During the summer, people often wear open-toed shoes outdoors, leading to possible wear and tear to the feet. To maintain healthy and attractive feet for the warm season, following these skin care tips is vital to prevent foot health issues and ensure you can fully enjoy all your summer activities.
Apply Sunscreen
Prioritizing your skin's health and protection from harmful UV rays is essential when outdoors. To ensure maximum protection, always use reliable sunscreen, especially between 9 AM and 5 PM, and remember to reapply as needed, like when sweating or swimming. Using an SPF of 30 or higher is critical to ensuring effectiveness.
Keep Up Hygiene
It’s important to prioritize keeping your feet clean by washing them daily with lukewarm water and mild soap. Make sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes, to avoid fungal infections. You could also soak your feet in warm water, Epsom salt, and a few drops of essential oil like lavender to soften the skin, relieve pain, and improve circulation.
Hydrate/Moisturize
Moisturizing your feet after a bath or shower is vital to maintaining soft and supple skin because your exfoliated skin is primed to absorb moisture. Avoid harsh chemicals and fragrances that may cause skin irritation when choosing a lotion or cream. Keeping your feet moisturized adds an extra layer of protection to your skin, preventing dryness, cracking, and fungal infections. It also reduces the risk of blisters and calluses. Adding this step to your daily foot care routine will make your feet look and feel their best.
Avoid Walking Barefoot
Avoid walking barefoot to protect your skin from injury and infection, especially in high-temperature conditions. Instead, wear water shoes or sandals on the beach and sneakers on the pavement to stay protected from heat exposure. In addition, going barefoot increases your chances of sustaining a foot injury, leading to severe complications. Walking barefoot also exposes your feet to harmful bacteria, causing athlete’s foot infections, plantar warts, and more.
Monitoring your feet and promptly addressing any concerns is crucial for maintaining your foot skincare health. Our Martin Foot and Ankle team is always here to assist you with any lower limb pain or injuries that may impede your summer activities. Remember, foot pain is not normal, and our expert podiatrists can get you back on your feet and feeling your best.
We are dedicated to providing our patients with outstanding care and will carefully evaluate your condition and devise a customized treatment plan for a pain-free life. Contact us at (717) 748-5260 to schedule your appointment today.
