It’s bitter cold, and while people across Chicagoland have plenty to keep them entertained this month – from the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony to the ongoing Chicago Auto Show to the recent “Saturday Night Live” 40th Anniversary Special, the cold weather is likely doing a number on many people’s skin.
From dryness to fear of frostbite, there’s plenty to be concerned about when keeping skin healthy and looking good this winter.
One of our podiatrists, Dr. Mariano Rivera – who serves as director of Ankle and Foot Center’s Roscoe Village location – recently shared some skin care tips for the feet with The Daily Makeover website.
To read the full story, click here.
Here are some more winter foot-care tips from Dr. Rivera. More information can also be found online at www.thinkfeet.com.
* Dry skin — and cracking skin on the feet — is fairly prevalent this time of year. To combat this, people can apply lotion to their feet once to twice a day, and in severe cases, it should be applied several times a day. Be sure to avoid applying lotion in between your toes, as this area is usually too moist to be in need of moisturizer.
* Winter boots can often irritate the toenails if they are not well-trimmed — so make sure to get regular pedicures or trim your nails at home. Also, avoid wearing snow boots for a long period of time because the feet tend to sweat more in boots. If you notice excessive sweating from wearing winter boots, you can apply foot powder to help prevent moisture.
* Keep in mind that fungus loves moisture and dark environments, so prolonged use of boots makes people more susceptible to athlete’s feet and fungal toenails. For prevention, try using an anti-fungal nail solution from your podiatrist’s office to help block toenail fungus. Anti-fungal creams may also be used for prevention of athlete’s foot.
* Remember to keep your toes warm and to avoid staying in out in the cold for too long. Why? The cold can affect the small blood vessels in our toes, which may leave you at risk for frostbite. If your feet or toes have been exposed to cold, warm them gradually at low temperatures (do not exceed 80 degrees to prevent thermal damage.) As temping as it might be — don’t place cold feet by a fire or heater to warm them — the toes can still be numb and it’s easy to sustain thermal damage this way.
* If you have any specific concerns about your feet during the winter, it’s best to visit your local podiatrist for tips to care for your foot type.