Common Winter Foot Problems and How to Prevent Them
Brrr it’s cold outside! With winter in full swing, we’ve put together some of the most common winter foot problems that occur, and have explored some of the best ways to prevent and treat them. Read more below.
Cracked Heels
Cracked heels are caused by dry skin, and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel thickens. This is commonly a cosmetic problem, however can become worse and painful to stand if fissures become too deep. This also puts the affected area at risk of infection. It becomes more common in winter due to the dry weather conditions.
One of the best ways to cure cracked heels is to apply an oil based moisturizing cream. A pumice stone can also be used to reduce the thickness of the hard skin. It is not recommended to cut or grate skin as this can increase the risk of infection and cause further damage to the tissue.
Treatment of cracked heels at ProMed involves:
- Assessing your medical and medication history
- Assessing your footwear
- Assessing your activities
- Debriding the hard skin around the heels
- Advice on appropriate footwear
- Advice on the use of urea based emollients
Urea based creams are also a great way to help with the cracked heels – Check out our Urea products in our online store!
Tinea (Athletes foot)
Athlete’s foot develops when a group of fungi called dermatophytes develop and infection occurs. This fungi thrive in warm and moist environments such as in shoes, socks, showers and the like so are happily thriving in the foot area. Athlete’s foot usually occurs between your toes, but it can also affect the soles and sides of your feet. With the increase in wearing socks and shoes in winter, comes the higher risk of this developing.
Keeping your feet clean and Dry is one of the most important steps in preventing the development of Athlete’s foot.
Tinea is treated with a holistic approach, as it is present not only on your skin but is also present in your shoes and socks.
ProMed for tinea treatment includes:
- Topical antifungal therapies
- Oral antifungal therapies (only for extreme cases)
- Special antifungal washes for your socks and other effected clothes
- Ultraviolet therapy for shoes to kill fungus
- Shoes antifungal sprays
- Advice on ways to prevent future recurrence
Blisters
If you’re an avid snow goer in winter, then you’d be familiar with this problem. Renting out snow gear that isn’t quite the right fit can cause blisters, which can then lead to further problems such as infection. If your shoes are causing you blisters, it’s a sign that you shouldn’t be wearing them. It’s not worth the pain.
Want to know if your shoes are causing your more harm than good? Our Podiatrists at ProMed Podiatry are expertly trained to match your foot type and biomechanics with the correct shoes. Our Podiatrists are able to assess your current footwear and discuss if they are suitable or recommend another style of shoe suitable for your foot concerns.