How to care for your feet in winter?

Winter and cold affect the health of our body, specifically the feet. Low temperatures can cause dermatitis , eczema, chilblains and in extreme cases, freezing of the lower limbs. The groups most at risk are the elderly, children and people who play sports. To help prevent these pathologies, the Illustrious Official College of Podiatrists of the Valencian Community (Icopcv) has prepared a decalogue with recommendations to follow :

1. Wear socks made of natural fibers, such as wool, that warm the feet without oppressing or hindering blood circulation.
2. Wear footwear that allows the foot to perspireso that it does not get wet, and does not increase the sensation of cold.
3. Avoid direct heat sources. Do not approach your feet to a stove or hot bag, since it increases the chances of chilblains appearing.
4. Use specific creamsin order to protect the skin from the cold, repair cracks and normalize the structure of the epidermis.
5. If you play winter sports, it is essential to use specific socksto prevent chafing and blisters and to keep your feet dry at a suitable temperature.
6. For people with circulation problems it is advisable to take foot baths alternating intervals of cold water and warm water in order to stimulate it. This practice is very important especially after doing winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding or hiking.
7. Avoid alcohol and tobacco, as they contribute to dehydration of the epidermis, which increases the risk of chilblains.
8. As for party footwear, instead of wearing lounge shoes it is advisable to use booties because they better maintain the temperature of the foot.
9. It is also advisable to keep the circulation active so that there is no cooling of the lower limbs. For this, it is advisable to avoid standing, and if you spend a lot of time sitting it is advisable to massage your feet periodically.
10. Finally, it is preferable to wear footwear with a non-slip sole, since wet soil can cause falls or twists.

From the Icopcv, the experts warn that “prevention is essential to avoid pathologies in the feet” and that “if any skin alteration is noted, such as bruising, or some type of pain, visit the podiatrist to determine which is the problem”.