Prep Your Feet for Winter
Our feet endure a great deal throughout the winter. Our feet move from cozy, heated homes to the freezing cold outdoors. Temperature fluctuations have an adverse effect on the skin, leaving it rough and susceptible to cracking.
When the weather becomes colder, most people have rough and flaky skin on their feet. Here are some common foot problems associated with winters.
- Blisters due to closed, improperly fitted shoes.
- Athlete’s foot happens due to fungi that thrive in warm, moist places. Other reasons for its occurrence include: Not adequately drying the area between your toes and not letting your feet breathe.
- Cracked skin and heels due to lack of moisture in winters.
- Chilblains may occur due to poor circulation of blood during colder temperatures.
- Foot pain tends increase during winter. Foot pain should not be ignored and a visit to a podiatrist for such cases is a must.
To help you attain and retain the health of your feet throughout the year, podiatrists provide a variety of foot care treatments. While they address current problems, they also monitor your overall foot health, identify any red flags, and treat your symptoms after proper diagnosis.
Here are some suggestions for maintaining healthy feet in the winter.
- Look after your feet
When you take a bath or shower; gently scrubbing your feet can help you avoid athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, and toenail fungus. Foot fungi like warm, dark, and humid settings to grow; therefore, it’s crucial to thoroughly dry your feet after scrubbing them.
- Apply moisturizer
After taking a shower, apply a high-quality cream to help prevent dry skin. However, avoid wearing socks or closed shoes right away, as the moisture may stay there and develop an infection.
- Invest in a good pair of socks and shoes
Your feet are insulated and safeguarded during the winters by proper footwear. When you take off your socks at the end of the day and see pale, wrinkled feet, it is a sign of wet feet and your socks are probably allowing too much moisture to build up inside your shoes. Choose socks that will keep your feet dry and warm.
- Keep your feet dry
It’s crucial to let your footwear dry up completely before using them again. By taking out the inner lining and letting it dry separately, you can speed up the process.
- Be Careful
During the winter, the risk of foot and ankle fractures increases due to snow and ice. Be careful, wear proper winter shoes and if necessary, use traction aids underneath your shoes to lessen your risk of falling.
Keep your feet safe so that you can enjoy an injury-free winter season.
The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have unparalleled experience treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. If you have any questions or want to make an appointment, please call (520) 575-0800.
