Preventing Chilblains from Happening to You
Chilblains are a painful and irritating condition that occurs when your blood vessels get exposed to the cold. As winter is coming, this could likely happen to you. When it does, you will see red patches on your skin, blisters, and you can experience itching and swelling. It likes to occur on your feet and hands and can take weeks to clear up. Don’t get discouraged, though. You can still have fun and enjoy what winter has to offer, keeping these tips in mind.
- Cover your skin—stay as covered up as possible and avoid exposing your skin to the cold.
- Avoid smoking—smoking does so much damage to your body, but people forget that it affects the feet as well. Avoiding it in the winter air will ensure that those blood vessels can work properly.
- Keep your home warm—ensuring that your home is warm will help keep your vessels in good shape as well.
- Stay inside if you can—if you can limit your exposure to the cold entirely, you won’t have to worry about this condition, but if you need to go outside, limit your exposure time as much as you can.
- Not too tight—avoid dressing in tight clothing and instead wear looser options. However, you must remember to bundle up in layers and wear mittens as well as suitable footwear. When heading into rain or snow, try a water-resistant option.
- Ensure the vital areas are warm—to avoid this issue, ensure that your face, hands, and feet are all warm and dry. That will protect your vessels from getting attacked by the cold.
The winter can be extremely rough on the skin and can cause severe complications and issues. Don’t let that happen to you. Stay warm and be smart when you venture outdoors, and your feet will thank you.
If you are experiencing issues with your feet, visit the experienced team of podiatrists at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, we have vast experience treating issues of the ankles, feet, and problems that may occur. Our team of doctors: Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., will offer the greatest in technologically advanced methods and cutting edge medical treatments, including the PinPointe FootLaser, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic pain. Please call (520) 575-0800 and make an appointment.
