How to Keep Your Feet in Good Shape This Summer

These types of problems can be found on your feet as rough, dry, cracked heels, callus/corn formation on the toes or balls of your feet and arch cramps or fatigue from all the long walks or vacation shopping that accompany summer activities.
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Sandals and flip flops are the shoe of choice once again as we approach the summer months, and for some it is even barefoot weather. That means your feet will be exposed to a whole host of environments such as friction from walking on rough surfaces, sun exposure, sandy beaches with sand ranging from fine granules to coarse ones and salt water that is drying to the skin. So here are some summer foot tips to prevent your feet from getting to beat up. These types of problems can be found on your feet as rough, dry, cracked heels, callus/corn formation on the toes or balls of your feet and arch cramps or fatigue from all the long walks or vacation shopping that accompany summer activities.

The simple solution is to "moisturize and wear arch supports."

Your feet can definitely take a beating if not properly cared for. Cracked, fissured and callused skin that can form on the back of your heels or the bottom of your feet can become very painful. The reason we form these problems on the bottom and sometimes on the tops and sides of our feet is because of friction from the bones in our feet rubbing against a solid object such as the floor or side of a sandal and the varied surfaces that we walk on. So it is a bone causing a skin problem and the force of the bones grinding into whatever surfaces you walk on that causes the skin problems on your feet. News flash, corns and calluses do not grow, they form due to repetitive activity over a prolonged period of time. Anyone who has developed a hammer toe or bone spur on their feet can be susceptible to these skin problems. Cracked or fissured skin that forms in the back of your heels is due to constant rubbing of the heel in a shoe, sandal or walking barefoot.

Arch cramps and fatigue develop because of abnormal pronation causing the arch of your foot to flatten out. Walking for prolonged periods of time in unsupportive footwear can fatigue the muscles in the arch of your foot causing muscle spasms, cramping and plantar fasciitis.

So the solution for summertime foot fatigue and skin problems is to keep your feet manicured and supported. Taking care of your feet can be achieved by having your corns, calluses and fissured skin treated by using an emery board or file to reduce the thick skin formation. Seeing a foot specialist such as a podiatrist will diagnosis, treat and help you understand how these skin problems develop. If you go to a pedicurist make sure that they are not using sharp instruments to get rid of the dead skin because that could lead to potential problems such as taking too much skin off or accidentally cutting the skin. Using exfoliating skin creams or creams with urea in them will get rid of some of the rough dry skin on your foot as well as hydrate and moisturize the tissue.

Trying to solve arch cramps, muscle spam's and foot fatigue when wearing flat sandals or flip flops can be a challenge. There are over the counter arch supports that you can find on the internet that can stick into the arch of your flip flops and sandals to give you extra arch support.

Wherever you and your feet travel this summer always moisturize and wear comfortable supportive footwear and you will walk happily ever after!

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