Open

Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sun*: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (*alternating)

Book Appointment

Book an Appointment

Our simple to use, online booking process makes it easy to book an appointment with a chiropodist for any of our services. No referral needed!
Open

Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sun*: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (*alternating)

Book Appointment

Book an Appointment

Our simple to use, online booking process makes it easy to book an appointment with a chiropodist for any of our services. No referral needed!
Book Appointment

Book an Appointment

Our simple to use, online booking process makes it easy to book an appointment with a chiropodist for any of our services. No referral needed!

Share:

6 Summer Foot Problems and How to Treat Them

When summer hits the city, many people don’t have a care in the world! It’s a time to shed the stress from the long winter and be carefree outside. That said, it’s important to check on your feet as often as you can, as there are a few summer foot problems that can cast a dark cloud on your sunny days.

Below, we’ll discuss the following 6 summer foot problems and how you can treat them:

  1. Swollen Feet
  2. Sweaty Feet
  3. Blisters
  4. Warts
  5. Cracked Skin
  6. Infections

Swollen Feet

Swollen Feet

Here’s a confusing scenario: it’s time to rock your favourite summer sneakers and sandals, but they don’t fit? While perplexing, there could be a simple cause.

The summer temperatures in Toronto can be pretty sweltering. As a result, your blood vessels dilate when your body attempts to cool itself. This causes a chain reaction that leads to more swelling than you normally experience. While your body attempts to accommodate and move blood back towards your heart, fluids also accumulate, moving downward and trickling into the body’s tissues. This is known as heat edema.

If your swollen feet are due to the blistering heat, there are several things you can do to manage and prevent swelling in the future!

Learn How to Manage Swollen Feet

Sweaty Feet

Having sweaty feet in the summertime is a given, but it’s important to do your best to control it. Not only is it annoying on its own, but sweat and dampness are major contributors to other summer foot problems. These include blisters, fungal infections and persistently itchy skin.

Did you know that a wide array of products exist specifically for sweaty feet? From several types of deodorants to moisture-wicking socks, your solution is out there. 

How to Tackle Sweaty Feet

Blisters

Blisters in the summertime are no stranger to most of us. Sweat accumulation can clog the pores in your feet, making them more damp and vulnerable to blisters. Additionally, many people excitedly ditch their socks in the summer. While that’s to be expected with sandals, to avoid blisters, you should still wear socks with sneakers, trainers and runners — even when it’s hot.

Thin, unsupportive flip-flops and walking for long hours in the beautiful weather are also a recipe for blister formation. Supportive sandals are a much better option and come with the breathability and simplicity you’re looking for.

As we’ve mentioned, high-quality footwear is a major way to prevent these painful nuisances. There are also other services and products that can help you walk without blister pain.

Tips To Protect Feet Summer

Treatment and Prevention For Blisters

Warts

Plantar warts are another common summer foot problem. Summer activities like swimming and hanging out at the beach often involves going barefoot. However, walking barefoot in public places puts our feet at risk of contracting the human papilomavirus (HPV) that causes warts. The highly contagious HPV thrives in our favourite summers spots. Swimming pools (especially the pool deck), public bathrooms at the beach, showers and locker rooms are just a handful of the riskiest areas.

The best way to prevent yourself from getting warts is to wear sandals or water shoes in public places where people often go barefoot. This will keep your feet from coming into contact with the virus. If you do get plantar warts and don’t tend to them, complications like bleeding, severe pain, infection, and difficulties walking can ruin your summer. So be sure to take care of the problem right away! 

How to Treat and Prevent Plantar Warts

Cracked Skin

Dry skin isn’t just a winter problem! Your feet can become cracked and dry when it’s hot outside too. Whereas winter dries our feet out with hot water and blasting heat, summer dries out our feet because of how often we expose them.

