By Dr. Matthew Ellsworth
Special to NKyTribune
Is Jack Frost nipping at your toes yet?
When winter rolls around, most of us make it a priority to keep our head and hands warm, but we often neglect our feet and toes, assuming they will handle the cold just fine.
In many people, however, the feet and toes can be the most susceptible part of our body when dealing with temperature-related health issues. This is especially true of the elderly and diabetic population.
Here are a few foot health tips to make sure your feet are healthy during this winter season:
Keep feet clean and dry.
• Clean your feet at least once daily with a mild soap and washcloth. Scrubbing too hard, especially if you have thin skin, can cause wounds.
• Avoid soaking your feet for long periods of time. While this may feel good, it can actually dry your skin out even more leading to cracks and sores.
• Dry between your toes and avoid putting lotions between your toes, as this may cause the skin to break down.
• Cotton and nylon socks do not wick away moisture well and are poor insulators against the cold. Bamboo and Wool socks do much better at absorbing moisture and help keep your feet warm.
Check your feet daily.
• Inspect your feet daily for any calluses, sores, dry skin, redness or discoloration.
• If you are unable to inspect your feet yourself, have a friend or family member do it for you. You can also use a handheld mirror. As a wound care physician, I treat plenty of chronic, non-healing wounds that could have been avoided in the first place by daily foot checks.
Make sure you have adequate shoe gear.
• Make sure that your shoes fit well and are not too loose or tight. Loose fighting shoes can cause blisters and tight shoes can cause sores and ingrown toenails.
• Shoes that are torn or worn down can also be an entry point for moisture causing frostbite or other weather related issues.
• Water proof, warm shoes are essential during the winter months especially if you know you are going to be outside for long periods of time.
Dr. Matthew Ellsworth works at Lexington Podiatry.