Sandals, flip-flops, long walks, beaches, pools and heat: summer changes how we use our feet. When we return to our routine, we often notice dryness, hard skin, rubbing or discomfort that had gone unnoticed. Knowing how to care for your feet after summer helps restore comfort and identify problems that need a professional check-up early.
Not everything requires treatment, but pain should not be normalised, nor should you try to treat an altered nail, wound or possible infection at home. At Body&Mind Valencia, our podiatry service can assess the skin, nails and the way you bear weight when discomfort appears.
During the holidays we walk more and alternate poorly supportive footwear, uneven surfaces and many hours with our feet exposed. Heat and humidity also affect the skin. This combination can contribute to rubbing, cracks, calluses and tired feet.
In August 2026, the Valencia College of Podiatrists warned that walking barefoot around pools and communal showers increases the risk of infection, while unsupportive footwear can lead to trips or overload. This is a genuine seasonal concern, not merely a cosmetic one.
Continuous exposure and friction can dry the skin. If dryness is mild, regular moisturising may improve appearance and comfort. If a crack is deep, painful, bleeding or red, it should be assessed before applying random products.
They are the skin's response to pressure and friction. Aggressive filing or cutting them at home can cause wounds. A podiatrist can safely remove excess hard skin and, importantly, identify which pattern of weight-bearing or footwear is concentrating the load.
Yellowing, thickening, brittleness, nail separation or pain at the edges can have different causes. Not every change is fungal, and not every problem is treated in the same way. A professional check-up avoids confusing footwear trauma, ingrown nails and infections.
Moisture from pools, showers and footwear can contribute to skin problems. Keeping feet clean and thoroughly dry helps, but if itching or flaking persists, spreads or returns, seek advice rather than sharing treatments or home remedies.
After weeks in sandals, a narrow shoe can increase pressure on the toes, nails and areas of hard skin. Change to a supportive model with enough room. If pain continues, changes the way you walk or is focused in the heel, arch or forefoot, a podiatry assessment can clarify the cause.
The College of Podiatry of the Valencian Community highlights that a check-up allows the skin and nails to be assessed, nails to be cut correctly and hard skin removed, as well as identifying changes that require treatment.
Book a check-up if pain lasts several days, a nail digs in or changes shape, or you develop deep cracks, verrucas, persistent itching, wounds that do not heal or calluses that quickly return. It is also worth seeking advice if your usual footwear stops being comfortable for no clear reason.
People with diabetes, circulation problems, loss of sensation, immunosuppression or a history of ulcers should not cut hard skin or treat wounds themselves. In these cases, even a small injury may need early attention.
Find out which problems are commonly assessed by our podiatry service in Valencia. If you need basic skin and nail care, chiropody may be an option, but the professional will always recommend the appropriate procedure after examining your foot.
A foot massage is intended for relaxation and can feel pleasant after a long walk. Podiatry, by contrast, is a healthcare profession that diagnoses and treats foot conditions. If there is pain, injury, infection or a nail disorder, a podiatry assessment should be the first choice.
Once a problem requiring treatment has been ruled out, a session of reflexology or foot massage in Valencia can be considered as a wellbeing experience, not a substitute for healthcare.
Caring for your feet after summer is a practical way to start September with comfortable support and no lingering discomfort. A timely check-up can address hard skin or uncomfortable nails and identify whether pain needs more specific investigation.
Do you notice discomfort when returning to closed shoes? Contact Body&Mind Valencia and book a podiatry assessment. Tell us about any pain, nail changes, wounds or relevant medical condition so we can advise you safely.
