Health

HealthWatch: Just How Safe Are Summer Flip-Flops?

NEW YORK (CBS) ― They're colorful, easy to wear and keep you cool in the summertime heat. But flip flops can, and often do, pose some health concerns.

When the temperature spikes, step out into our concrete jungle and at every turn someone's donning the season's favorite footwear: flip flops. But they can leave you open to infection, and a host of other problems.

"I get rubbed right where the bridge is on my foot, where the flip-flop is, and it gets a red mark on my foot," said Tyler Brown of Baltimore, Maryland.

"A bacterial comes in when you have an open cut, or a wound," said Dr. Dina Tsentserensky.

A tiny cut can lead to big problems.

"The signs are extreme redness, extreme pain and red streaking up the foot or up the toes into the foot and the leg," said Dr. Tsentserensky.

But city dwellers eager to get around fast don't always think of the dangers.

"Flip-flops are convenient, especially in the heat, but if you're going to come home and see that your feet are really dirty you should definetely be washing them and conscious of the germs that you're carrying around," said Christina Costa of Pittsburgh, PA.

Not to mention, debris like glass, nails and rocks can easily harm exposed feet, especially while walking in New York City.

Another concern, warns CBS 2's Dr. Max Gomez, are fungal infections. Gomez recommends looking for cracks inbetween the toes and small lesions on the bottom of the foot.

Ironically, flip-flops may help in that case because they allow your feet to breathe.

In the winter time, says Dr. Gomez, you're creating a warm, moist, dark environment for fungus to grow. So, you're actually doing a good thing by wearing a flip-flop in the summer.

Just go for something with a wedge, and a thicker strap for support.

Flip-flops that are completely flat can cause all kind of problems with tendons and ligament injuries.

If you must wear them, Dr. Tsentserensky offers some easy advice.

"Try to limit it to maybe a couple of blocks, or to and from the subway outside, but don't wear them long distances."

You can use over-the-counter topical cream or antibiotic ointment to treat a foot infection. But if it doesn't clear up after a couple of weeks, see a doctor.

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