Though it is hard to admit in a heat wave, summer is coming to a halt. It won’t be long until the kids are at school, and pumpkin picking, football games, and turkey dinners will be on the agenda! Thankfully there is still a good month of sandals and barbeque left! But, are your feet still up for the summer challenge or has summer gotten the best of them already. You may need to pay special attention to your feet on the last stretch of fun in the sun!
Complaint: My feet are dry and cracked. My feet are itchy, red, and sometimes have blisters.
Cause: Believe it or not, both of these complaints will often root from the same problem! Warm, dark, humid environments create a delightful home for fungus! Dry feet are a sign of sweaty feet and sweaty feet are a precursor to fungal feet.
Prevention: The number one thing to avoid is going barefoot in public. Wear sandals around the pool, in the locker room, and in public showers. When possible wear sandals over shoes to allow your feet to breath. Wear dry shoes, change socks often and inspect your feet on a regular basis.
Complaint: I have calluses or corns making my feet ugly. I have thick skin on my foot and it hurts.
Cause: The summer shoe selection can be referred to as the podiatrist’s best resource for job security. Too often men and women put their feet in shoes or sandals that are nowhere near the shape of their foot. This causes the foot to rub against the shoe. Friction causes a buildup of skin that can become painful or unsightly.
Prevention: Wearing wide toed shoes or just properly fitting shoes can help with this problem! Over the counter creams and lotions can help soften the skin, but be careful with corn pads. They often make the problem worse over time. If the callus or corn is continuously painful see a podiatric physician to properly remove the ailment.
Complaint: I have warts. I have a hard, flat, bump on the bottom of my foot.
Cause: Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus. It only takes a small cut or opening in the skin to allow the virus into your skin. These opening are often unseen by the naked eye. Some people are more susceptible to getting warts and need to take extra precautions to avoid the virus.
Preventions: Avoid walking around barefoot, even in your own home! If your family members have warts, you can all get warts! Avoid at home or over the counter treatments. Picking at the wart or improperly removing them can make the wart spread and what started out as one wart can quickly multiply creating a mosaic of many warts.
So as summer comes to an end make sure you keep your feet healthy and safe. If you have any
questions or concerns about your foot health or other summer threats to your feet, seek medical help
from a foot and ankle specialist also referred as a podiatrist. They are trained to treat all foot ailments of children and adults.
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