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Skin Health Foot Care

Booting Up: Don't Forgo Foot Care During Winter

To keep your feet from drying out, podiatrists advise moisturizing the feet once or twice a day, especially around the heels and sides of the foot. Although you may be tempted to take a near-scalding shower or bath when it’s chilly outside, Ravick warns that hot water damages and dries out the skin. Instead, bathe or shower in warm water, then pat your feet dry and apply moisturizer. Don’t moisturize the nails or the area between the toes too heavily, he says, as that may create an inviting environment for fungus.

To make sure dead skin is removed from the foot, you may also want to pumice your feet weekly. Ravick suggests adding some baby oil or moisturizing lotion to warm water, and soaking the feet. After patting the feet dry, pumice gently and then moisturize afterwards.

This routine may be particularly helpful for people who develop cracks or fissures in their heels, which absorbs a lot of stress during walking. If the foot does start to crack, apply a heavy lotion such as Vaseline or cocoa butter, then cover the foot in Saran Wrap and then socks before you go to bed. If the cracks are bleeding, apply an antibiotic cream and a bandage to prevent them from getting infected with bacteria.

Poorly fitting shoes may contribute to cracking, Ravick says. If you’re shopping for winter shoes, do so at the end of the day when your foot is swollen and make sure you can stick an index finger in the back of the shoe. "My advice to go to a store where they measure your feet," he says. "People think they should wear the same size when they’re 16 and 60, but your feet change."

Frostbitten Feet
Although frostbite of the foot is highly preventable with the appropriate socks and shoes, people do leave themselves at risk when they spend time outside in wet socks and shoes in extremely low temperatures, such as below 15° F (-9.4° C).

Ravick warns that you shouldn’t expose frostbitten feet to hot water because you are likely to burn your feet, which may be numb from the cold. He suggests using lukewarm water instead. If the socks aren’t stuck to the feet, they should be removed. Otherwise, they should be left until the area is re-warmed. People with severe frostbite, which can cause blisters and a blackening of the skin, should go to the hospital, where antibiotics may be administered.

Given the many threats to feet in the colder months, podiatrists advise that you take the extra time to protect your feet, so they will be ready for your spring sandals.

Follow these important tips to prevent winter fungal infections:

• Change socks daily
• Keep feet clean and dry
• Wear 100 percent cotton socks
• Use foot powder in socks and shoes

• Soak feet in tepid, not hot, water
• Do not warm feet near a heat source such as open flame or use a heating pad
• Receive immediate medical attention if there are signs of tissue damage

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