Hopefully you have found the right winter shoes and put your flip flops and sandals away. Winter is here and this season has its own set of foot problems. Unfortunately, cold weather can be harder on the feet for people with conditions like poor circulation and diabetes. These conditions can make it harder for you to know when your feet are too cold. This is why it is important for you to bring your winter shoes with you to Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP when you have an appointment before it gets cold. Your podiatrist knows your feet and can let you know if your shoes have the right kind of support to keep your feet warm and dry.
Chilblains are a common cold weather foot problem. Chilblains are small, red, itchy swellings on the skin. They are caused when the skin is exposed to cold weather for long periods of time. In the cold, the blood vessels in your toes get smaller in size. When your toes get warm again, the blood vessels go back to their normal size. If your toes get warm too fast, blood can leak out of the blood vessels and cause the redness, swelling, blistering, and pain associated with chilblains. Chilblains usually form on the smaller toes, but they can also develop on areas of the feet that carry more pressure — the same areas where bunions, corns, and calluses form.
Chilblains can be a simple podiatric problem. They can be treated and cleared up within a few weeks. The first thing you should do to prevent chilblains is to be sure you are keeping your feet covered and warm when you are outdoors. When you return home, do not rush to heat your feet. Do not dip your feet in a warm foot bath or use a heated blanket. If you have a fireplace, do not warm your feet by placing them close to the fire. Let your feet warm up little by little. Try walking around the house a bit or gently massage your feet with your hands to warm them.
As said before, chilblains can be treated. There are lotions and creams that your podiatrist can prescribe to get rid of the redness and itchiness. If not treated correctly, chilblains can become a bigger problem. If you do not take care of the problem, chilblains can lead to ulcers. Ulcers are serious issues for diabetics and patients with poor circulation. If an ulcer becomes infected, the situation becomes very dangerous. Thankfully, the Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center has three locations (Howell, Edison, and Monroe, NJ) where you can schedule an appointment for treatment or get more information about proper foot care and foot wear during the winter.
We all could use a long vacation on a tropical island right now. The truth is that most of us won’t be spending any time in the tropics this winter. Do yourself a favor and pay extra attention to your feet, especially if you have circulation problems. Keep your feet healthy in the winter and you will be ready to enjoy the warmer weather when it comes.
