Keep Feet Healthy During Cold Weather

Perhaps even more than the summertime, wintertime is especially rough on our feet. Humidity drops and temperatures grow harsh, making our feet dry, cracked, achy, and prone to infection. Keeping your feet healthy and happy during the winter means less work getting them spring and summertime ready.
Step 1: Moisturize to prevent infection. 

Taking warms baths and showers after spending time in the cold air can cause feet to become dry, which leads to cracking skin. Your skin is the first line of defense against infection, and just like cracks in the foundation of your house, cracks in your feet allow unwanted guests to infiltrate your body.
Stay away from moisturizers that are fragrance-filled or frilly, as they further dry your skin out. Look instead for lotion that contains water, glycerin, which keeps moisture in, and allantoin, which breaks down the rough barrier, allowing water to get into the skin. All of these ingredients help the skin heal itself. You will find the best moisturizers not in the beauty aisle, but in the health aisle or home improvement store. Men who are on their feet all day use O'Keefe's for Healthy Feet, which was designed to stimulate the skin's natural healing process by retaining moisture to hydrate the skin, altering pH levels, and increasing blood circulation.
Step 2: Protection from the elements
Going outside, even to quickly bring the garbage out to the curb, means exposure to bone-chilling winds, icy rain, and blowing snow. Brr! Choosing the right protective gear keeps feet healthy.
Invest in a good pair of boots that keep your feet warm. Fashionable boots don't mean they will keep your feet warm- they are more likely to cause you to slip on icy walkways and in parking lots. Boots should be waterproof to keep out rain and snow, and have a good sole with thick treads to help grip slippery surfaces. Wear your winter boots to work, and then change into work shoes. Consider wearing several pairs of socks to insulate feet and keep moisture away.
Step 3: Understand frostbite. 
Skin exposed to extremely cold temperatures for prolonged periods can get frost bite. Even when wearing thick socks and boots, moisture present in skin cells and tissues freezes. Frost bite can happen quickly, especially when skin is directly exposed to the cold, and there are varying levels of severeness.
Frost bite symptoms include numbness, pins and needles sensations, hard, pale skin when cold and red, and painful or blistered skin after warmed. If you suspect you have frost bite, never put feet in hot water, always warm water between 104 to 107.6 degrees F to gradually warm skin. If the symptoms continue after soaking in warm water, call a podiatrist immediately.

If you believe have a foot problem and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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Podiatrists in CT
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Wintertime Foot Blues

You've bid farewell to those colorful sandals and comfortable flip-flops until next summer. But just because your feet won't be on display does not mean it's time to forget about foot care.
Taking care of your feet is especially important in the winter. "During the winter, our feet are cooped up in heavy socks and shoes and may be extra dry due to the lack of moisture in the air," said Dr. Jeffrey S. Kahn, one of the doctors at Connecticut Foot Care Centers.
What's the remedy for dry feet in the winter? Follow this at-home treatment, recommended by the foot experts at the American Podiatric Medical Association and your feet will be winter fabulous.
1. Prepare to pamper.
Remove old nail polish and stimulate foot circulation by propping one foot at a time on your lap, slowly moving your thumbs from the top of your toes to the bottom of your heel and back. Then, cut toenails straight across with a nail clipper and smooth rough edges with an emery board.
2. Soothe your soles
Soak feet for at least five minutes in a container filled with warm water. Use a pumice stone or foot file to gently smooth the skin around your heels, and the balls and sides of your feet. Pat your feet dry, making sure to dry between each toe and loosen your joints by rotating your foot slowly at the ankle a few times in each direction. Apply emollient-enriched lotion all over your feet to hydrate the skin and increase circulation. Then, gently push back the cuticles with a cuticle pusher or manicure stick.
3. Add the finishing touches.
Using soap and water, remove the moisturizer from your toenails and in-between your toes. Next, if your nails are healthy, feel free to splash on some color with the nail polish of your choice. Before you go to bed, wrap cellophane around your feet. The cellophane will act as a sauna while locking in the moisture. By morning, your feet will be smooth, soft, and ready to go.
4. Consider getting laser nail treatment.
If you have fungal toenails and no topical or oral medication has worked for you, consider getting laser nail treatment. Convenient and quick, the procedure takes less than 20 minutes. By the time sandal season comes along, you should have clear, fungal-free toenails!
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrist in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter!

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