Typical Winter Foot Issues
The snow-covered mountains may be beckoning you on an expedition now that winter has arrived. Sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking are just a few of the activities available during the cold, snowy months of winter.
While these hobbies are enjoyable ways to pass the time on frigid winter days, they can be taxing on your feet. The combination of cold, dry air and slippery, wet, and uneven slopes can increase the chances of developing the typical winter ailments of the feet.
Problems with Cold Weather
Aches and pains in various parts of the body, including the feet, can be brought on by the cold. The cold weather causes skin and nails to dry up, weakening them and making them more vulnerable to damage and illness.
The cold also affects circulation, which can be harmful to your feet. One of the most common ways that cold weather can harm your feet is through your footwear.
Not the cold, but your chilly season footwear is one of the leading causes of cold weather-related foot ailments.
Too tight-fitting footwear can cause excessive compression and friction, resulting in hammertoes, bunions, and blisters.
Common foot problems in the winter and how to avoid them
Winter is here, and we all know what that means: frigid temperatures, snow flurries, and howling winds. It's time to break out our thick winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves to keep warm on these chilly days.
However, don't forget about your feet. It's critical to constantly wear winter boots and shoes to protect your feet from the weather.
Lower temperatures are particularly difficult on your extremities, particularly your feet. In order to maintain the body's core temperature, the body slows blood circulation to the hands and feet when exposed to cold air.
If you already have painful foot ailments, the cold winter weather might make things worse. Winter foot problems are more common in those with poor blood circulation, diabetes, and neuropathy.
Even if you don't have a foot problem now, the risk of acquiring one increases as the temperature drops.
Cold weather dries out your skin and nails, weakening them and making them more vulnerable to infection and damage.
Furthermore, bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis might occur if your boots or shoes don't fit properly or are too tight owing to thick socks. Calluses and corns might form as a result of the continual contact.
Winter may be ideal for curling up on the couch and binge-watching your favorite show, but it isn't always so for your feet. The most common winter foot problems we see and how to avoid them are listed below.
Skin That Is Dry
When you're out and about in the winter, you may be used to slathering lotion on your hands and applying lip moisturizer on a regular basis.
The dryness of the skin is well-known in the harsh winter air. Your feet' skin isn't immune.
Because this portion of the foot takes a lot of pressure and scrapes against the inside of one's shoe or boot, dry skin on the foot can lead to painful cuts and cracks, which are especially frequent on the heels. Moisturizer and cushioned socks can be used to cure cracked heels.
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This is more frequent in men, and if left untreated, fissures or cracks can form, putting you at risk of infection. The cracks, also known as "heel fissures," are ugly and, if deep enough, can be unpleasant when walking.
Applying moisturizing lotion, especially after a shower, is the simplest way to help avoid heel cracks and other areas of dry skin on your foot. But it's possible that's not enough.
Solid heel counters in shoes and boots, as well as pad socks that cushion the heels from impacts that may increase pressure in the heel area, can help avoid heel cracks.
You can use a pumice stone to minimize the thickness of calluses and rough skin on your heels if they form.
If you have diabetes, though, don't do this; using a pumice stone or razor to smooth the skin can raise the risk of infection. Instead, have it done by a foot health care professional or dermatologist.
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Blisters
While blisters can occur at any time of year, blisters are more common in the winter. If you enjoy winter activities, you've probably rented ski boots, snowshoes, or snowboard boots.
Even if you try your hardest to find the most comfortable fit, it's practically impossible to find a rental that perfectly fits your foot.
Even slightly too big boots can cause rubbing of the skin, which can lead to blisters. Regular boots, which you may only wear a few times a year, might cause the same rubbing.
The early part of winter is also a busy time, with people being on their feet for longer periods of time than usual. This can make previously comfortable shoes uncomfortable and ill-fitting, causing significant friction when worn for a short period of time.
Blisters are a typical winter foot concern since your feet are more likely to be in closed shoes or boots throughout the winter months.
Consider what's causing your blisters if you're getting them. It could be because your shoes aren't properly suited — they're either too tight or too loose, rubbing your feet in all the wrong areas.
It could even be something as simple as changing your socks to better suit your feet and shoes.
Of course, you can acquire a blister at any time of year, but there are two variables that make it more likely in the winter.
- One is the leasing of winter sports equipment, particularly skates and ski boots. Finding the perfect fit can be tricky, and if the skate or boot is even a touch too loose around the heel, for example, the friction caused by your foot sliding about can cause a blister.
- Another cause is holiday shopping—you spend more time on your feet than usual, and shoes that were fine for a few hours of light wear suddenly become uncomfortable after a full day of shopping and carrying parcels.
Wearing cushioned socks to fill in gaps in an otherwise loose-fitting rental boot can help prevent blisters.
When shopping, wear shoes that fit properly and can accept padded socks as well as any prescribed inserts or orthotics. When purchasing new shoes or boots, consider the correct fit.
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Athlete's foot: A disease that affects athletes
Although all-cotton and all-wool socks are warm and have an extra soft padding, they prevent the feet from breathing and drying.
When you combine this with the hard, intense, and continuous exercise required to participate in many of the popular winter activities, you can get fungal infections like Athlete's Foot.
