From the joy of the holidays to the enjoyment of the snow, winter is an exciting season. However, cold weather can lead to a few health issues. Additionally, the sudden reduction in temperature could exacerbate current medical conditions. Your feet aren't any different.
Your body is impacted by the cold weather in a number of different ways. First of all, the dryness of the winter's air can weaken your skin and nails, leaving them more prone to injury and illness. For instance, calluses or corns may be more likely to form on your feet if the skin there is dryer and more sensitive. The weather can also impair your blood flow, which can cause difficulties with your feet, particularly if you have diabetes, and constrict your nerves, which can cause numbness or pain. The cold can exacerbate the symptoms of neuropathy or a neuroma if you have either of these illnesses.
Finally, you go from sandals to closed-toe shoes, boots, and thick socks as the weather turns colder. Your shoes from previous winter might not fit properly if your feet have changed, and you might not have enough room to wear bigger socks. Bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis are a few conditions that can result from this compression.
Foot problems commonly affected by cold weather
Toenail fungus
Due to poor circulation, people who are exposed to cold temperatures are more vulnerable to fungal foot infections.
Most fungal nail infections affect the toenails, and they frequently arise from untreated foot fungal infections that migrate to the nails. If untreated, the infection can eventually enter deep into the nail, causing it to deteriorate and eventually come off. This degradation first appears as a change in color to yellowish, cracking, separation of fragments, and finally falling off. The entire thing is accompanied by an offensive odor.
Frostbite
Frostbite is a condition when the skin and subcutaneous tissue are damaged as a result of exposure to extremely cold temperatures. Ice crystals develop in the tissue as a result of freezing temperatures, reducing blood flow and harming the tissue. The fingers, toes, nose, ears, and cheeks are the body parts that are most frequently impacted. Loss of sensation in the affected areas is one of the symptoms, along with a waxy, pale discoloration of the skin that progresses to blistering and swelling. Deeper layers of tissue may be impacted by continued exposure to cold if the affected parts are not warmed, which could eventually lead to tissue loss, such as the removal of fingers or toes (amputation). How to keep your feet warm in the winter.
How to protect your feet in cold weather?
If your boots, shoes, or other footwear gets wet throughout the course of the day, you should remove them and allow them to air dry. But don't stop there. If the outer footwear you're wearing allows any water to pass through, your socks will become wet. You should remove them when You arrive at warm place as soon as possible.
Your feet sustain several types of damage from the numerous steps you take every day. Even in ideal circumstances, it's easy for them to blister, crack, and even bleed. Deep fissures that develop on your foot can serve as a pathway for fungus and other pathogens to enter your bloodstream and possibly give you serious illness. Give your feet's skin a daily cleansing and a regular application of a premium moisturizer rather than disregarding it. If you use moisturizer correctly and before there is an issue, it is less likely that a problem like cracking will ever occur. Like when your lips are chapped, waiting until they are bleeding before applying cream is futile.
As the weather drops, it is tempting to wear more garments. That frequently works well, but not when picking out footwear. Two pairs of socks jammed into your shoes could make them too tiny and obstruct your circulation. After taking off your socks, you might still see a small portion of the impression around your ankle. If, however, some deep lines or creases persist for more than a few minutes, you must get looser-fitting socks and boots.