Caring For Your Feet

Summer can be a trying time for your feet but with a few simple steps your summer may be more enjoyable. Sweaty Feet – can be controlled by swabbing your feet regularly with surgical spirit, making sure the spirit gets in between the toes. Surgical spirit evaporates rapidly from your skin leaving your feet cool & dry. Used every day it should help your sweaty feet.

Try not to use lots of talcum powder on your feet if there very sweaty, the powder absorbs a small amount of perspiration then forms clumps of soaked powder which can make your feet smell!

Blisters – are common in the summer, with rising temperatures causing the feet to swell, with extra perspiration the feet rub on the insides of your shoes causing blisters.

Try to wear at least a pop sock or trainer sock, these act in 2 ways:

• Firstly the sock absorbs a small amount of perspiration.

• Secondly the sock itself forms a nice soft barrier between your feet & the hard shoe.

Should you get a blister the best advice is to place a tight plaster over the area, only pop it if it is very painful. After popping it a few minutes in a bowl of salty water will reduce the risk of infection. Ideally though if you know a pair of shoes might cause you a blister – DON'T WEAR THEM!!

Corns & Callous – are caused by friction or pressure. Corns usually form on the top of the toe and can be very painful. Callous form on the ball of the foot. Corns can be difficult to remove, so attempts at home using cream or liquid should be avoided. Callous on the ball of the foot can usually be reduced using a pumice stone or foot file. Creams containing Urea are sometimes effective at reducing the hard scaly skin around the heels. I recommend “heel balm” available from Boots or Superdrug. If your corns or callous are painful a visit to a State Registered Chiropodist is advisable.

By Andrew Gladstone – Podiatrist.