It's no secret that fungi thrive in warm, moist settings, so wearing socks and shoes all day can turn your feet into a breeding habitat.
Make sure your feet are getting enough oxygen. We understand how difficult it is when it's chilly outside and all you want to do is curl up in your warm slippers!
Also, m, make sure they aren't confined 24 hours a day and that they are thoroughly dried after each wash or shower.
It's simple to get a skin infection like an athlete's foot by not completely drying in between your toes and then sliding your feet into socks and shoes right away.
Many people believe that an athlete's foot is just an issue in the summer when moisture creates the ideal environment for a fungal infection.
However, if you layer your shoes with a couple of pairs of all-cotton or all-wool socks, the problem can occur in the winter.
This sets the scene for sweaty, suffocating feet, which can progress to athlete's foot and secondary bacterial infection.
Wearing socks made of acrylic blends or acrylic-wool blends, which wick moisture away from the foot and toes, can help prevent this condition. This is especially true for winter runners and anyone who participates in high-impact outdoor activities.
Arthritis
The combination of cold air and moisture from snow and/or rain can aggravate arthritis in the hands and feet. These flare-ups can cause a lot of pain, discomfort, and stiffness, which can make it difficult to move around and do things on a regular basis.
Contact your podiatrist to book an appointment if your foot ailment is serious or has been causing you pain and suffering for a long time.
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Toenails that have grown inward
Ingrown toenails are similar to blisters in that they can occur at any time of year. They are generally the result of ill-fitting shoes and boots, as well as changing one's stride so that more pressure and weight is exerted on the toes than normal, leading them to become crunched at the toe of the shoe.
Because your nails become dry and brittle in the winter, infection is more likely. Plus, if your thick socks don't wick away moisture, athlete's foot and other toenail diseases thrive on your nails.
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Heels with Cracks
While cracked heels may appear to be more of a cosmetic issue, they can cause discomfort and infection if left unchecked and untreated.
Our skin is drier during the cold months and requires extra moisture. Apply a foot lotion or heel balm on a regular basis all year, but more frequently during the winter.
Chilblains
Chilblains are more likely to occur in the winter if you have impaired circulation.
The air grows cooler as the weather cools, and we want to keep our homes and offices as warm as possible. When you move fast between cold and warm surroundings, you get chilblains.
When it's cold outside, your blood vessels contract, and when it's hot outside, they may not adapt quickly enough. This generates a minor spasm, which allows blood to leak into the tissue, resulting in enlarged red spots on your skin, most commonly on your toes.
Chilblains, also known as pernio, are painful inflammation of blood vessels in the skin produced by prolonged contact with cold air. Itching, red spots, swelling, and blisters on your hands and feet are all possible side effects.
Frostbite occurs when tissue is exposed to cold temperatures for an extended amount of time. The cold air constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the tissue and potentially causing tissue damage or death.
Pain in the Feet
In the summer, it's easier to overlook a nagging soreness in your feet, but in the winter, it's a different story. The cold weather can aggravate aches and pains, so if you're having foot or leg pain and can't figure out what's causing it, see a trustworthy podiatrist right once.
Raynaud's Syndrome
The disorder Raynaud's Phenomenon causes the blood vessels in the hands and feet to become chilly. Females who have circulation problems are more likely to develop this condition.
When your toes or fingers are exposed to cold air, the small capillaries in your digits constrict, limiting blood flow to the area. This causes numbness, pain, and white or blue skin coloring.
Morton's neuroma and various types of neuropathy
Fractures
Foot Pain
Why Does Foot Pain Get Worse in the Winter?
Weather is chilly
Weight gain
Unsupportive footwear
How to Avoid Foot Discomfort This Winter?
- Get plenty of rest for your feet.
- Does daily foot stretch?
- Avoid going barefoot.
- Try custom orthotics.
Take Care of Your Feet
- Put on the appropriate footwear. This winter, wearing ill-fitting winter shoes and boots is a surefire way to cause foot problems.
- Make sure your snowshoes fit properly, with enough area for thick winter socks.
- Stay as dry as possible. To avoid fungus and illnesses caused by sweaty feet, keep your feet clean and dry.
- Seek assistance. It's time to see an orthopedic specialist if you acquire any new foot problems or discomfort, or if an existing ailment becomes much worse.
Always keep your toes warm in winter
- Make sure your footwear is comfortable. Year to year, the shape of your feet can change. As you get older, your feet tend to get wider, and gaining weight can make your feet even bigger. Replace your boots if they don't fit well this year.
- Wear traction-enhancing footwear. When going outside, make sure your shoes have adequate traction and a low heel to help you avoid slipping and falling.
- Also, make sure your shoes are water-resistant and insulated since this will create a barrier between your feet and the weather.
- Keep your feet clean and dry at all times. Socks that wick away moisture are a good investment. Also, especially after exercising, replace your socks on a frequent basis to reduce bacteria.
- Moisturize on a daily basis. Although it appears to be a simple task, many individuals do not consider moisturizing their feet. Using a concentrated moisturizer on your feet every day can help you avoid uncomfortable cracks and fissures.
