COVID-19 is on the way out. Society is returning back to normal. You can do the things you want again!

What would be worse than a foot or ankle injury that keeps you sidelined for 6 weeks?

You’d be stuck at home like you have been for the past 18 months or so!

So learn steps you can take to protect your feet so they stay fit and free from injury this summer:

1. Always Have Footwear On

Going barefoot sounds like fun when it’s warmer out. But for the most part, this actually increases your risk of injury.

At the beach, you may find yourself stepping on glass or sharp metal objects. At the pool, you expose yourself to warts, athlete’s foot, ringworm, and other infections.

And wherever you go, you always expose your feet to sunburn.

Wearing flip-flops works fine as long as they have some arch support.

But you give yourself the greatest protection by wearing shoes.

2. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Yes, your feet need sunscreen too. Sunburns may actually feel the least painful when they happen to the tops of your feet.

But it’s simple enough to toss some sunscreen on so your feet don’t get burned at all.

And keep in mind, any sunburn to any part of your body increases your risk of getting skin cancer over the long term.

In general, dermatologists recommend sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. This blocks 97% of the sun’s UVB rays, which are the ones responsible for giving you sunburns.

Higher SPFs provide slightly more UVB protection. No sunscreen offers 100% protection.

Remember to get waterproof sunscreen. And just to be sure, re-apply that sunscreen after you come out of the water.

3. Avoid Cotton and Wool Socks

Synthetic socks do the best job of wicking away moisture from your feet. This allows it to evaporate away, rather than staying in contact with your feet for hours.

The more moisture that remains in your socks, the higher your risks of all kinds of conditions that affect your feet.

This can lead to sores, blisters, rashes, dead skin, and even athlete’s foot.

Cotton and wool socks hold in much more moisture than their synthetic counterparts. So when you wear shoes, make sure you have synthetic socks.

Also, give your feet plenty of time to air out at various points in the day.

That’s it! Just doing these three simple things greatly reduces the risk of any injury to your feet.

Now go out there and enjoy your summer!