Page 41 - The Local Eye - Issue 135 - January 2017

41
“Caring for your feet in the winter”

As we enter the cold winter months, it’s
extremely important to keep ourselves warm.
To do this, we normally wear extra clothes and
gloves on our hands. But, it’s also essential we
keep our feet warm. One of the most common
problems which can occur during colder
weather are chilblains. These are small, itchy
swellings on the skin which occur as a reaction
to cold temperatures. In this article, we will
provide some information on chilblains and
how to prevent them.

Chilblains usually occur several hours after exposure to the cold as
a result of blood vessels narrowing and widening too quickly. When
this happens, blood can leak into the surrounding tissue and this is
believed to be reason for the swelling and itchiness. In extreme cases,
the skin may break and blisters may develop. It is very important to
try not to scratch the area as the skin can easily break, leading to a
possible infection.

Fortunately, chilblains are quite easy to prevent as long as you follow
these tips. The obvious thing to do to prevent chilblains is by limiting
your exposure to the cold. You can wear thick socks or long johns to
improve the circulation to the feet and try and avoid wearing tight
shoes as they can restrict the circulation. Warming your shoes on the
radiator before wearing them allows them to dry and eating at least
one hot meal a day has a fantastic warming effect across the whole
body. Finally, moisturising your feet every day stops your feet from
becoming dry and prevents the skin from cracking.

If you have any concerns about your feet or would like to know more
about preventing chilblains, then please do not hesitate to give us a
ring and make an appointment.

A H PARFITT
STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST / PODIATRIST
HPC REGISTERED 533-535 WIMBORNE ROAD
Tel: 01202 528942 WINTON BH9 2AP

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