If you’re planning to do some trekking whilst you’re away, don’t neglect your feet.
If you have good circulation and no problems with your feet, you don’t need to take special precautions. If you do have any neuropathy affecting your feet, talk to your healthcare team for specialist advice before your trip.
The following are general tips for looking after your feet which will help ensure you have no foot problems during your trip.
- Preparation is key - make sure that you have “worn in” your boots by doing some walks in them before you go away. That way you’ll identify any problems with them and be able to rectify them before you leave.
- Pack some sterile dressings to take with you.
- Ensure your boots are well fitting, waterproof and supportive.
- Wear thick socks that are well fitting but not too tight. Make sure you take some changes of socks with you.
- Keep your feet clean, dry and well moisturized.
- At the end of each day, take off your shoes and socks and give your feet a good wash. Examine them for any rubbing - don’t just check for areas of broken skin, look for red areas that might break down in a day or so.
- Don’t be tempted to soak your feet, this just makes your skin soggy and more prone to damage.
- Apply a moisturizer, but don’t moisturize between the toes. This can make the area too moist and cause fungal infections.
- Hard skin can be treated with a pumice stone, but use with care. Too vigorous use will damage your skin.
- Cut your nails to the shape of the end of your toes - if they get too long they’ll dig into the adjacent toe.
- If you notice any broken skin on your feet, wash it carefully in warm water, and cover it with a sterile dressing. If possible, try to rest until the wound has healed.
For more information visit the Backpacking page.