Happy Summer Feet
Exposed feet are a summer staple, but to maintain healthy feet local women should heed some simple advice to keep theirs pool party ready. Here are some tips from EverydayHealth.com for keeping your feet healthy this summer:
- Avoid going barefoot anywhere but inside your own home. It can lead to injuries as well as warts and ringworm
- Wear open-toed shoes or sandals to give your feet breathing room to keep feet sweat-free, but make sure shoes have adequate arch support
- Always apply sunscreen to feet to guard against skin cancer and aging
- Keep shoes and socks dry to prevent fungal infections
- Avoid drastically rounding the edges of nails, or cutting too close to the skin as it can result in ingrown toenails
- Remove polish every once in awhile to let the nail bed breathe and don’t apply it at all to toenails that are discolored, cracked, thick or crumbling as this might signal nail fungus
- Examine your feet for problems such as scaling or peeling which could be athlete’s foot and nail discoloration which can be nail fungus
Above are some tips for preventing common summer foot ailments, but what if you already experience these symptoms? Fungal nails are a common problem and can be identified their discoloration, thickness or misshapenness. This condition can be treated through creams and topical medication or oral antifungal therapy. Another common summer problem is heel cracking. According to Dr. Marlene Reid, a podiatric physician who maintains a women’s foot health blog, cracking can arise from friction and dryness. Apply lotion to your heel on a daily basis to prevent this dry skin. If calluses are thicker than usual, visit a podiatric physician for safe removal.
Kelly Nelson is an intern for KC Parent Magazine. She is a junior at the University of Missouri where she is studying Journalism and Spanish.