3 Summer Foot Hazards and How to Avoid Them

When the weather turns warm, podiatrists like Fairfax County’s Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm see more patients with foot and ankle problems. Summertime presents more opportunities for outdoor activity, some of which can threaten your foot health if you’re not careful!
Here are three reasons you might run into some foot or ankle trouble during the summer:
Wearing the wrong shoes. Let’s say you’re wearing flip-flops at a neighborhood cookout. Someone starts a pickup volleyball game and invites you in. Sounds great – except that running, jumping, and landing in shoes with no heel or arch support is dangerous for feet. Playing volleyball (or baseball, frisbee, or other backyard sports) in flip-flops or skimpy sandals puts you at high risk for sprained ankles, stress fractures, and Achilles tendonitis.
Walking barefoot exposes your feet to:
- pavement that can burn the delicate skin of the sole. It may be hotter than it looks. Especially for young children, just a few seconds on hot tar or concrete can cause a serious burn.
- all manner of organisms. First of all, there’s the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. A fungal infection can be difficult to get rid of as it spreads easily, infecting your toenails and making them brittle, crumbly, and discolored. Second, bare feet are susceptible to the virus that causes plantar warts. Finally, if you happen to walk barefoot on ground where worm-infected dogs or cats have left their feces, the worms could penetrate your skin.
- punctures from foreign objects such as glass and sharp stones.
Taking a pass on suntan lotion. Sunburn on the tops of your feet is guaranteed if you spend hours in the sun without applying sunscreen. If you’re lying on the beach for hours, apply lotion to the bottoms of your feet since your soles will likely be exposed.
In summary, swap your flip-flops with proper athletic shoes when you engage in sports. Wear appropriate shoes or sandals to avoid skin infections, cuts, and punctures. Apply sunscreen to your feet to protect their delicate skin from UV exposure. And finally, if summer activities cause pain or injury to your feet or ankles, contact Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Centreville, Virginia. Call (703) 996-3000 or make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm online.