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It’s summer! Time to kick off your shoes, walk in the
grass, or stroll across sandy beaches! But there are a few things to
keep in mind before you go barefoot.
Two of the most common injuries caused by going barefoot
are cuts and puncture wounds. Grass, sand, and other surfaces can
camouflage sharp objects such as broken glass, nails, and sea shells.
Protect your feet by wearing shoes! However, if you do get a cut or
puncture wound from going barefoot, remember this: Medical treatment
within the first 24 hours is important in order to avoid serious
infection or other complications. Make an appointment with our office
for a thorough cleaning and careful follow-up.
You wouldn’t grab a pot of boiling water with your bare
hands, right? The summer sun can heat surfaces like sidewalks, asphalt,
and sand to triple digit temperatures, and potentially cause
third-degree burns on the soles of your bare feet. Try not to walk
barefoot on these surfaces to keep your feet safe!
Do you stop at the ankles
when applying sunscreen? Keep going! Feet can get sunburn too. Apply
sunscreen to the tops and bottoms of your feet!
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Sports like sand volleyball cry out for bare feet. Who
wants sand in their shoes? However, walking, jogging and playing sports
in bare feet on soft, uneven surfaces like sand frequently leads to arch
pain, heel pain, ankle sprains and other injuries. Athletic shoes
provide heel cushioning and arch support. If you do hurt your feet or
ankles, you can reduce pain and swelling by resting, applying ice and
pressure to the injured area, and elevating the foot. If pain and
swelling persist after a few days, contact our office for a thorough
evaluation.
Plantar warts, caused by a virus, and fungal infections
such as Athlete’s Foot can be painful and annoying. Although it’s
difficult to protect your feet from being in contact with the virus and
fungus when at the pool or in a locker room, proper hygiene will help to
prevent them from causing problems. Thoroughly wash feet with
antimicrobial soap after a day at the pool, and then dry them
completely, especially in between the toes.
Finally, if you – or friends
or family members – have diabetes, know that going bare foot is a bad
idea! The disease causes poor blood circulation and numbness in the
feet. A diabetic may not feel pain from a cut, puncture wound or burn.
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Any type of skin break on a
diabetic foot has the potential to get infected and ulcerate if it isn’t
noticed right away. Diabetics should always wear shoes, and
remove them regularly to check for foreign objects like pebbles and sand
that can cause sores, ulcers and infections. |
