Headed to the Beach? Keep Your Feet Safe with These Tips!

A beach is a great place year-round, but summer is the perfect time to sink your toes into the sand. The fresh sea breezes and warm water are a welcoming way to relax and escape the daily stress. But while you do, it’s important to keep your feet safe. Today, Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA is sharing his top tips.

• While walking barefoot in the sand feels great, it can be dangerous. So, if you’re going to walk barefoot, you need to be careful where you go because there can be some very sharp objects buried in your path. 
  
  
• A small scrape or cut can quickly become infected, which is an even higher risk if you have diabetes. If you experience neuropathy, any numbness, or loss of feeling, you should never walk barefoot on the beach because you might injure your foot without even knowing it. 
  
  
• Standing pools of warm water are the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria, so stay away from them. 
  
  
• Another thing to think about if you walk on the beach is providing good support to your feet, especially if you frequently experience plantar fasciitis pain. So instead of wearing flip flops, consider wearing a slip-on athletic shoe with a removable insole that provides support for your arches. 
  
  
• If you do get a scratch, cut, or open wound on your legs or feet, be sure to protect the area from infection from the water or sand, particularly if you are diabetic. If you have gone to the beach and then notice a sign of an infection on your ankle or foot, schedule an immediate appointment with your podiatrist.
   
• One last thing to keep in mind, when you are outdoors apply and reapply sunscreen to your ankles and feet frequently – just as you do to the rest of your body – to decrease the risk for skin cancer.  

Moments spent strolling in the sand, breathing the salty air, listening to the waves, and feeling the summery sea breeze can be very healing. Just be sure to keep your feet safe as you relax, so you can hang onto your calm feeling long after you leave the beach.

If you notice any changes with your feet after a day at the beach, contact Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA today to schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 425-455-0936.