5 Winter Foot Care Tips

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At NY Foot Health, we know as winter approaches, it may be easy to think your feet don’t need as much attention as they do in warmer seasons when they’re more exposed. However, heavy socks and boots don’t protect your feet from many common ailments. Below are 5 tips for keeping your feet safe and healthy during the colder months.

  1. Keep feet dry. Yes, you want to stay warm, but if bundling your feet results in sweaty, damp conditions, you may be increasing your risk of fungal infections like athlete’s foot and fungal toenails. These thrive in dark, moist settings like the insides of your winter socks and boots. Keep an extra pair of socks handy and change them whenever you notice feet feel damp. Sweaty feet are more likely to get blisters. After washing your feet, be sure to dry them completely, paying particular attention to the spaces between your toes.

  2. Get a good fit for winter sports shoes. Whether on mountains skiing or hiking, ice skating, or in the mall holiday shopping, the right shoes are necessary to keep your feet healthy. Don’t compromise by accepting shoes that don’t fit properly. Blisters, corns, calluses, and more serious podiatric problems can result.

  3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! When the heat is on in homes, offices, shops, and cars, you can guarantee skin rapidly becomes dry. On your feet, it can lead to cracks in your heels and foot skin that can be a way in for harmful bacteria. Make applying a good moisturizing cream or lotion to your feet part of your bedtime routine. Cover your feet with a pair of cotton socks to help improve absorption.

  4. Watch out for slippery conditions. The risk for ankle sprains and fractures go up as the temperatures go down. Be wary of dark areas of pavement that may be wet or icy. Always wear low-heeled shoes with gripping tread when there is inclement weather.

  5. Conduct daily foot checks. No matter what the season, inspecting your feet daily for changes is one of the most effective ways of protecting podiatric health. If you see unusual skin color changes or nails, bruising, lumps or growths, swelling, or anything else suspicious, contact your podiatrist promptly to get it evaluated.

If you need to find a podiatrist in your area, use our online directory. For more information on caring for your feet, contact us.

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