It seems like every year, summer is getting longer and hotter. While this can be great for our social lives and overall mood, there are certain risks that come along with it. The likes of sunburn, dehydration, and difficulty sleeping are some of the more well-known issues we have in summer, but the effects that this season can have on our feet are usually overlooked. Today we will look at some of the most common foot problems people experience during summer, and what you can do to keep your feet healthy.
Achy Feet
There are a lot of different factors that contribute to sore feet during the summer. For starters, we tend to be more active in summer than we are during the winter months, going on outdoor excursions to the beach, the woods, festivals, and theme parks. This increased activity puts our feet under more strain than they are used to, especially considering many of the places we go have uneven terrain. While we don’t want to discourage outdoor physical activity, spreading these events out and giving your feet a proper rest will mean that you are able to have fun, without developing any achy pain that comes with overusing your feet.
Blisters
Even if you don’t typically experience blisters, they can become more common on your feet during the summer months. One reason for this is that we tend to change our footwear to lighter, looser shoes, such as sandals or flip-flops. These may feel comfortable and breezy, but they are much looser than normal shoes, and tend to rub off our skin more. This friction can result in blisters, which are bubbling areas of skin filled with clear fluid. To avoid developing blisters during the summer months, try not to rely too much on this kind of footwear. Take your shoes off in areas that you know won’t have glass or any other cutting risks, find sandals that conform tightly to your feet, and wear normal, well-fitting shoes with plenty of cushioning and support when you can. Blisters are easily avoidable when you stay conscious of your feet, but they can be extremely uncomfortable and can even become infected, so don’t rely too heavily on footwear that gives you more air.
Nail Care
If you’re wearing more open-topped shoes than usual in the summer, it is essential to devote extra time and care to your toenails. The increased exposure they will see during these months makes it more likely that they will develop a fungal nail infection, as does the increased amount of sweat in our shoes, and visiting places like public swimming pools. Cleaning your feet regularly and thoroughly can help avoid any nasty infections.
Making sure your nails are properly clipped will help prevent infections from taking hold or deteriorating. Make sure to clip your nails as the season begins, and be sure to cut in a relatively horizontal fashion. You may think it’s natural to give your nails a sort of n-shape, especially given the shape of nail clippers, but this can cause the sides of your nails to grow into your skin. It is also important to allow your nails time to breathe, so take about 5 days every month where you go nail-polish free.
Sunburn
Finally, with all the increased sun exposure your feet will be getting, it is absolutely vital that you make sure to put on plenty of sun cream. Your feet are far less used to getting the sun than the rest of your body, and so, are far more susceptible to burning. Make sure not to forget them when you’re putting on cream, but more importantly, make sure to top it up throughout the day, as the cream will also wash off more easily compared to other parts of your body.