Summer holidays are something we look forward to all year. Whether you’re planning an intense city break, exploring the rugged UK coast, heading abroad, or enjoying a staycation, one thing is certain: you’ll probably be spending significantly more time on your feet than usual.
Unfortunately, minor foot problems that seem manageable in your day-to-day routine at home can quickly become painful or limiting when you’re walking several miles a day, navigating sprawling airports, or spending long days sightseeing. If you’re already experiencing minor discomfort, now is the perfect time to get it checked before your holiday begins.
Why Foot Problems Often Get Worse in Summer
Many summer activities place unique, additional pressure on your feet. Long walks, unsupportive sandals, increased physical activity, and warmer weather (which causes feet to swell) all contribute to sudden foot discomfort.
| Common Summer Issue | Why It Flares Up | How a Podiatrist Helps |
| Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis | Walking miles in flat, unsupportive flip-flops. | Gait assessment and orthotic recommendations. |
| Corns and Calluses | Friction from new summer shoes or walking barefoot. | Gentle, painless clinical removal and skin smoothing. |
| Ingrown Toenails | Extra walking pressure forcing nail edges into swollen skin. | Relief via routine care or minor permanent surgery. |
What starts as a minor irritation can quickly become a major issue when you’re relying on your feet to explore a new destination.
Ingrown Toenails: Small Problem, Big Impact
Ingrown toenails are one of the most common reasons people seek podiatry treatment. This condition occurs when the edge of your toenail grows into the surrounding skin, most commonly on the big toe, causing pain, swelling, redness, and a high risk of infection.
While it may be tempting to ignore the twinge and push through until after your holiday, increased walking and warm, enclosed shoes will almost certainly worsen the symptoms. Getting it treated beforehand by an HCPC-registered podiatrist means you can enjoy your trip entirely pain-free. For chronic or severe cases, we offer Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA), a quick, minor surgical procedure under local anaesthetic that permanently removes the problematic nail edge so it cannot grow back.
Choosing the Right Footwear for Summer
The shoes you pack can make or break your trip. While flip-flops and flat sandals are popular during warmer weather, they provide virtually no arch support or shock absorption. To protect your feet:
- Choose supportive footwear with a strapped heel for long walking days.
- Avoid brand-new shoes; break them in at least two weeks before traveling to avoid deep blisters.
- Alternate footwear daily if you are walking long distances to change the friction points on your skin.
- Trim nails straight across rather than curving the edges, which prevents ingrown nails from forming.
Clinical Fact: Provide Wellbeing has no age restrictions for children using routine podiatry or nail treatments. If your child is struggling with an ingrown nail ahead of the school holidays, our team can help.
Get Summer Ready with Provide Wellbeing
Many people assume foot pain is something they simply have to put up with or “walk off.” In reality, ongoing discomfort or changes to your feet are highly treatable.
Whether you need Routine Podiatry for calluses and general discomfort, or specialised Ingrown Toenail Surgery, Provide Wellbeing offers fast, self-pay appointments with no GP referral required.
Because holidays should be remembered for the memories you make, not the foot pain you endured.
