With Memorial Day kicking off the summer travel season, we want to talk to you about an important health concern: beach feet. This broad term describes feet that are achy and tired; burned, peeling, blistered or swollen at the end of a day of sun, surf and sand. But why do people get beach feet? And what can your Medford podiatrists do to prevent or treat this seasonal foot problem? Keep reading to find out.
Why do you get beach feet?
There are a few reasons why a day at the beach could take a toll on your foot health. First, there’s the footwear. Most people spend beach days in flip-flops or unsupportive sandals. But that’s a problem, since beach days often involve lots of walking—from your car to the sand, or down the boardwalk to the snack stand—often while carrying loads of gear such as chairs, blankets umbrellas and more. The result? By the end of the day, your feet are sore and fatigued, because you overworked them without the benefit of any kind of support from your footwear.
Another potential cause of beach feet is burns—either on the soles of your feet, from the hot sand, or on their tops, from the scorching sun. All that heat and humidity at the beach could also lead to swollen feet. Add in rubbing—and blisters—from ill-fitting flip-flops, and your day of fun in the sun could be ruined by a painful case of beach feet. Luckily, we can prevent this painful outcome with a few simple steps.
Preventing beach feet with the best beach shoes
When you’re heading to the beach—either our own Oregon coast or even farther afoot—you want to pack as lightly as possible. After all, beach gear takes up lots of room, and space will be limited, especially if you’re on a road trip to spots like Harris Beach State Park or Coos Bay. But while we’re all for packing one less sand toy, we do suggest packing two different pairs of beach shoes—one supportive sneaker style, for longer walks by the beach, and one slip-on sandal style, for time spent on the sand. (If you want to really keep your feet happy, Archie’s sandals come with built-in arch support, helping prevent beach feet all day long. Just be sure that you keep your feet in shoes anytime you’re standing and walking. Otherwise, you’ll increase your risk for foot pain. And you just might get burned feet, since the sun’s rays can warm the sand enough to singe the delicate soles of your feet. And, on that note…
Always Apply Sunscreen to Your Feet ![bare feet in the sand]()
Just before you switch into your sandals for a day at the beach, make sure to cover all the skin on your feet with sunscreen. (It’s better to lather up before putting on flip flops, since sandals slip and slide, exposing skin you may have failed to protect with sunscreen.) Protecting the skin on your feet from the sun’s rays is a critical way to protect yourself from beach feet and to reduce your risk for skin cancer on feet in the future. (While most skin cancers on the feet are caused by a virus, some can be due to sun exposure and damage.)
Preventing Swollen Beach Feet
Can you prevent swollen feet after a day at the beach? While this isn’t always possible, these steps can help reduce foot swelling in the heat. First, make sure to drink lots of fluid throughout your beach day. (While it sounds strange, drinking more water can help your body flush out water, reducing your swelling risk.) Also, try to move more throughout your beach day, as fluid tends to build up more when you remain sedentary.
How to Clean Feet After a Beach Day
Even if you leave the beach without any pain or problems, you’ll need to clean your feet properly to keep walking comfortably in the days and weeks ahead. Before you put on your supportive sneakers, use the beach showers to thoroughly rinse your feet, paying special attention to spots between your toes. Dry them off as best you can. Then, when you get home, thoroughly wash your feet with soap and water to get rid of any remaining sand or chemicals from your sunscreen—they could cause skin irritation if left in place. Finally, thoroughly dry your feet, especially in the spots between your toes, in order to reduce your risk for a fungal infection such as athlete’s foot.
Preventing and Treating Beach Feet Complications
While the beach may feel miles away from Dr. Evan Merrill, Dr. Devin Dimond and Dr. Chase Christensen’s Medford podiatry practice, many of our patients in Southern Oregon and Northern California will be hitting the surf and sand this summer. And we want to make sure that beach feet don’t ruin the rest of your summer season? Need help with feet that are sore, tired, swollen or burned? Just call the office at 541-776-3338 or click here to request an appointment. When you come in for your visit, we’ll get your feet feeling great again so you can enjoy the rest of your summer!