How To Take Care Of Feet In The Summertime

Make This Summer a Treat for Your Feet
When temperatures rise and daylight stretches into the evening, you’ll need strong, supple feet to dance the night away. Knowing how to take care of feet will bring you one step closer to looking and feeling wonderful this summer.
Why You Need Healthy Feet for Summertime Fun
Unless you’re going out for an evening of dancing, you might not realize how important healthy feet are for a good time. Although feet may seem small compared to the rest of the body, they play a starring role. Feet are the most immediate form of transportation we have, and they support your entire body.
Feet continually provide important sensory and positional information. Together, the feet contain 25% of the body’s bones, 18% of its joints and 6% of its muscles. When you add the 3,000-7,000 nerve endings in each foot, you can begin to grasp how much we need our feet for information and mobility.
Go Barefoot on the Beach
Nothing says summertime like a sunset stroll on the beach. If you’re on the beach, we encourage you to kick off your shoes a bit. Walking barefoot on the sand has several health benefits.
When you walk on the sand, you need 2.1–2.7 times more energy than you do for a comparable walk around the neighborhood. This additional energy is necessary because walking on the sand works your muscles from your back downward. The drier the sand you walk on, the harder you’re working the muscles in your abdomen, glutes and feet.
Sand-walking also gives you a chance to view your footprints in the sand. After standing still, back away and look for duck-footed or toe-out imprints, uneven weight distribution or other variations. Snap a quick picture and discuss your duck feet posture (duck footed) or other issues with Dr. Reingold and our staff at your next visit.
Wear Shoes Elsewhere
In the summertime, it can get hot. Therefore, it’s no surprise that a stuffy pair of shoes is the last thing you want to wear. However, before you ditch your footwear, you should consider some of the essential benefits of wearing shoes that fit you.
Wearing shoes protects your feet so they remain safe and comfortable. When you feel more comfortable, you’re more likely to keep moving and keep peripheral edema at bay. Peripheral edema is swelling of the hands and feet that is worsened by standing or sitting in one position for too long.
When the weather is hot, your veins dilate. This is part of a natural cooling mechanism that releases heat from your body. Unfortunately, this also lets additional fluid pool in the feet where it can cause edema. This heat edema can happen whether your feet swell throughout the rest of the year or not.
Since protecting your feet with supportive shoes is even more critical in the summertime, you need to find shoes you love to wear. Expertly fitted sandals can keep you cool and comfortable. They are the perfect shoe for a day of antiquing or lunch with friends.
Summer Footcare for a Spectacular Summer
In addition to shoes, knowing how to take care of feet is key during the summer months. Strategic foot care can keep your feet looking great for photos at unexpected reunions. It can also help you feel marvelous.
At home, the first step in any foot care is paying close attention to your feet. When you take note of any changes, you can bring them up with Dr. Reingold right away. This is essential in the summer because we exponentially increase the expectations we place on our feet.
After carefully looking your feet over, gently cleanse them with lukewarm water and mild soap. If you want smooth feet for a special occasion, use a fine exfoliating polish, pat dry, and finish with a gentle skincare cream. Ask Dr. Reingold before using a pumice stone or other abrasive tool on your feet as they can damage multiple layers of skin if misused.
For more intensive care, a medical pedicure is an option. Credentialed professionals perform these procedures in a private and clean environment to help you focus on your health. Dr. Reingold, our podiatrist, supervises our medical pedicure program.
Medical pedicures provide essential summer care, including nail maintenance, corn or callus reduction, and anti-fungal nail polish application. In addition to treating your feet, medical pedicures are an excellent way to squeeze in some relaxation or “me time.” If you’re in the San Diego area, stop in to get a pair of sandals or a medical pedicure or to discover how to take care of feet for a spectacular summer.