Summer is a beautiful time of year, but the hot, humid weather can take a toll on your foot health. Add in days spent barefoot at the beach, or splashing by the pool, and you may be dealing with everything from blisters and calluses to cracked heels, fungal toenails, or athlete's foot infections. Want to get your feet back to looking and feeling their best? Just follow these end-of-summer foot care tips from your podiatrist in Powder Springs. But first, let's take a look at all the ways the season may have harmed your foot health. 

How Summer Takes a Toll on Foot Health 

The way you enjoy your summer can impact how much rehab your feet will need at the end of the season. First of all, the shoes you wore all summer really matters. If you followed our guide to picking the best travel shoes for summer, your feet are probably feeling pretty great right now. But if you or your child spent the season in less supportive shoes like flip-flops or Crocs, you may be dealing with foot pain, heel pain, blisters, calluses, and more. 

And what if you went barefoot this summer, especially at the pool? Or if you wore your closed-toed shoes without socks? Well, chances are high that you may have developed an athlete's foot infection, since the fungus that causes this concern thrives in wet, humid environments. But even if you didn't pick up an infection, exposing your feet to hot, humid weather could dry out the delicate skin, leaving them in need of some serious TLC. And that's where our end-of-summer foot care tips can come in handy. 

5 Rules for End of Summer Foot Care two pairs of feet in the ocean

To restore the health of your feet after the pressures of the summer season, here's what Powder Springs podiatrist Dr. Alvin Cowans wants you to do: 

  1. Beef up your moisturizing routine

    Many people find that their feet are dry and cracked by the time summer comes to a close. So, to get them feeling soft and smooth again, wash and exfoliate your feet each day, applying a thick moisturizer or even Vaseline once you're done. Afterward, you can even slip on socks made from natural materials to help lock the moisture into your feet. Just to be sure to dry the skin between your toes in order to reduce the risk of fungal infections. 

  2. Look for (and treat) any cracks in your skin

    If the skin on your feet got very dry this summer, you may have even developed cracks in your heels. Especially if you have diabetes, it's very important to heal these fissures, either with a moisturizing routine or in the office. Otherwise, you increase the risk for bleeding cracks, and you'll be leaving yourself open to infection. 

  3. Treat any fungal infections of the feet or toenails

    As we mentioned earlier, you're more likely to develop a fungal toenail or athlete's foot infection during the summer months. So, as part of your end-of-summer foot care routine, look for signs of trouble such as red, scaly skin on your feet; or a thick, yellow, or crumbling toenail. If there's any chance you've got a problem, come into the office to quickly resolve your infection. (Over-the-counter treatments are less effective and may even pose a risk to your health if you have an underlying condition.)

  4. Get your toenails back to optimal health

    If your nails were sporting pretty summer pedicures all season long, they may be yellow in color, or could even be experiencing breakage. Why is that the case? Traditional nail polishes and polish removers are packed with chemicals that take a toll on your nail health. So, as the summer winds down and you start to think about busting out your closed-toed shoes again, now is a great time to let your nails go polish-free so they can breathe and heal. Or, at the very least, switch to a better-for-you brand like Dr.'s Remedy nail polish, since it's chemical-free and even contains a healing formulation designed to combat nail discoloration, dryness, and even fungal infections. 

  5. Tackle and lingering foot pain

    If you upped your activity levels without making the right footwear choices, you may have sustained a summer sports injury or even developed the chronic, painful inflammation of plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. While seasonal fun may have kept you out of the office, end of summer is the best time to care for these foot ailments before back-to-school madness leaves you with little time for self-care. When you come in to the office with foot, heel or ankle pain, we can screen you for injuries such as sprains or fractures. Then, if you are injury-free but still hurting, we may recommend fixes such as shoe changes, anti-inflammatory medications or even custom orthotics to take pressure off your feet and help you feel like yourself again. 

Get Your Feet Looking Good and Feeling Good, Too at Optimum Podiatry in Powder Springs, GA

Visit Dr. Alvin Cowans at Optimum Podiatry located in the community of Lost Mountain in Powder Springs, GA.  Dr. Alvin Cowans is a foot and ankle expert and board certified foot surgeon.  Dr. Cowans treats a variety of conditions in patients of all ages and abilities in his Powder Springs office—including, toenail fungus, warts, ingrown toenails, dry and cracked skin, and athlete's foot.

Call 770-727-0614 to schedule your appointment or click here to get started.