Get your feet sandal-ready for summer

Apr 21, 2010 12:00 AM by Kori Ellis

Posted in Beauty & Style / Manis, Pedis & More

Healthy Feet For Sandal Season

Heat, sun, sand and surf -- the symbols of summer. However, your tootsies may not appreciate these elements as much as you do! From hairy toe woes to banishing blisters, here are some expert tips to get your feet sandal ready for your next poolside or beach event.

Sandal-ready feet for summer

Be sweet to your feet

If you can afford to splurge, a pedicure by a reputable specialist is a treat for your feet. In between treatments, you can baby your feet at-home -- soaking and massaging your feet in the summertime will also help to keep them happy. Use a foot treatment to scrub away flaky skin.
If you've been out walking or hiking, end the day by massaging your feet, soaking them in lukewarm water and keeping them elevated for 10 minutes to ease the stress on your circulatory system. Applying a soothing cream that's been stored in the refrigerator, such as Plantogen Sole Repair Cream, to relieve dryness and soothe stressed, overworked feet. Massage it into clean feet after bathing.

New York podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zong suggests:

"Take special care of toenails, which are especially vulnerable around damp areas. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to infection, so see your podiatrist at first sign of discoloration or infection."

Say buh-bye to blisters

Keep your feet pain free and pretty and still be able to wear your favorite summer shoes. If a blister does arise, be sure to follow these care tips:

Beware of blisters -- treat areas on your feet that are sensitive to blisters before they happen. Over-the-counter moleskin or blister pads are helpful to protect and prevent irritation.
Try a product like Bodyglide Anti Blister and Chafing Stick to avoid the friction that leads to blisters.
Don't pop blisters! The blister and the fluid inside act as natural sterile dressings for the wound. Apply a protective bandage to protect the blister or try a blister healing cushion.

Fungus-free feet

Says Dr. Zong, "Summer is also prime season for athlete's foot -- a fungal infection that thrives in moist, damp places." To keep your feet fungus-free, follow these tips:

Keep your feet dry and clean. Apply a topical antifungal medication on any cracking or peeling of the skin.
Wear socks that are made of an acrylic fiber, not cotton (acrylic wicks moisture away from the feet), and change your socks at least once a day.
Put antiperspirant on your feet. The active ingredient, aluminum hydroxide, keeps your feet from sweating.

Get rid of unwanted toe fuzz

You've got it, you know you don't want it, and it can appear anywhere. Have you already tried plucking, or

even waxing? FDA approved laser hair removal is a great way to get rid of unwanted toe hair once and for all. NJ and NYC board-certified cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Steve Fallek, suggests laser hair removal to get you on the road to recovery.

According to Dr. Fallek, "lasers produce highly focused, intense beams of light that are absorbed by dark pigments in the hair follicles beneath the skin's surface and converted to heat, destroying the follicles and preventing hair growth." Treatments are needle-free and anesthesia-free, with most patients feeling nothing more than a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band.

More on hair removal techniques>>>

More tips for sandal-ready feet

Don't forget the protection you can offer the rest of your skin -- shielding from the sun. Dr. Zong says, "Apply sunscreen to your feet -- especially the tops and in between toes -- 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors."