Published: July 31, 2009 04:00 pm      

Six Steps for Summer Feet

By: Dr. Collin Ball

We all know what we should do, but often we need a simple reminder. Here are six of the best tips for caring for your feet during the summer, fall and beyond.

1. Always keep your feet clean and dry. The dryer you keep your feet, at the pool, at the lake or in you’re your tennis shoes the less likely you are to have athletes foot, discolored/fungal nails or foot odor. In the event that you need one, Use an absorbent over the counter fungal powder.

2. Shoes should always be comfortable. Never buy a pair of shoes that are not comfortable in the store, there is not a break in period for shoes. They should be comfortable from the minute you put them on your feet. This is especially important for athletic shoes. Always get measured when you buy a new pair and be sure they are the right type of shoe for the type of activity you will be doing. Wearing well fitting shoes helps avoid blisters, calluses, corns and the aggravation of bunions and bone spurs.

3. When you are considering a pedicure, always make sure that the salon uses sterilized tools. You can even buy some and take them with you to the salon, so that you know you will not get someone else’s infection from the tools.

4. Always trim your nails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails and infections. My wife and daughter’s toenails naturally curve on both sides. Recently, I removed little slivers of nails off of the sides of my wife’s nails so she could avoid the painful ingrown toenails she experienced for years. Now she will never have them again.

5. Avoid going barefoot, this leads to a large percentage of foot problems especially for diabetic patients and patients with poor circulation. Especially be sure to wear foot protection when at the pool or in lakes, rivers or creeks.

6. Pay attention to your feet. Be sure to look for abnormal, painful or discolored areas. Remember, your feet may occasionally ache from overuse but are not supposed to hurt