Most people see the summer as a time to slack off and relax. But Marietta podiatrist Dr. Alvin Cowans wants you to make this year the one in which you add new healthy summer skin habits to your summer foot care routine. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas to get you started on the right foot.
Key Takeaways
- Summer heat, beach and pool trips can dry out feet or lead to fungal foot infections
- Proper summer foot care can leave the feet on your skin healthy and moisturized
- Simply washing and moisturizing feet daily and always wearing shoes will keep your feet protected
Table of Contents
How Summer Hurts Your Feet
Between strong sun, lots of humidity, and plenty of trips to the beach and pool, the summer season leaves your feet vulnerable to everything from dryness and sunburns, to fungal foot and toenail infections. Staying out in the sun can burn or dry your feet. Walking barefoot through public areas like pools or locker rooms can expose you to athlete's foot infections, and increase your risk for fungal toenail infections, too. Want to stay safe? These are the habits you need to introduce to your summer foot care routine.
Healthy Skin Habits for Your Summer Foot Care Routine
Ready to pick up some new healthy skin habits this year? Here are some good places to start boosting your summer foot care:
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Clean your feet every day.
Especially in the summer, practicing proper hygiene is the key to preventing foot problems. Something as simple as washing your feet every day can help prevent conditions such as athlete's foot and plantar warts from developing by getting germs and fungus off of your skin. If you need guidance or treatment, a plantar warts podiatrist can provide expert care and prevention tips. Each day, clean your feet with warm water and soap, paying special attention to the areas between your toes. Once your entire foot is clean, use a towel to carefully dry your feet, again making sure to dry between your toes to reduce your risk for fungal infections. Once your skin is clean and dry, you can also apply moisturizer to your feet to help keep your skin smooth and healthy all summer long. -
Always remember sunscreen.
The skin on your feet sees less sunshine during the winter months. Then, when you start wearing sandals or lying out barefoot in the sunshine, the delicate skin on top of your feet is much more vulnerable to sunburns (and skin cancer on feet). To stay safe, make sure to apply sunscreen all over your feet, and reapply regularly if you're spending lots of time outdoors. -
Don't wear the same shoes every day.
In the hot, humid Georgia summers, your feet are going to get sweaty, especially if you wear closed-toe shoes on your daily adventures. Now, cleaning your feet at the end of the day can help keep that sweat from turning into a fungal infection on your feet. But it won't do much to get rid of the moisture in your shoes that can also lead to fungal infections. Want to reduce your risk for fungus thriving in your shoes? Don't wear any pair of closed-toed shoes two days in a row.
Why is this habit so important? By rotating the shoes you wear each day, you can wear those shoes a full 24-hours to completely dry before you get your feet back inside of them. Of course, this is a good healthy foot habit to practice year-round. But starting this practice as part of your summer skin care routine is even more important, since this is the time of year when your shoes are most likely to get sweaty and damp. Additionally, if you wish to give your feet an added layer of protection from fungus, you can use an anti-microbial spray to treat your shoes between wearings. We particularly recommend the Tolcylen™ Antimicrobial Shoe Spray, since it has a combination of colloidal silver and undecylenic acid that fights both fungal development and unwelcome foot odor. Not only will it prevent microbes from hiding and thriving in your visible shoe surfaces, it can penetrate deep within the soles of even the sturdiest leather footwear, helping stamp out microbes that could be hiding deep beneath the surface of your shoes. -
Dare to not go bare.
We know that summer feels like the time of year for going barefoot. But in these long summer months, denying your feet the protection of footwear is especially dangerous. And here's why: If you're touring a new city or venturing out to a theme park, your feet need the protection of supportive footwear. Deny them this protection and you're likely to experience sore feet after theme park visits or following a return from vacation.
Heading to the beach or pool this summer? Even if you love the idea of wiggling your bare feet in the sand, it's important to slip into shoes or sandals whenever you're walking by the shore or on the pool deck. Otherwise, you could end up with sore and tired beach feet that just might ruin the rest of your summer season. -
Always add moisture.
Spending hours in the sun, surf and sand can dry out the skin on your feet, fast. So if you want to avoid cracked heels come fall, be sure to make daily moisturizing part of your summer foot care routine. For best results, here's the best way to incorporate moisturizing into your healthy summer skin habits: apply cream to your feet at the end of the day, after washing and drying them off. Avoid applying moisturizer between the toes, and to really hold in the moisture, consider wearing clean, breathable socks right after lathering up your feet.
When to See Your Doctor
Having trouble sticking to your healthy foot habits this summer vacation? Have you already been dealing with itchy athlete's infections or painful plantar warts? Don't wait for school to get back in session: now is the time to reach out to Marietta podiatrist Dr. Alvin Cowans for help resolving your pesky foot problems. From SWIFT therapy for plantar warts to anti-fungal treatments, we have the therapy you need to restore your foot health and get your summer vacation back on track.
