The Summer Foot

Adam Jorgensen

Those of us who are lifers in Singapore will have already felt the chill of a winter in Singapore thaw to the hot, humid weather of summer.

Here are some tips to keep the feet in good condition for the summer:

1. Hygiene. With the hotter weather comes increased sweating. The feet are more likely to pick up fungal infections if not kept dry. Dry well between the toes after bathing. A splash of surgical spirit dries those hard to reach places well. Avoid foot powder as it absorbs moisture well but if it remains in place, it can become sticky and abrasive. Use an antiperspirant on the feet to help control sweating and hence odour.
2. Socks. Change the socks regularly. Twice a day if really active. Use light cotton socks for casual wear or moisture wicking socks for sports. The moisture wicking socks work very well in less humid climates as these socks rely primarily on evaporation of the sweat from the outside of the shoe to create this wicking phenomenon. Alas, with our close to 100% humidity in Singapore, these materials don’t work as well, but are better than pure cotton socks.
3. Shoes. Air out shoes well at the end of the day. In Singapore it takes at least 24 hours for shoes to dry out after a day’s wear. So always better to rotate different shoes. Eg. Black pair Monday, brown pair Tuesday, black pair again Wednesday. Serious runners should have 2 pairs of shoes to rotate them on a similar basis. This not only allows drying but also increases the lifespan of the shoes. If the shoes still do not dry out or if you are caught in a sudden downpour, then gently stuff newspaper into them overnight. Next morning the moisture will have soaked into the paper.
4. Flip Flops. Even though we wear these all year round in Singapore, other countries only take them out during the summer months. Flip flops are ok for trips to the pool but not for intense activity or long periods on the feet. They do not provide as much support as a sneaker.
5. Sunscreen. We tend to forget about sunscreen to the feet. A bad burn is dangerous and can be very uncomfortable especially when needing to wear any covered shoes.
6. Hard skin. Tends to grow heavily in summer especially around the heels. This is usually due to wearing of slippers more.
7. Warts. More time in the swimming pool also expose us to infections by verrucae. These are viral infections which infect the top layers of skin and can be very difficult to treat. Try to wear shower slippers in the pool or gym areas to prevent these infections. Your doctor or Podiatrist can help manage these infections.

With these simple tips your summer will be enjoyable and the feet pain free.