used on the instep and even on the soles. According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology , sun protection minimizes damage from UV rays and is essential in preventing photoaging.

5. Apply moisturizers

The climatic conditions specific to summer tend to make the feet dry and create crevices. To prevent this from happening, one should apply moisturizer several times a day. It is also possible to use coconut oil, petroleum jelly or any other moisturizing substance.

Other tips for taking care of your feet

• It is important to emphasize that in all cases  it is better to use stable sandals  that provide good support for the foot. This will reduce the risk of falls or stumbles
• Moreover,  the use of permanent nail polish is not recommended. They can indeed cause allergic reactions and decrease sweating in this area, which promotes the proliferation of microorganisms.
• Trying to remove corns or roughness from the feet with a file is not the best option. It can cause injuries which will also promote infections

Consult the podiatrist

If you have the slightest doubt or problem, and especially if you suffer from a pathology in the feet, the best thing to do is to go to a specialist. Visiting a podiatrist on a frequent basis helps to develop a more precise plan for the care of this area of ​​the body at times like summer.