Remember Your Feet When Packing for Vacation

Summer vacation season is here and hopefully you are planning a getaway sometime soon. We at Texas Foot Specialists want to remind patients that keeping your feet comfortable can make or break your vacation—having to sit out sightseeing and other excursions due to foot pain or injury is no fun! Below are some essentials to pack for your feet along with your bathing suits and sunglasses:

• An extra pair of shoes—never go on vacation with just one pair of shoes. By wearing the same pair of shoes every day you will be putting strain and pressure on the same parts of your feet which can cause blisters and foot pain. In addition, when shoes don’t have a chance to get aired out they stay damp (especially during hot weather) and this creates the perfect environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive, increasing the risk of bringing home an unwanted souvenir from your trip: athlete’s foot or a fungal toenail infection.
• Moleskin and bandages—you should have these on you at all times. This way if you start to feel a spot on your foot getting sore you can cover it with moleskin to prevent further friction from forming a blister. If a blister does form, cover with a bandage and switch to a different pair of shoes. Don’t pop a blister—this can lead to infection.
• Sunscreen—a sunscreen that protects from UVA and UVB rays should be applied to your bare or sandaled feet as often as you apply it to other parts of your body. A bad sunburn can make walking painful and, of course, increases your chances of skin cancer down the road.
• Flip flops and water shoes—if your vacation takes you some place where there is swimming, it’s a good idea to have a pair of both of these. Flip flops help prevent fungal infections by keeping your feet from coming in direct contact with surfaces that those who have these infections may have stepped on. Water shoes can protect feet from sharp objects at the beach or in a sandy lake bottom.
• Nail file and clippers—these are handy in case you end up with rough nail that can get caught on socks and tear. Be sure to check that your toenails are properly trimmed—straight across with no curved edges to prevent ingrown toenails forming. This is especially important if your vacation will involved a lot of walking.

If after returning from your vacation you experience any pain or discomfort in your feet or ankles schedule an appointment at our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-242-4448) or Houston (713-664-6677) office to see one of our podiatrists, Dr. Gregory Magnum or Dr. Bruce Miller to find out if there is an injury or other condition that needs treatment.