How to Keep Your Feet Healthy in the Cold
Prepare and Protect Your Feet from the Cold
Unfortunately, cold weather can be harder for people with conditions like poor circulation and diabetes. These conditions can make it difficult for you to know when your feet are too cold.
Book your Winter Footcare Check up today! We offer:
- Comprehensive foot exams and treatment options
- Diabetic footcare, including education and care for ulcers and wounds
- Custom-made Rx Orthotics for sports (hockey, figure skating, skiing, snow boarding and snow shovelling – yes, we consider snow shovelling a sport!)
- Ingrown nail surgery
- Cortisone injections
- Treatment for thick and fungal nails, flat feet and high arches.
Watch for Chilblains!
Chilblains are a common cold weather foot problem. Chilblains are small, red, itchy swellings on the skin. They are caused when the skin is exposed to cold weather for long periods of time. In the cold, the blood vessels in your toes get smaller in size. When your toes get warm again, the blood vessels go back to their normal size. If your toes get warm too fast, blood can leak out of the blood vessels and cause the redness, swelling, blistering, and pain associated with chilblains. Chilblains usually form on the smaller toes, but they can also develop on areas of the feet that carry more pressure — the same areas where bunions, corns, and calluses form.
How to Prevent Foot Problems
The first thing you can do to give winter the cold shoulder is to be sure you are keeping your feet covered and warm when you are outdoors. When you return home, do not rush to heat your feet. Do not dip your feet in a warm foot bath or use a heated blanket. If you have a fireplace, do not warm your feet by placing them close to the fire. Let your feet warm up a little at a time. Try walking around the house or gently massaging your feet to warm them.
For more information on winter footcare, contact our Oakville Foot & Orthotic Clinic today! We’re a friendly bunch!
