In summer, the feet are aired much more easily. If that's a good thing, they're also prone to bad shots and sweating. However, it is difficult to avoid all small shocks, especially for children who love to walk barefoot. But it is possible to take precautions, as explained by Doctor Damien Mascret, Thursday afternoon in the program "Without appointment" on Europe 1.
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What can you do to avoid hurting your feet?
"You can avoid tearing the skin off your feet by wearing sneakers rather than flip-flops or other sandals on a bicycle, for example. Because if your feet are not protected, it is the disaster assured in the event of braking. You can also opt for espadrilles, as long as you pull up the back so that the foot is less supported if you don't want to carry your sneakers to the beach.
Obviously all wounds on the feet due to summer shoes, in particular the rubber of the flip-flops between the big toe and the second toe, must be washed, disinfected and protected with a bandage.
There are also hematomas under the nail, in case of shock ...
It is a great classic in summer, because the feet are not protected by covering shoes. The problem is that the hematoma that forms under the nail acts like a black spot and compresses the nerves, since it is itself caught between the flesh and the nail. It can hurt a lot and even prevent you from sleeping. However, you can do something as long as you act in the first 48 hours, before the blood is too clotted.
The solution is very simple and very effective: you take a paper clip that you unfold a little to have a perforating rod. The tip is not sharp, but that's okay because you're not going to pierce the nail, it's way too tough for that. But you are going to slowly melt it to make a little hole for the bruise to escape. To do this, simply heat the end of your paperclip rod for a minute with a flame, then press firmly and perpendicularly. Immediately, the tip reddened on the nail right in the middle of the stain of the hematoma below. Sometimes you have to repeat the operation several times before blood starts to come out of the hole. The relief is immediate.
Summer is also good for yeast infections, isn't it?
Yes, because the microscopic fungi that cause yeast infection on the feet like humidity and heat: conditions often met in summer. That said, it also happens to those who keep their feet locked in athletic shoes every day. Cracks are created between the toes with whitish scales and itchy, podiatrists speak of 'athlete's foot'. Not only does it not heal on its own, but it is also transmitted.
Your doctor will prescribe an antifungal cream against Tychophyton rubrum, the name of the fungus, as a topical treatment for a week if the mycosis is not too advanced, and the nail is not affected at the level of its matrix (the base of the nail). But if this is the case, it will also require oral treatment for 3 to 12 months. Dermatologists often take a sample before starting treatment.
We can also have intertrigo ...
Indeed, in this case, it is red, it is painful and it oozes. In fact it is a yeast, Candida albicans in general. Again a local antifungal cream will solve the problem, unless the nail is affected, it will take oral treatment for several months. So to avoid yeast infections, you should avoid walking barefoot around swimming pools, saunas or steam rooms. Put on flip-flops that you will leave at the edge of the pool, like lifeguards. Also avoid maceration in shoes. Put on socks if you put on sports shoes and ventilate your feet! "