By Lauren Bishop
Enquirer staff writer

It's officially summer, you don't want your feet to be a failure, -particularly if they'll be encased in strappy sandals and flip flops.

"I take care of my feet all year round so that I can wear sandals in the summer," says Yvonne West, 56, of West Chester Township. "Nothing is worse than seeing a woman with 'crusty' feet in sandals."

Not only is the look unflattering, it's bad for your feet as well.

"A foot is the foundation of a body, just like the foundation of a building," says Dr. Les Appel, a podiatrist in Forest Park. "If that's not in good shape, that can cause all sorts of problems."

So how do you keep your feet looking - and feeling - good? Here are some tips from the pros on summer shoe shopping and on keeping your foundations looking fabulous.

Beware the flat sandal, but also take heed of heel heights. Flat sandals don't give the foot any support and could strain your Achilles tendon, Appel says.

He and podiatrist Dr. Kristin Titko of the Center for Foot Care like Birkenstock sandals, which have molded insoles.

If you have to have a heel, opt for a low one, Titko says. "The higher the heel, the more stress you put on the ball of your foot," Titko says.

Strap yourself in. Podiatrists strongly recommend buying a sandal with a strap around the back to give the foot proper support.

"When taking a step forward, your foot needs to be in a locked position to withstand the force your body puts on the foot," Appel says.

Opt for natural materials. Leather or suede sandals will allow feet to breathe, while plastic sandals cause feet to sweat, increasing the chances of athlete's foot, Titko says.

Shop at the end of the day, and give shoes a proper test drive. Feet are more swollen at the end of the day, so shop then to ensure a proper fit, says Dr. Patrick Nunan of West Chester Township. Appel compares trying on shoes to testing out a couch or a bed.

"You don't want to try on a shoe and buy it just because it feels soft when you try it on," he says. "You need support."

Get rid of calluses and corns. Do that by using a pumice stone or foot file, available at drugstores, in the shower or bath, Titko says. Nunan suggests using a moisturizing cream several times a day. And neither recommends using medicated corn pads because the acid they contain can burn the skin, they say.

Don't neglect your nails. Toenail fungus grows where it's dark, moist and warm, the climate inside most of our shoes. Avoid toenail infections by not wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row, Titko says, and wash and dry feet well.

She also suggests wearing cotton socks instead of going sock-free (although the fashion-conscious might not want to sport socks with sandals). If your nail is discolored or thick, visit a podiatrist. Infections are easiest to treat in the early stages, but even with topical or oral medication, it could take months for it to clear up, Titko says.

Perfect the art of the pedicure. Trim your toenails straight across, using a file to gently round the edges, every four to six weeks, says Jennifer Caudill, a nail technician at Emerge Salon & Spa in Kenwood.

Caudill also recommends buying an exfoliating foot scrub and foot lotion from a drugstore or a beauty supply store and using them regularly, along with a foot file as needed. A paraffin wax home treatment used once a week will help keep moisture locked in, she says.

Finish off by painting your toenails, or take a trip to a salon to let the pros handle it. A professional pedicure should last four to six weeks, Caudill says.

Don't forget the sunscreen. "If you're by the pool or in the sun, sometimes you can get sunburned on your feet," Nunan says. And remember to reapply it, just as you do everywhere else.

Fix your feet

Dr. Hauschka Rosemary Foot Balm, about $2.25 for .17 ounces, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace. Absorbs moisture and refreshes tired feet while reducing the appearance of corns and calluses.

Dr. Scholl's Pedicure Essentials Dual-Action Nail Brush, about $3.89, drug and discount stores. Natural pumice stone helps reduce calluses while bristles help keep nails clean.

Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Gentle Foot Peel and Cooling Foot Scrub, about $7.99 for 6 ounces, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens 'n Things. Use on clean, dry feet to smooth rough, dry skin.

Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Shea It Isn't So Foot Cream, about $14 for 4 ounces. Rich lotion with shea butter, avocado oil and eucalyptus extract moistures feet.

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E-mail lbishop@enquirer.com