Why is it more important to look after your feet in Winter Months?
Winter can be a difficult time of year. If it’s not one thing aching, it’s another and sometimes it feels like your feet suffer the most.
Damp, cold conditions plus the use of artificial heat from things like central heating can be tiring for your feet, so we thought we’d share some winter foot care tips and advice with you.
Keep Your Feet Clean and Dry
We’re in the Northern Ireland, so there’s no great shock when we get a sudden downpour of rain in the middle of what seems to be an otherwise dry day. If at that point you find yourself with shoes on that aren’t quite watertight, there’s a good chance you’re getting wet feet. Keeping your feet clean and dry will reduce bacteria build up as well as help keep them warm. Damp feet can get cold very quickly which in turn will cause sore and chapped skin.
Wear Natural Socks
When choosing socks for winter, always opt for those that are made from natural materials such as cotton or wool rather than synthetic blends. Materials like bamboo cotton are naturally more absorbent and these moisture wicking qualities are extremely important during the winter months. An added bonus is that your feet are less likely to smell too!
Thoroughly Dry Your Shoes & Boots
Much like with damp socks, wearing damp shoes and boots can cause a whole world of problems. Damp shoes are a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria, meaning there’s an increased chance of infection. To avoid damaging your feet and shoes, we advise placing them in a warm, dry place away from a direct heat source for at least 24 hours before you wear them again. It is also a good idea to have at least 2 pairs of shoes to interchange, so that your shoes are always well aired and dry before use.
Caring for Sore, Dry and Cracked Feet in Winter
Opting for a specific foot cream, lotion or heel balm rather than a general skin moisturiser will allow the thick skin to absorb the goodness. Often general moisturiser is too greasy to be absorbed effectively. Foot creams are specifically formulated to soften and moisturise feet, which in turn helps to heal any often painful cracked/fissured heels and feet. They’ll often have active ingredients such as Urea.
We recommend using a good heel balm, lotion or cream daily either first thing in the morning or at night to help improve skin elasticity and heal any cracks/fissures.
