Feet work hard over winter — but they're often neglected and forgotten.
We bundle them up in socks and our warmest shoes and forget to look at them.
Here are our top tips for happy winter feet:
- check your feet every day for any breaks in the skin, blisters or new problems
- make sure your shoes fit, especially if you're wearing thicker winter socks
- wear clean moisture-wicking socks and hosiery everyday
- keep your feet at a warm, even temperature to avoid chilblains
- if you're caught in the rain and your feet get wet, dry them as soon as possible, and
- visit a podiatrist if you have any concerns for assessment and treatment.
We've also included some extra information about the biggest winter issues.
Cracked heels
During winter, a host of factors combine the suck out the moisture from our skin! That includes cold weather, wind and central heating. Our skin becomes drier, and leads to sore, dry hands, chapped lips and cracked heels. Keep a check on your heels. If the skin becomes thick and rough, treat it with a cream which contains urea. These cracks can become painful, so it's a good idea to treat them early. If you get deeper cracks in your heels, it may be better to visit your podiatrist for treatment.
Athlete's Foot
Athlete's Foot is not just a summer condition. It can also be a problem in winter, especially if you layer up a couple of all cotton or all wool socks. It's important to wear acrylic-blend socks, such as acrylic-wool or acrylic-cotton. This helps the moisture wick away from your feet. If your feet are bound up in natural fibres, your feet cannot breathe. This can lead to sweaty feet, athlete's foot and bacterial infections.
Chilblains
Chilblains are very common in winter in people with poor circulation and limited mobility. They are small itchy, red swellings on the skin, which can become increasingly painful and dry out leaving cracks in the skin which are at risk of infection. They occur mainly on the toes but can also appear on areas of the feet exposed to pressure, for instance, on a bunion or where thicker socks rub against your shoe. Chilblains develop when the tiny blood vessels under the skin constrict under cold conditions reducing blood flow.
The best way to prevent chilblains is to keep your legs, feet and body warm. If you have developed chilblains do not scratch them, instead use soothing lotions such as witch hazel and calamine on them to take away most of the discomfort. If your chilblain ulcerates, treat it with an antiseptic dressing. And if you have diabetes or a chronic health condition, have the ulcer treated by your podiatrist.
