Common foot problems in winter
With winter upon us, snow capped mountains can invite you on an adventure. The cold, snowy winter months offer plenty of opportunities for fun, whether it’s sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, or hiking.
While these activities are fun ways to enjoy those cold winter days, they can affect your feet, too. Cold, dry air and slippery, wet, and uneven terrain on the slopes can increase your risk of the following common winter foot problems:
- Dry Skin
You may have been used to smearing lotion on your hands and constantly applying lip moisturizer when you are out and about in the winter. The harsh winter air is known to dry out the skin. The skin on your feet is not exempt. Dry foot skin can lead to painful cuts and cracks on the feet, most common in the heels, as this part of the foot absorbs a lot of pressure and constantly rubs the inside of the shoe or boot. Cracked heels can be treated with moisturizing lotion and padded socks.
- Blisters
While you can get blisters at any time of year, winter presents unique situations where blisters are more likely to occur. If you are a winter sports enthusiast, probably rent ski boots, snowshoes, and snowboard boots. As much as you try to find the most comfortable fit, it is almost impossible to find the right rental that exactly fits your feet. Even boots that are a little too large can cause skin chafing that can blister. The same rubbing can occur with regular boots that you can wear only a few times a year.
The first part of the winter season is also very busy, where one can be on their feet longer than normal. This can make shoes that were once comfortable worn for a short period of time uncomfortable and ill-fitting, causing excessive chafing.
- Foot fractures
Whether it’s an icy patch on the driveway or an uneven pile of snow, slippery surfaces can easily cause falls that can result in broken and fractured feet and ankles, sprained ankles, sprained ankles, and pulled muscles in the feet and feet. ankles.
- Athlete’s foot
Cotton and wool socks can be warm and have extra comfortable padding, but these materials keep your feet from breathing and drying out. Combine this with the intense, active, and prolonged exercise required for many common winter activities, and you may end up with fungal infections like athlete’s foot.
- Arthritis
Cold air mixed with moisture from snow and / or rain can cause an outbreak of arthritis in the hands and feet. These flare-ups can involve great pain, discomfort, and stiffness that can affect mobility and daily activities.
- Ingrown toenails
Like blisters in the sense that one can have an ingrown toenail at any time of year, these foot discomforts are often the result of ill-fitting shoes and boots and adjusting the stride to be exercised. more pressure and weight than normal on the toes. causing them to break at the toe of the shoe.
Winter has its own unique conditions that lead to certain foot injuries and conditions. Cracked heels, blisters, broken and fractured foot and ankle bones, and flare-ups of arthritis are some of the most common winter foot problems that one may experience while on the slopes or at the mall.
If your foot condition is severe or has been causing you pain and discomfort for an extended period, contact your podiatrist to schedule an appointment.