5 Tips for Healthy Summer Feet

While they may not be the first body part we think of when we are considering physical beauty, health and wellness, our feet are important.  Obviously, we use them every day to stand and move and if they are uncomfortable or unhealthy, it becomes very irritating.  The summer time is a wonderful time to enjoy more freedom with your feet, but it is also an important time to consider what things may actually be contributing to poor foot health, and avoid them as much as possible.

Tips for Healthy Summer Feet

1. Prevent and treat your dry, cracked heels.  Wearing open-backed shoes is one of the great joys of the summer season, but this actually allows the fat pad of the heel to spread, which leads to cracked skin.  Exfoliating moisturizer and pumice stone treatments can help to smooth out dry summer heels, while antibiotic oil should be used to handle bleeding heels.  If your heels are especially dry, it may be a sign of fungus, psoriasis, thyroid issues or diabetes and you should check with a podiatrist or dermatologist to verify if this is true.

2. Rethink flip-flops.  Flip-flops may be comfortable and airy, but they normally do not provide adequate support and can therefore lead to stress fractures, heel pain and tendonitis.  Throwing on flip-flops for a trip to the beach is okay, but wearing them all day long is not the best choice.

3. Go barefoot with caution.  Walking barefoot, especially on surfaces like soft grass and fine beach sand, can be one of the greatest joys of the summer season, but it can also increase your risk of contracting viruses, fungus and bacteria, which thrive in warm, moist environments.  Furthermore, your bare feet are not protected against splinters, broken glass and other problems. 

4. Ease sweaty feet.  Hot temperatures and sweaty feet usually go hand-in-hand, which unfortunately means there is an increased risk of picking up infections.  Light cotton socks can help wick away excess moisture, as long as you change them out as soon as they get damp.  You can also rinse your feet off throughout the day to help keep them clean.

5. Get safe pedicures.  Pedicures are very enjoyable summertime activities, as long as they are done safely to help reduce or eliminate the risk of nail fungus, wart viruses and bacterial infections that can be transmitted through whirlpool tubs and nail tools.  You can aim toward safer pedicures by scheduling them at the beginning of the day and abstaining from shaving or waxing your legs for at least 24 hours beforehand.

Allowing your feet some freedom during summertime is very enjoyable, especially when you have Botanica to help them stay healthy and protected!

Love,

Gen