Enjoy the Summer with Happy Feet

Summer is almost here, although you may be forgiven if you think it is March or April due to the breezy, rainy days we have had lately.

Anticipating beautiful sunny days over the next few months, I thought it helpful to discuss some tips on how to care for your feet during the summer and how to prevent common problems during this time.

Many people ditch the socks and boots for sandals, flip flops and light weight shoes during the summer and it is at this time they become aware of their feet and possible problems that might have gone under the radar.

Toenails are on show and many women like to paint their toenails, who can resist some of the beautiful colours and nail effects available? Be aware though, that nail varnish, if left on too long may lead to fungal infections which destroy the nail plate.  Those cream discolouration marks on your nail when you remove nail varnish is a sign of superficial changes. TOP TIP: Remove your nail varnish regularly and leave a couple of days before reapplying. Condition your nail with a product such as EMTRIX Nail Renewal in between nail varnish applications.

Verrucas are a virus which may be caught at the swimming pool or pool side. Most verrucas go on their own but treatment such as Bazuka is available from the chemist. If they become large, painful or start spreading, you may wish to treat with something a bit more effective. At Reid Podiatry we have the cutting-edge treatment Swift Microwave Verruca treatment available. It is 80% effective compared to other treatments such as acids or freezing. The beauty of this treatment is that there are no needles involved, no need for dressings or to keep your feet dry. For more information, take a look at our webpage.

Many of us relish lying in the sun on our holidays. TOP TIP: Please, please, please don’t forget to apply suntan cream to your feet as well. The tops of your feet often get forgotten while the rest of the body is covered in suntan cream. Noone enjoys sunburnt feet and with melanoma on the increase, it is important to protect your feet as you would any other part of your body.

Thanks for reading my blog, I hope it has been helpful and I wish you all a very happy summer.

Marie-Noelle Reid