Flip-flop season is around the corner, and with it comes blisters and fungus.
“People come in with stubbed toes and sores that pick up foreign bodies,” said Dr. William Hahn, podiatrist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore. “We often see serious problems with thong sandals.”
Hahn suggests keeping blisters clean and covered and avoiding popping them. If your feet swell or turn red, and foot pain persists for more than a few weeks, you should see your doctor, Hahn said. “Just by looking at a shoe, a trained eye will know immediately what?s wrong [with your foot],” he said.
Hahn recommended wearing shoes that lace up, especially when walking long distances or on hard surfaces. When the heels or soles of a shoe are worn, bending easily, it?s time to replace your shoes, Hahn said.
Summertime footwear doesn?t typically support the arch in the foot, causing inflammation in the soles, Hahn said. “Flip-flops can even cause sprains when people fall off of them,” he said.
