Foot Health
Treat Your Feet to a Healthy Summer
By
May 16, 2009 - 4:15:55 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Dr. Maritza Baez, family medicine physician with Lifetime Health Medical Group.
Q: I like to go barefoot in the summer. Are there any health risks with doing this that I should be aware of?
A: Yes, when you go barefoot outside in the summer, you always take the risk of stepping on a foreign object, and getting a puncture wound, or worse, getting the object lodged in your foot.

If you do step on something, the first thing you should do is try to identify the object. If it is not visible, do not try to remove it on your own! Clean your foot by soaking it repeatedly in warm soapy water, and put a topical antibiotic and gauze on the wound. Seek the care of a doctor. If the incident happens on a night or weekend, a local urgent care center may be a good option.

There are also several other foot-related health concerns you should be aware of in the summer. Choose foot attire wisely. While many of us like to wear flip flops or other sandals during the summer months, these types of shoes have no arch support. If you wear flip flops for an extended period of time, they can cause pain in the arch or ball of your foot. Ballet-style flats also lack foot support and carry the same risks.

On the other hand, enclosed shoes can increase your risk of fungal infections and warts due to the humidity and heat they create. You can help prevent these problems by taking time during the day to expose your feet to the air without shoes, socks, tights or nylons. Alternating between a few pairs of shoes can also help. If your feet regularly get sweaty (making you more prone to fungal infections), you may also want to spray shoes with a foot deodorant after wearing them. After spraying, stuff the shoes with a paper towel to absorb any moisture and bacteria.

If you do get a foot infection, try soaking your feet in cold water with Epsom salts. You can also apply over the counter Lamisil® cream.

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal skin infection that can easily be acquired from communal showers at pools. Remember to bring some sort of shower shoes. Despite the lack of support flip flops offer, they make good “shower shoes” since they help protect from fungal infections and are not worn for a long period of time.

In addition to these risks, many people simply forget to apply sunscreen to the feet, but they can burn as easily as any other part of the body. So don’t forget them when you’re getting ready to soak up the sun.

For more information about Lifetime Health Medical Group, visit www.lifetimehealth.org.


For information on foot care and health, visit the American Podiatry Medical Association at http://www.apma.org.

The information provided by Lifetime Health Medical Group physicians is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have a question about a medical condition, please seek the advice of your physician.

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