5 Hidden dangers of going barefoot in the summer

Some people love to go barefoot and with sunny days upon us it is tempting to kick off your shoes and run around with bare feet.  However, while it may feel lovely to have your feet all free and bare, there are some things you should also consider.

 
New research suggests that kicking off your shoes can help strengthen your feet, legs, and lower back, avoid foot problems like hammertoe and bunions, and even minimize the sweaty environment where bacteria and fungi thrive. But walking without shoes has many hidden dangers: stepping on sharp metal or glass; picking up a stray virus, or a bacteria; not to mention risking breaking or severing a toe.

1. Apply sunscreen to the top AND bottom of feet. Feet burn easily - especially sensitive soles that aren't used to the sun.
2. Keep your tetanus shot up to date. Tetanus is fairly easy to contract if you step on a sharp object.
3. Wear flip-flops when walking around pools, wet grass, and locker rooms. Moist environments encourage fungi, viruses, and bacteria to grow and can break down skin's natural water barrier. The anti-slip surfaces you find around pools can also scrape your feet, leaving them more susceptible to infection.
4. Keep your shoes on if you have diabetes. The risk of complications for diabetics outweighs the benefits of going barefoot. Diabetics may not be able to feel a minor injury and their impaired circulatory system may prevent normal healing.
5. Use common sense. Never go barefoot around a campfire or grill, where you're at high risk for burning yourself. And never, ever, operate a lawnmower without wearing shoes. It may sound obvious, but several people a year experience serious injuries from going barefoot in situations where common sense would say it's dangerous.
   

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