TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The summer heat is here which means sunscreen and water are must-haves to beat the heat.
Living in the south, you learn at a young age how to protect your skin from the heat and sun, but less attention has been given to protecting your feet from the same.
"You kind of want to avoid walking barefoot because you could really injure your feet," said Vincent Riesgo, a resident physician at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. "The temperature on the pavement can really get much higher than the atmospheric temperature."
While it may seem like a good idea to walk around barefoot by the pool, splashpad, or even on the beach, you may want to think twice before doing so.
"I've burned my feet walking down at the beach. I grew up on the water," said Allison Tant, a Tallahassee resident. "In Florida, it's hard not to be near a sandy beach. It looks so appealing, so you want to take off for it, but you can't."
Dr. Riesgo says that shoes should cover the soles of your feet to lessen the change of getting burned by the heat. He also says that certain people are more likely burn their feet when outside.
"Diabetic patients often get peripheral neuropathy, the nerve endings on their feet are kind of dulled from the high sugar levels," said Risego. "Kids are kind of a little bit rambunctious and they may just try to run on the hot pavement or try to climb a rock or a tree barefoot. They can really injure their feet that way."
If you do believe you've injured your feet from hot pavement or sand, it's best to see your primary care physician, especially if you notice blisters that are getting worse.
