While winter footwear kept your tootsies toasty, it’s time to smooth off that callused dry skin for the warm months ahead. Whenever feet are confined in boots and woolen socks for the winter air circulation decreases with subsequent increase in carbon dioxide, temperatures go up, and moisture retention on the skin occurs. That means you have some work to do to vanquish the calluses, dry skin and even athletes foot fungus that may have taken up residence during the cold weather.
So what’s a guy or gal to do?
Keep your feet clean and dry. While in the shower or bath use a pumice stone on a daily basis to smooth away calluses and dry skin. Massage an emollient cream on your feet twice daily avoiding between the toes. An over-the-counter antifungal creams can be useful between the toes, but only for fungus.
Avoid applying cortisone cream to the feet unless you are sure of the conditions you are treating (such as contact dermatitis). Cortisone cream can make a fungus worse.
Be careful in the sun, always put sun block on the tops of your feet and ankles. Visiting a Podiatrist can help relieve the discomfort of painful corns, calluses or thickened toenails.
For more information on this topic or other questions about your feet, please call Dr. Neal Houslanger and Dr. Matthew Kassnove at 631-654-3838, or visit their Web site at www.footdoc1.com.
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