Tips to keeping a healthy spring in your step

Now that sandals, sockless feet and open-toed footwear is in season, foot health becomes even more important. While most tend to neglect the foot, except for the occasional pedicure, keeping toes, heels, arches and soles on the forefront of your mind is important if you want to enter the spring season in style and comfort.

In case you are unsure where to begin in terms of foot health, Dr. Tiffany Hauptman of the Seymour Foot and Ankle Center, in Mt. Pleasant says the best place to begin is getting into the habit of checking the condition of your feet daily.

?Most people forget to simply give your feet and toes a daily check up, and that often leads to problems getting out of hand when they could have been taken care of much sooner,? says Hauptman. ?An easy way to begin checking your feet is to start consciously washing them with soap and water while you are in the shower everyday.?

During the spring and summer months, Hauptman says Seymour Foot and Ankle Center starts to see more cases of heel spurs, planters fasciitis, toe and nail fungus, and ingrown toe nails. To decrease the likelihood of succumbing to one of these foot maladies, Hauptman offers several tips to keep your feet working well.

First, Hauptman says that foot pain is never something to ignore. Any type of pain in the foot is a common indicator that your feet are not working in sync with your body.

?The truth is, no foot pain is normal. The best thing to do when feet start to ache is to get things checked out sooner rather than later.?

A second helpful hint that Hauptman offers is especially relevant for fashion conscious women everywhere. According to Hauptman, while toenail polish can be dainty and darling, too much without long enough breaks from it can make toenails a breeding ground for fungus.

?While wearing nail polish is very popular, leaving polish on for weeks at a time without giving your nails a break can actually damage your nails,? Hauptman explains. ?Fungi love environments that are warm, dark and moist, so putting nail polish on a nail and leaving it there for long stretches really does invite fungus to your feet.?

To combat the chances of acquiring these fungi, Hauptman recommends washing feet daily and giving feet freedom from shoes and socks during hot days when feet are more likely to sweat.

She also suggests using a medicated foot powder for those that find their feet getting overly hot during the day. Another trick that Hauptman recommends is to alternate shoes throughout the week to give shoes that hold moisture the opportunity to dry out.

When it comes to footwear, foot pain can often be linked to improper shoe wearing. Most podiatrists agree that wearing a shoe that cradles the foot and provides support for the arch and heel is a good option.

However, as many women know, fashion and comfort don?t always go hand in hand. For women, high heels are often a must-have for both work and for going out on the town. The issues with constant high heel wearing, however, are that overtime wearing high heels can actually shorten the Achilles tendon and pinch toes.

?Often, women that complain about tendonitis have high heels to blame,? Hauptman explains. ?Going from wearing heels most of the time to wearing a flat shoe stretches out the tendon and causes pain in that area.?

Heels that have a sharper point to the toe plate also cramp toes, leaving them jammed together. This can cause an increase of moisture between toes and can also form bunions on the toes.

Of course, trying to balance a hectic life with the right foot care for you and your family can often lead to many questions. For assistance in making wise choices when it comes to things like proper footwear and foot hygiene, keep an open line of communication with a podiatrist.

To learn more about foot health, visit www.seymourfootandanklecenter.com.