Winter Feet Care Tips

Image by Big Fat Rat via FlickrWith winter coming on many of us are preparing to bundle up and get warm for the next few months. However, it's not only our bodies that need this kind of attention. We also need to take care of our extremities, namely our hands and feet. Our hands are most often given more attention since they are nearer to our field of vision. But many of us tend to neglect our feet. We think wearing boots are enough, but this is not so.

Boots with a thick lining is good for its warmth. However, according to a podiatrist most problems we have with our feet is caused by footwear that don't fit well. Daniel Altchuler, DPM, a board certified podiatrist, advises that we should vary our shoes everyday and have our feet measured once a year. A new pair of Dansko shoes every Christmas should do the trick (Wink! Wink!).

Podiatrists find that the most common winter feet problems include dry and cracked skin and chilblains. Chilblains are small itchy, red swellings on the skin, which can become increasingly painful, can swell and then dry out leaving cracks in the skin which expose the foot to the risk of infection. To combat such foot care problems we should moisturize at least once a day and wear dry socks and shoes all the time. If your shoes got wet make sure your socks and shoes are very dry before wearing them again.

Additional foot care tips:

• Practice good hygiene and wash feet with soap and water and dry them thoroughly
• Change your shoes, socks and stockings daily
• When possible, wear shower shoes in public showers
• Use a quality foot powder. Talcum, not starch, will help deter infection
• Avoid wearing tight socks or stockings, which promotes accumulation of moisture
• Wear socks made of synthetic fibers that tend to wick away moisture faster
  

Information source: How To Care For Your Feet This Winter

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