Treating Your Feet on Vacation

Vacation is a time to relax, but don’t forget to take care of your feet while lounging about.

April is Foot Health Awareness Month. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has some tips for protecting your feet while at the beach or on other summer vacations.

First, limit walking barefoot. Doing so may feel fancy free, but it exposes your feet to a lot of nasty things: plantar warts, athlete’s foot, ring worm, other infections and sunburn. You’re also more likely to injure your feet by walking barefoot.

Second, apply sunscreen to your feet too. It’s easy to forget our hard-working feet when it comes to applying sunscreen, but it’s important. Remember to cover your ankles too and to reapply after getting wet.

Third, stay hydrated. You might be wondering what that has to do with your feet, but drinking plenty of water will minimize foot swelling caused by the heat.

Fourth, keep a few foot essentials handy. APMA recommends flip flops for the pool, spa, hotel room and airport security checkpoints. The following foot essentials should also be in your baggage: sterile bandages, antibiotic cream, emollient-enriched cream for hydration, blister pads, Advil or Motrin for swelling, toenail clippers, emery board, pumice stone, sunscreen and aloe vera for sunburns.

Do you have a special pair of flip flops lined up for the beach?

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