Summer Foot Care

Are you concerned about the way your feet look, now that the summer sun has your toes poking out of sandals and other open toed shoes? You want your feet to not only be pain free, but also to look good. Just because your feet are close to the ground doesn't mean they go unnoticed in the summer months. If you are going to show off your feet you want them to look their best. Here are some things to keep in mind this summer.

-Clean feet are happy feet. Your feet won't look good when they're dirty. Wearing sandals and open toed shoes or going barefoot makes your feet dirty, and negates your morning shower. Don't be afraid to clean them more often then once a day, especially if you have afternoon or evening plans. This exposure to dirt and bacteria also increase your risk of infection from cuts and abrasions, as well as making you more susceptible to fungi. We do offer Fungasoap in our office to help keep your feet and nails free of fungi.

-Soak your feet to keep them looking good. This softens the skin as well as helping to add moisture to the skin, aiding in cracked heels or dry skin. Feet should be soaked for about 10-15 minutes in a pedicure tub or other basin. Looking for a natural moisturizer? Try adding 1/4 cup of olive oil to your basin. And a cup of honey added to your water is helpful as honey is a natural antiseptic and can help moisturize your feet. You can also stop by our office to inquire about products which help in moisturizing and exfoliating skin, including Tea Tree Soaks.

-You should regularly exfoliate your feet to keep them looking good. Twice a week is a good number of times to exfoliate your feet with a pumice stone or cream. Remember when using a pumice stone that soaking your feet before hand can make it easier to buff off old skin cells. Exfoliating helps prevent dry and cracked skin, as well as removing unsightly callus buildup on the bottom of your feet. But remember that you should not continue to use a pumice stone or cream exfoliant if you experience any pain, cause any bleeding, or have any kind of reaction to the cream. When these symptoms arise, it is a good time to consult with your podiatrist. Diabetics especially should consult their podiatrist before attempting any exfoliation.

-Repair cracked heels. Not only are they unsightly, but they make your feet more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infection. Many over the counter creams for this are available, including in our office. If problems with cracked heels persist, you should consult a podiatrist as these may indicate other problems or need special attention.

-Treat toenail fungus. Fungus is easily stopped when it is first noticed, so begin to treat any fungus of the toenails or on the skin (such as athlete's foot) as soon as you first notice it. The best way to be sure that you will eliminate the fungus is by visiting your podiatrist. They have a number of treatments available to help you, and have great levels of experience in treating toenail and foot fungi. Remember to treat fungus early because as it progresses, it can make nails yellow, thick, and the edges of the nail crumble. Fungus can not only make your feet unsightly, but it can even make wearing shoes painful and inconvenient.

-Moisturize feet. Moisturizing helps keep skin healthy and looking good. You can moisturize the skin daily, but don't moisturize between your toes as this just increases your risk of fungi.

-Don't forget to protect your feet with sunscreen. You wouldn't want all your hard work keeping your feet looking nice to go to waste. The sun can be damaging to all your skin, and feet are often neglected, even though they see as much sun in the summer as the rest of your body.