Protect Your Feet from Damaging UV Rays with These Top Tips!

With summer here, people are taking advantage of all that summer offers. However, sun damage can be a concern, even with your feet! Many people forget that their feet are as vulnerable as other body parts. So, in today’s post, Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Anne Arundel County, MD, is sharing his top tips to protect your feet from damaging ultraviolet rays this summer.

 

As you know, sunlight is a robust source of UV radiation. And while there are some health benefits to spending time in the sun, it can also cause skin damage and, in some cases, skin cancer. The truth is that there is no such thing as getting a safe suntan.

 

Most people take safety precautions to protect other areas of their body, but forgetting about your feet is easy.

Here are our top tips to prevent sun damage:

 

1. Avoid peak sun hours. During the early evening and morning, the UV rays are weaker, as this is when the sun is not quite as intense. If you need to go out, try to find places with adequate shade.

 

2. Wear the proper footwear. Flip-flops and sandals are summer favorites for many, but they can leave your feet unprotected against harmful UV rays. Crocs are an example of a shoe that lets your feet breathe while still providing sufficient coverage.

 

3. Apply suntan lotion. Suntan lotion should be applied generously to your feet to protect against harmful UV rays. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, which blocks out 97 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays. The higher the SPF number, the more effective the lotion will be at blocking out the sun. It should be noted that no suntan lotion is 100% effective.

 

Contact your podiatrist today if you or a loved one is experiencing foot-related problems. You can contact the office of Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Glen Burnie, MD, at (410) 761-3501 to schedule a visit.