Foot Problems In The Winter? Here's How You Protect Your Feet

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Taking Care Of Your Feet

I have always loved my feet, which is probably one of the reasons I started investing so much time into their care. I began focusing on looking after them while I was working out, and it made a big difference in the way that my feet felt. Before I knew it, I was able to do just about any kind of physical activity without pain, and it was really interesting to see how big of a difference visiting with a podiatrist made. My doctor understood what challenges my feet were up against, and he worked hard to help me to resolve them. Check out this blog for more information.

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Foot Problems In The Winter? Here's How You Protect Your Feet

17 November 2017
 Categories: , Blog


If the cracking and dryness in your feet become worse when it's cold, you may have a problem called seasonal dryness, or "winter itch." Seasonal dryness can make it difficult to treat or manage existing foot problems, as well as allow new problems to show up. Although it might seem impossible to ease the problems in your feet, you can with the information below.

What Should You Know About Your Feet?

Your body's skin can lose moisture during the cold season, especially the skin on the soles of your feet, toes, and heels. The lack of moisture can make your feet feel dry, cracked, and tender. Your skin may also itch and peel from the change of weather.

In addition, the cold weather can have serious effects on your body as a whole. To keep your body's major organs safe during low temperatures, your body diverts most of your blood circulation to your core. The tissues and organs of your arms and legs receive less blood than they would in warmer conditions. If you already suffer from a foot condition or health problem that harms or affects your skin, your situation can become dire.

Diabetes and other health issues can cause nerve and blood vessel damage in your feet. Some individuals develop open sores, fissures, and cracks on the bottoms of their feet and heels from their condition. Because of the cold weather's affects on your body, you might not notice that you have serious problems with your feet.

You can prevent serious problems with your feet this winter by taking better care of them.

How Do You Protect Your Feet?

Drinking water throughout the day can help hydrate your skin, including your foot skin. It's important to consume the right amount of water to achieve the best benefits. For example, women and men should strive for 6-8 glasses of water a day. You may consume more water if the skin on your feet needs it.

Also, increase your intake of watery fruits and vegetables. Even during the cold season, you can find cucumbers, strawberries, zucchini, and squash. If you can't find the previously mentioned items at your local grocery store, consider increasing your intake of orange juice, milk, and other liquids. 

If you don't see any improvements in your feet after drinking water or increasing your fluid intake, see a foot specialist for treatment. A foot specialist, or podiatrist, can examine your feet to see if your health condition is managed correctly. You may need to see your regular doctor to help you control your health condition. 

If your current health condition isn't the cause of your foot problems, a podiatrist will begin treatment as soon as possible. You may receive a variety of treatments, including physical therapy and massage therapy. The therapy treatments can help improve blood circulation in your feet. 

A podiatrist may prescribe different moisturizers and ointments for your feet. The medications may be stronger and thicker than traditional body lotions. The treatments may also prevent dryness and other symptoms in your feet by creating a barrier on your skin. The barrier may also keep your feet warm and comfortable during the cold season.

If your symptoms continue, you may benefit from wearing heel, toe, and other pads in your shoes. The pads reduce friction between your shoes and feet when you walk. Some cushions contain therapeutic gels that absorb shock. Shock can aggravate your symptoms over time, or it can cause additional problems to show up.

If you need help with your foot problems this winter, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in your area today. You can also visit websites like http://www.camdencountyfootandankle.com.