Though summer conditions are present year-round in Florida, paying a little more attention to your feet during these extra hot and humid months will help keep your lower extremities healthy and happy for the rest of the year. Your feet are often the most neglected part of your body, though they experience the most stress on a daily basis. With some extra TLC during the summer, you can prevent foot problems that can impact you long term.
Don’t Skip the SPF! Important Summer Foot Care Fact
If you live in South Florida, then you are no stranger to sunscreen. However, the feet and toes are often the part of your body that gets neglected most when you’re dowsing yourself in 30 SPF. Just like the rest of your body, the skin on your feet can burn too. Because your lower extremities are often kept shaded in your shoes, when you do go barefoot, that skin is even more likely to burn. Be sure to apply sunscreen regularly when you’re spending time outdoors to prevent burns and the potential to develop skin cancer.
Avoid Going Barefoot
Though shoes aren’t required for a lot of summer activities it needs to be a summer foot care habit. You should avoid going barefoot as much as possible to protect your feet and keep them healthy, especially in public areas. Warm, moist conditions are ideal for bacteria to grow and it is easy to pick up an infection in a communal shower, locker room or public pool.
Limit How Often Your Wear Flip-Flops
While flip-flops are OK to keep your feet bacteria-free in a communal space, you should avoid wearing the footwear for an extended period of time. These flat shoes offer little to no arch support, which can result in pain in your arch and heel. If you’re looking for sandal that offers support, comfort and style, the Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists’ offices are stocked with a variety of therapeutic footwear options perfect for summer.
Keep Your Feet Dry and Cool
With hot, sticky conditions present all summer long, sweaty feet are a common occurrence. However, all that moisture build-up causes more than just smelly feet, it can lead to fungal infections. If the infection goes untreated, you can end up with nerve damage or gangrene, which could result in the need for amputation. To prevent your sweaty summer feet from causing problems, wear breathable cotton socks and change them often.
Make an Appointment with Your Podiatrist
The smallest foot problems can cause major long-term issues if left untreated. If you notice anything different with your feet, including the appearance or feeling, you should make an appointment with your podiatrist right away. The board-certified podiatrists and surgeons at Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists are experts in all conditions affecting your lower extremities. And as Florida locals, they know first-hand how important summer foot care is.
The practice now has nineteen locations to serve you from Ft. Lauderdale to Palm City, with the newest location now open in Lake Worth. Make an appointment today to be sure your feet are healthy and happy all year long! 1-855-550-FEET.
