Sunburnt feet are a real risk, even within the UK! However, one of the downsides of living in the UK is that we are not used to hot sunny days during the summer. But, when we do get them, we jump at the chance of wearing our flip-flops and sandals and forget about our feet getting sunburnt.

Unfortunately, no matter what activities you have planned on these sunny days, nothing can ruin the nice weather like painful sunburn, and especially on your feet. When this happens, you need to know how to treat sunburnt feet!

After spending the late morning and early afternoon outdoors on a summer’s day, you might come inside only to find charred feet! When this is the case, it is time to treat that foot sunburn.

So, how to treat sunburnt feet:

• Start by applying a hand towel soaked in cold water onto the tops of your feet. This should provide some relief from the pain.
• Apply soothing lotions containing aloe vera or a cooling non perfumed moisturising after-sun cream to help alleviate any swelling and pain.
• Lie down in a quiet, cool room if you are experiencing a headache, which often accompanies too much time in the sun.
• If severe blistering occurs or you feel ill, then seek medical advice

Of course, it is better to prevent sunburn than have to treat one, so you may want to consider taking the following measures:

Always apply a sunscreen

Better yet, make sure that yours is at least SPF30 or more and you have your feet covered. It’s easy to forget about your lower appendages, but this only puts them at risk for skin damage.  When applying the sunscreen don’t forget about the soles of your feet, they can also can get burnt, but beware of walking on hot surfaces!

Know when to avoid the sun

Keep in mind that the sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so limit your outdoor activities during that time frame. If you are heading to the beach, do so in the later afternoon to decrease your risk of sunburn.

Try to stay in the shade

You can still enjoy the nice weather and even get some extra comfort, by keeping in shady areas. This is also a good idea if you have little ones, so try to steer their playtime activities in areas where the harsh sun rays are blocked out, like under trees.

Your feet are such an important part of your body and we tend to treat them with less respect than other parts. So look after them like they look after you.

Healthy Feet are Happy Feet with We Fix Feet in Beeston and Ilkeston.