May is Fungal Infection Awareness Month!
It's an important opportunity to raise awareness about infections that affect the toenails and feet and what you can do to prevent them. With summer just around the corner, it’s beneficial for all of us to be careful, especially as they can spread easily and quickly.
- Protect your feet - It's important to protect your feet, especially in public areas like the pool, fitness gyms, and locker rooms to avoid injuries and infections. Wearing water shoes or sandals can help keep your feet safe from sharp objects, hot surfaces, and bacteria.
- Practice good foot hygiene - It's important to take care of your feet by practicing good hygiene habits. This includes regularly washing and drying your feet, keeping your toenails trimmed straight across the top, and moisturizing your feet to prevent dryness and cracking. As you perform these steps, it’s important to take a good look over your feet and note any changes or abnormalities to bring up with a podiatrist.
- Wear clean and well-fitting shoes - Wearing shoes that fit well can help prevent foot pain and discomfort. It's recommended to choose shoes that have a thumb's width of space between the end of your longest toe and the tip of the shoe, and that fit snugly around the heel and midfoot.
- Wear clean socks - It's important to wear clean socks to maintain proper hygiene and prevent the spread of bacteria and odor. It’s also important to switch socks as soon as they get damp from sweat. Packing extra pair of moisture-wicking socks in your bag is useful.
- See a podiatrist - If you have trouble with foot hygiene tasks or notice changes to your skin or toenails, it’s a good idea to seek treatment from an expert podiatrist. At Foot and Ankle Specialists of Central Ohio, our team of board-certified podiatrists are dedicated to keeping your feet healthy and pain-free! From injuries, heel pain, diabetic foot issues, and infections, our foot doctors are equipped to handle any foot or ankle issue you may have.
Contact any of our 9 offices in the Central Ohio area to book an appointment!
