At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know our Middlesex County patients are ready for some summer fun. With covid restrictions lifted, it’s a great time to enjoy beach and pool days, hiking, biking, watersports, shopping, site seeing and visiting with family and friends. However, we want our patients to get the most out of the season and keep their feet safe and healthy.

Four helpful tips for preventing foot problems this summer:

  • Wear the right shoe for your brand of summer fun. Too often we see patients whose summer activities have come to a screeching halt due to an ankle sprain or other injury they received because they weren’t wearing shoes that were appropriate for the activity they were doing. High-heeled sandals on a site-seeing tour or playing beach volleyball in flip flops are just two common examples of inappropriate footwear choices that can end in painful injuries. Plan ahead and choose shoes that are best suited to what you’ll be doing.

  • Don’t wear sneakers without socks. Sweaty summer feet need socks. Bacteria is always present in shoes. When it mixes with perspiration, both feet and shoes become stinky, and infections like athlete’s foot and toenail fungus are more likely to develop. Choose an absorbent type of sock and change it whenever you notice your feet feel moist. Further, reduce your risk of contracting a foot infection by keeping your feet covered in public places. 

  • Remember to use sunscreen. A bad sunburn on your feet can make it impossible to put on shoes or even walk. It’s also bad for your skin and increases your chances of developing skin cancer down the road. Apply sunscreen to the skin on your feet while you apply it to the rest of your body. Even if you are using a water-resistant variety, you should reapply after swimming or every two hours. Remember to put sunscreen on your feet when shopping, running errands, and any time you are outside and expose your feet to the sun.

  • Limit barefoot time. Although feeling the grass and sand between your toes is considered quintessential summer, it also dramatically increases your risk of injury. Sharp objects lurk out of sight in the yard and at the beach, which can cause cuts and puncture wounds. Going barefoot also raises your chances of stepping on a bee or other stinging bug or a washed-up jellyfish at the beach. If you have diabetes, you must keep your feet covered.

If, despite all your efforts to protect your feet, you do sustain an injury or notice a rash or other unusual foot symptoms, contact our Cromwell office at 860-632-5499 and make an appointment with our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, to get it evaluated promptly.

Questions or Comments?

We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today (860) 632-5499

162 West St Ste K Cromwell, CT 06416