Healthy ideas for your inbox
If you’re like most Seattleites, you’ve already planned a stand-up paddleboarding morning on Lake Union or a bonfire evening at Golden Gardens this weekend. If you’re more of a homebody, you might be getting the backyard ready to soak up some afternoon sun between meetings or preparing the garden for the local pollinators.
But whether you’re taking a quick walk around the house to toss the garbage in the bin or a short stroll back to your car after scuba diving near Alki, there’s one thing you shouldn’t forget to put on: your shoes (although, don’t forget your sunscreen, either).
Is it really that important to wear shoes outside?
You really shouldn’t walk barefoot outside, especially in the summertime, according to Laura Polito, MD, a family medicine doctor and the associate medical director for UW Medicine Urgent Care. Most people (hopefully) aren’t running their errands barefoot, but even a few quick steps down your hot driveway can pose danger to your feet.
Some people are at higher risk of injuring their feet outdoors (like kids, older adults or people with conditions like diabetes), but even if you’ve got a high pain tolerance, your feet likely aren’t as tough as you think they are.
Polito says the most common barefoot injuries that UW Medicine Urgent Care sees include cuts or abrasions, foreign objects and infections. Burns are also common, but are seen less often in urgent care because they go straight to the emergency department.
Here’s what to know about these common injuries (and why it’s a good idea not to go barefoot outside):
Burns
Outdoor surfaces exposed to the sun can reach temperatures much higher than the air temperature outside.
“Different surfaces can reach different temperatures, with asphalt reaching temperatures up to 166 degrees Fahrenheit, brick reaching 152 degrees, concrete or metal reaching 144 degrees and sand reaching 143 degrees,” says Polito. “Pavement burns can be quite serious, requiring hospitalization and sometimes surgery.”
Second-degree foot burns, which affect both the outer layer of your skin (the epidermis) and extend to the middle layer (the dermis), can happen in as little as 35 seconds when stepping on hot pavement, Polito adds.
Nothing ruins your summer plans faster than foot surgery because you didn’t wear shoes in your hot driveway. These types of severe burns are more common in hot, desert regions (looking at you, Eastern Washington), but can happen anywhere when it’s hot outside. So, take a second to slip on some flip-flops before running out to your car to get that bag you forgot.
Foreign Objects
When you walk around barefoot, you also risk something puncturing or getting stuck in the bottom of your foot. Even if you’re careful and watch where you’re going, an object as small as a wood splinter or a broken shell on the beach could be a sharp interruption to your day … pun intended.
“Wood splinters, metal or glass in the bottom of your foot is painful, can cause infections and can be difficult to remove,” says Polito. “And any break in the skin can provide an entry point for bacteria.”
Infections
Bacteria entering through a break in the skin can, of course, lead to infection.
And infection-causing bacteria don’t necessarily need to wait for you to accidentally cut your foot on a rogue piece of glass or metal; abrasions, blisters or burns that develop after walking on a hot surface can also create an entry point for bacteria.
If you’re in a moist environment, like a pool locker room or under an outdoor shower at the beach, you also increase your risk of a fungal infection like athlete’s foot … no visible injury required.
“Walking barefoot in a moist or tropical environment can cause a condition called keratolysis, a bacterial skin condition that causes itching and a bad odor, even without visible cuts on the feet,” says Polito. “Moist and tropical environments can also increase your risk of getting warts, which are viral infections, and some parasites can be picked up by walking barefoot in soil.”
Is it always recommended to wear shoes outside?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: It’s not realistic to expect you to always have your shoes ready when you’re at the beach or the pool. And sometimes, it’s nice just to have your feet in the sand. So yes, wiggle your toes in the sand while you’re sitting on your beach blanket.
But if you’re planning to stroll along the shoreline, put on some shoes. And if you’re walking around the pool for more than a few quick steps, grab your flip-flops.
“People sustain injuries and pick up infections from pool decks and locker rooms all the time,” says Polito. “Sand at the beach can cause burns, but it can also hide foreign bodies and glass that can cut your feet and cause infections.”
Again, feel free to put your feet in the grass, just remember to put your shoes back on when it’s time to go.
What footwear is recommended during the summertime?
You don’t need anything special on your feet to protect them.
“Any footwear, whether it’s sandals, flip-flops, water shoes or something else, is the best way to prevent foot injuries and infection,” says Polito. “And if you have small children, especially if they’re under three, they should be wearing footwear at all times.”
Also, remember to thoroughly dry your feet before putting your shoes back on, especially if you’re wearing socks or closed-toed shoes. Sweaty or damp feet locked away in your shoes during your commute home from the pool, beach, or gym can also increase your risk of conditions like keratolysis or athlete’s foot.
What happens if you do get a cut or a burn
If you accidentally get a cut or a foreign body in your foot (it happens), make sure to thoroughly clean it with soap and water as soon as possible to prevent infection. If you notice pus, a foul odor or redness spreading around the wound — or if you’re experiencing worsening pain over a couple of days, fever or chills — get it checked out by a doctor.
And if you burn yourself on hot pavement, small burns can be treated by running your foot under cool water for about ten minutes, applying petroleum jelly and covering it with a bandage (don’t pop the blisters, even if it’s tempting). If your burn is larger than three inches, again, it’s time to seek medical care.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that your feet (literally) support you throughout the day, so you should take care of them, too. You can still put “long walks on the beach” in your dating profile bio, just remind your date to bring their shoes, too.
