Winter Foot Care

Winter is officially here and with that comes cold and sometimes snowy days. This type of weather can lead to problems for your feet including dry skin, fungal infections and injuries such as sprains and fractures.

The warm, dry air inside homes and buildings can cause the skin to dry out. This results in painful, rough, cracked skin especially around the heels. A pumice stone can be used to gently exfoliate the skin. Take care not to be overly aggressive or further damage may occur. Deeply fissured or cracked skin may require an antibiotic ointment and evaluation by your podiatrist. Regularly apply moisturizer cream to your feet to keep dryness to a minimum. When applying moisturizer cream, avoid the interspaces of your toes to help decrease the risk of developing a fungal infection.

Fungus thrives in a moist, warm environment. This is usually found inside shoes. Wear waterproof shoes on rainy or snowy days. Change socks daily or more frequently if they are wet or dirty. Discoloration or thickening of the toenails, itching, redness, raised bumps or peeling of skin can all be signs of a fungal infection and should be evaluated by your podiatrist. The sooner the infection is treated, the better your response will be.

Icy, slippery patches are prevalent this time of year. Wear rubber soled shoes and boots and take your time when walking to minimize the risk of a fall. Injuries from a fall must be treated as soon as possible. A fracture and sprain can present with the same symptoms including pain, bruising and swelling. Just because you can walk on an injured foot doesn't mean it is not broken. Continued walking on an fractured foot will only worsen the problem.

When coming in from the cold and trying to warm your feet do not soak them in hot water or use a heating pad. Rather, soak feet in mildly warm water and check the temperature against your arm first. Be sure to dry well after soaking. Regular foot inspections by you and your podiatrist are key to good foot health, especially for those with diabetes and poor circulation.

Happy New Year!
Dr. Wisniewski