The sun is shining, and gone are the days of pointy heels,
constricting lace-ups and
”
Ugg
”
-ly boots. Instead, a parade of glorious sandals in glamorous
styles and funky designs have come ashore in a fashion season
featuring the bold and unusual.
What’s great for fashion may not be so great to your feet,
though.
The sun is shining, and gone are the days of pointy heels, constricting lace-ups and “Ugg”-ly boots. Instead, a parade of glorious sandals in glamorous styles and funky designs have come ashore in a fashion season featuring the bold and unusual.
What’s great for fashion may not be so great to your feet, though. Blisters, cracked heels and hammer toes are all part of the summer season, too. Fortunately, all of these problems are avoidable, if you adhere to the advice of professionals like Gilroy podiatrist Dr. Geoffrey Heard.
Here are a few of his tips to keep your toes in tip-top shape this season:
Keep thirsty feet cool
“One of the things that happens a lot in the summer is fracture of the heel,” said Heard. “You’re losing moisture in your skin, and it can crack. Those skin cracks can become pretty deep, sometimes down so far that it will actually bleed, and that serves as a portal for infection.”
Heard suggested keeping feet happy by moisturizing daily using a heavy over-the-counter moisturizer like Kerasal gel or Eucerine.
You can also slough off the dead skin with lotions like Gena Sloughing Lotion, available at Majestic Beauty Supply in Morgan Hill, said store employee Shea Ingrassia.
“You just rub it on like regular moisturizer, wait until it dries and rub it with your hand,” she said. “The dead skin just rolls off.”
Be honest about your foot size
It’s great to go shopping when your feet are looking their best, but the best time to try on sandals isn’t when you’re feeling fresh, said Heard. Wait until the end of the day when feet are at their most swollen to try strappy shoes on. That way you can be sure the straps won’t cut into your feet once they swell, he said.
If you are afraid of sore spots or you know you’re prone to blistering in certain areas, protect your skin by applying moleskin, a protective adhesive available at most drugstores, said Heard, but don’t apply it if you have already irritated or blistered the area.
Strap those tootsies in
The lack of heel support in shoes like mules, toe-ring flats and flip flops can lead to a painful twisting of the foot and irritation between the toes, according to “The Sandal Scandal,” a publication of the American Podiatric Medical Association. If you must wear these fashion-forward items, the association recommends choosing shoes made of soft and flexible natural materials like leather and trying cushioned inserts for added shock absorption.
Arch support is another problem surrounding shoe construction, said Heard. Most flip flops and summer sandals do not have any form of arch support, and the combination of this with high-heeled styles can be downright unhealthy, leading to hammer toes – a contraction of the middle joint of the toe taht can lead to pressure and pain – muscle cramps, inflammation of the nerves in the foot and tightening of the Achilles tendon, he added.
Keep an eye on nail salons
To maintain the perfect look of pedicure-fresh sandal feet, you should be getting your toenails redone every other week, according to Ingrassia, but if you plan on visiting nail salons, beware. Problems with bacterial infections caused by whirlpool chairs have plagued nail salons throughout the state, so keep an eye out for cleanliness, warns the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
In a December press release, the department warned pedicure customers to avoid shaving before their appointments because nicks and cuts act as portals for bacteria to enter the body. To protect yourself, check out the salon, the department suggests.
Each salon should have its current Board of Barbering and Cosmetology license posted in the reception area, and should also display the Board’s Health and Safety poster in the area. Technicians should have their own operator’s license, regularly posted at their work stations.
“Don’t be afraid to ask the operator how the footspas are cleaned and disinfected,” advises the Department of Consumer Affairs. “If they hesitate or won’t answer you, that could be a sign you may want to take your business elsewhere. If you have any doubts about the cleanliness of the salon, leave.”
Should you develop a skin boil or multiple boils after a pedicure, contact your physician and advise him or her that you recently had a whirlpool footbath before the infection started, the release said.
Rotate
Finally, an excuse to shop until you drop. Heard recommends rotating sandals frequently throughout the week to avoid pain created by shoe construction. His biggest warning: make like actress Katie Holmes and stick to flats.
“The flatter the sandal, the better,” said Heard. “When you start to get up in a high heel you add all sorts of problems because of the extra pressure on the front of the foot. We’re just not meant to walk like that.”