Thong sandals and flip flops without much coverage leave your feet more susceptible to drying out from walking on the sandy beach and hot pavement. Furthermore, you’re more likely to become dehydrated in the summer and forget to hydrate when you’re out and about. If you don’t drink enough water, the skin can lose moisture and start to dry out.  

While there’s not much you can do about the heat and elements, there are many ways you can keep your feet as smooth as possible.

What to Do About Dry Skin and Cracked Heels

Infections

Fungal Infections

The most popular summer spaces are a breeding ground for fungal infections like fungal toenails and athlete’s foot. Fungi like dermatophytes thrive in moist, warm environments and are super easy to contract, targeting our skin and toenails. They can also spread between person-to-person with direct skin contact. Like HPV and plantar warts, these infections are more common in the summer as Torontonians frequent public pools, changing rooms, bathrooms, showers, etc.

Fungal infections can become chronic if you don’t pay serious attention to them. Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus, in particular, are notorious for coming back time and time again. It’s best to treat these nagging infections and do your best to prevent them in the future!

How to Avoid Athlete’s Foot

Toenail Fungus Services

Skin Infections

Skin infections are another common summer foot problem. Our feet are more exposed during the summer from wearing sandals or walking barefoot. That increases the likelihood of cuts and scrapes. And since we don’t cover our feet up in hot weather, open wounds remain exposed, which can lead to skin infections. Not only can an infected wound be irritating, but it can also lead to severe complications if you have diabetes.

Accidents happen, so there’s not too much we can do to prevent cuts and scrapes (save for not walking barefoot on broken glass). So, if you do happen to cut your foot, put a bandage over it until the wound closes up. And if you have diabetes, you should avoid open-toe shoes all together.

How to Keep Your Feet Safe From Infection This Summer

Come to Feet First Clinic This Summer!

If you’re looking for solutions to your summer foot problems, look no further than Feet First Clinic. Get in touch with us to see how we can help with your summer foot problems! Our Bloor West foot clinic will work hard to get your feet feeling as happy and healthy as possible.

Related Posts

Book your appointment online

Our simple to use, online booking process makes it easy to book an appointment with a chiropodist for any of our services. No referral needed!

IMG_1562

Emily

Administrative Assistant

Emily is the newest addition to the Feet First family. She assists with the clinic’s accounting and finances, as well as all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the clinic running smoothly. In addition to her accounting smarts, she brings sunshine and positivity to everyone at Feet First Clinic.

Erica Halpern

Marketing and Administrative Assistant (She/Her)

Part of our administrative support staff, Erica also works behind the scenes writing and editing content for our website and blog. She loves researching and writing educational content to help patients and anyone dealing with pain. When she’s not busy in the clinic, you’ll find her at her local gym, exploring underground music, hiking with friends, or cheering on her favourite sports teams (Go Jays!). She also loves huskies!

Sophie Rudahigan

Clinic Administrator (She/Her)
Sophie prides herself on providing top-tier customer service. She is here to ensure a smooth visit for all clients. In addition to overseeing the clinic’s administration and day-to-day operations, she maintains the cosmetic appearance of the store. She is the magic behind our elaborate display case designs and also ensures the clinic is stocked with stylish (but still orthopedic!) footwear options for all ages.

Bianca Carter

CEO (She/Her)

Day in and out, Bianca works hard to ensure Feet First Clinic runs smoothly. Customer service is at the top of her list and she treats every customer like family. Bianca has a passion for fitness and is dedicated to helping people take care of their feet and body. There is no problem that she can’t solve and she believes that where there is a will, there’s a way.

Carolina Charles

Patient Relation Coordinator (She/Her)

If you’ve been to the clinic before, chances are you had the pleasure of meeting Carolina! Carolina’s daily goal is going above and beyond to make sure patients are always completely satisfied. Having worked in the podiatry industry for 22 years, Carolina brings a wealth of knowledge pertaining to client service, insurance policies, and procedures.​ She steers the ship to make sure everything runs smoothly on the daily. Carolina is known for spicing up every outfit with her signature costume jewellery.