When summer arrives, it's important to check on your feet as often as possible because some summer foot conditions can cast a shadow on your sunny days. So in today’s post, Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, shares 6 of the most common summer foot problems he sees in his office.
- Sweaty Feet: Sweaty feet during the warmer months are a given, but you must do your best to manage them. Not only is it annoying, but dampness and sweat are major contributors to other summer foot conditions, such as fungal infections, persistently itchy skin, and blisters.
- Swollen Feet: When temperatures rise, your blood vessels expand as your body tries to cool itself, leading to more swelling than usual. While your body tries to make room and move blood back toward your heart, fluids accumulate and move downward into the body’s tissues. This is referred to as heat edema.
- Warts: Plantar warts are also quite common in summer. Activities like hanging out at the beach and swimming often involve walking barefoot, which puts feet at risk of contracting the HPV that causes warts. The most effective way to prevent yourself from getting warts is to wear water shoes or sandals in public places where people walk barefoot.
- Blisters: Sweat can accumulate and clog your feet' pores, putting them at risk for blisters. Also, many people look forward to removing their socks in the summer. But walking for hours in thin, unsupportive flip-flops is a recipe for blister formation.
- Infections: The most common summer spaces are a breeding ground for fungal infections like athlete’s foot and fungal toenails. They can spread between others with direct skin contact and become chronic if you don’t attend to them. Skin infections are also common because our feet are more exposed when walking barefoot or wearing sandals. And because we don’t cover our feet in hot weather, scrapes and cuts remain exposed, which can lead to skin infections.
- Cracked Skin: While winter can dry our feet out, summer also dries out our feet because of how often they are exposed to the elements. Wearing flip-flops and thong sandals that lack sufficient coverage makes your feet susceptible to drying out from walking on the hot pavement or sandy beach.
If you’re looking for solutions to these common summer foot problems, look no further than Dr. Hubert Lee and his team at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 425-455-0936.
