Feet spend most of the year hidden and protected. Summer removes both, and the problems change accordingly.
Sweat, and what follows it
Heat means more sweat inside shoes, and more sweat means more of the bacteria that cause odour and more of the moisture that fungus needs. Athlete's foot is a summer complaint as much as a locker-room one.
Rotate shoes so each pair dries fully. Change socks when they feel damp. A black tea soak twice a week keeps sweating down, and cornstarch in the morning absorbs the rest.
Sandals crack heels
This surprises people, because heels are supposed to crack in winter. Open-backed shoes let the heel pad spread sideways under body weight with nothing to contain it, and the exposed skin dries in the air. Sandal season produces its own crop of split heels.
Shea butter at night under cotton socks, and shoes with a firm heel counter for long days on your feet.
Sunburn on the tops of the feet
Almost nobody puts sunscreen on their feet, and the tops burn badly — thin skin, straight upward angle to the sun, and reflected light off sand and water. Sunburnt feet swell, blister and make shoes unbearable for days.
Sunscreen on the tops of the feet and the ankles, reapplied after swimming. Aloe and cool water if you catch one.
Bare feet meet things
- Hot sand and poolside stone burn quickly — check before walking.
- Pool decks and changing rooms are where plantar warts and athlete's foot spread. Wear sandals.
- Cuts from shells, glass and stones need cleaning and covering properly.
- Insect bites on the feet swell more than elsewhere because of gravity.
Feet swell in heat
Blood vessels dilate to shed heat, and fluid pools. This is normal and eases overnight. Elevate above hip height for fifteen minutes, drink enough water, and buy shoes at the end of the day so they fit at your largest.
With diabetes, summer needs more care
Never walk barefoot, even on a beach or by a pool — hot surfaces burn a foot that cannot feel them, and unseen cuts are how ulcers start. Check the feet daily and keep them covered. The seasonal chapter covers both ends of the year.
See foot odor and cracked heels.
Choosing sandals that do not cause problems
Not all open shoes are equal, and the difference between a good sandal and a bad one is larger than most people assume.
A flip-flop has no fastening, which means your toes have to grip to keep it on with every step. Over a full day that changes how you walk, overworks the small muscles of the foot, and is a genuine cause of arch and heel pain by the end of a holiday. They are fine for a walk to the pool and poor for a day of sightseeing.
Look instead for a back strap, an adjustable fastening, a sole with some structure rather than flat foam, and a footbed with a little contour under the arch. You should be able to walk normally without gripping.
Break new sandals in gradually, the same as any shoe. And check the straps against your skin — a strap sitting directly over a bunion, a hammer toe knuckle or a bony prominence will rub, and rubbing in hot weather on damp skin raises a blister remarkably quickly.