Protect Your Feet from the Cold!
How to Keep Your Feet Healthy in Cold Weather.
Cold weather (like today) can make it difficult for you to know when your feet are too cold, especially if you have a condition like poor circulation or diabetes.
Prevent Winter Foot Problems From the Get -Go
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. Wear comfortable and warm socks and boots. Keep your feet dry with sweat-wicking socks and moisture resistant footwear.
When you get home:
- Don’t rush to heat your feet
- Don’t dip your feet in a warm foot bath
- Don’t use a heating pad or heated blanket
- Don’t try to warm your feet by placing them close to a fireplace.
Let your feet warm up naturally, a little at a time. Try gently massaging your feet or walking around to encourage blood flow.
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.
How Chilblains Happen
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.
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure. 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
- Treatment of ulcers and wounds including Total Contact casting
- Custom-made Rx Orthotics for sports, such as hockey, figure skating, skiing, snow boarding and snow shovelling (yes, snow shovelling a sport, especially the last few days!)
- Magnetic Biostimulation (MBS) for relief of pain and inflammation
- Ingrown nail surgery
- Cortisone injections
- Treatment for thick and fungal nails, flat feet and high arches.
For more information on preventative winter footcare, contact our Oakville Foot Clinic today! We’re a friendly bunch!