Chill Out
When the weather is hot and humid, you know how you have to fight to pull your rings off your swollen fingers? Well guess what — you’re feet do the exact same thing in the summer heat. And all of those fun, seasonal activities like outdoor jogs, hikes and sidewalk sales are bound to aggravate and inflame your feet even more. To bring the swelling down after a long, hot day, soak your feet in a tub of ice water for 15 minutes. Then pat dry with a towel.
Kick Off Your Heels
Sky-high stilettos may look sexy, but wearing them too much can completely change the mechanics of your foot. The higher your heels, the more pressure you’re putting on the balls of your feet which is not only uncomfortable, but overtime can lead to bunions and hammertoes. Ouch. Your tendons can also become unnaturally stretched, which means that it will really hurt to wear flats. If you can, limit the time you spend in your high heels. if you love your heels, try a pair with a one-inch kitten heel. And if you really can’t bear the thought of wearing anything under three inches, slip on a pair of summery wedges — they provide better arch support than heels.
Don’t Go Barefoot!
You may be tempted to kick off your sandals and walk around the pool club barefoot, but you should definitely fight the urge. Dirty feet, splinters and stubbed toes are the least of your problems. Public pools, bathrooms and showers are breeding grounds for gross germs and fungus. Keep your tootsies Athlete Foot-free and keep those flip-flops on!
Deal With Rough Spots
After your feet spent a long winter in close-toed shoes and socks, you’re bound to have a few patches of dry skin. Often times, the parts of your feet that experience the most friction (i.e., your heels, the sides of your feet and big toe) will feel the most sand-papery. The easiest way to soften these rough patches is by first, soaking your feet in warm water and exfoliating to remove the extra dry skin. After you towel dry your feet, use a pumice stone or foot file on the dry spots to gently ease away the calluses. If your feet are extra-dry, you may have to repeat this process for a few days to really do the job. After you’re done, rub a lotion over the dry patches of your feet to allow your skin to re-absorb moisture.
Prevent Blisters
We love how summer sandals let our feet breath. But with pretty thong flip-flips and strappy wedges inevitably come blisters. As the temperatures rise, our feet sweat and swell in our shoes, which can make the rubs worse. To minimize irritation, save your strappiest shoes for summer’s cooler days and opt for comfy flats when it’s humid out.