Winter time: Do something good for your feet

Winter is a big challenge for our body. Our skin in particular suffers greatly from the dry air and cold temperatures. Our feet are one of the worst hit. These are packed in warm shoes and thick socks in autumn and winter. They usually spend most of the day there and are only unpacked again in the evening. This not only causes heat to build up and little air circulation on our feet, but can also lead to complaints such as sweaty and winter feet. We reveal how to properly care for your feet in winter and thus prevent problems.

What happens in winter? feet in cold temperatures

Our body reacts to low temperatures in winter by constricting external vessels in order to keep core body temperature high. As a result, extremities such as feet or hands are not supplied with enough blood, causing the temperature there to drop. Over time, our feet then become cold and begin to freeze.

In order not to freeze our feet, we often pack them thicker and warmer in winter. However, socks and warm winter shoes are often very tight and not very breathable. On the one hand, this creates unpleasant pressure points and  calluses  .

On the other hand, due to the lack of air circulation in the warm shoes, the air builds up and the feet start to  sweat . However, the sweat cannot escape through the thick socks and shoes. In extreme cases, this can lead  to athlete’s foot  or atopic winter foot, a consequence of dry feet.

Causes of Ice Feet

In winter, it is particularly important to have the  right shoes  . Because the wrong shoes can promote the development of  cold feet  , since the blood vessels in the feet contract even more than is already the case in winter. The low blood flow makes your feet freeze.

Other causes of ice feet can be  low blood pressure  and vascular diseases caused by  diabetes , obesity, smoking and  high blood pressure  . If these diseases are the trigger for cold feet, it is advisable to consult a doctor and change your own lifestyle. With a healthy diet and more exercise, those affected can take the first steps in the right direction.

8 tips for ice feet

The following measures, among others, help against ice feet in winter:

1. Wear thermal socks with sewn-in metal fibers, these keep your feet particularly warm.
2. Make sure that your winter shoes are not too tight, so that good blood circulation in the feet is possible.
3. Put sheepskin soles in your shoes to keep the soles of your feet warm.
4. Rub your feet with warming foot creams. These stimulate blood circulation in the skin and lead to warm feet.
5. Sitting correctly promotes blood circulation in the feet. For this, the legs should stand comfortably next to each other instead of being beaten over each other.
6. Toe and  foot exercises  stimulate the circulation in the feet for a while and allow them to warm up.
7. Regular sauna sessions as well as Kneipp showers and contrast showers train the blood vessels. These do not contract as much in the feet. This keeps your feet warm.
8. Five-minute footbaths with essential oils warm the feet particularly well.

Sweaty feet in winter: 5 tips

Feet that are wrapped up too tightly sweat in warm and heated rooms. Sweat cannot escape so well from closed shoes. This causes it to stay on the skin and be broken down by bacteria, resulting in a cheesy smell. However  , a sweaty foot  not only smells unpleasant, but is also particularly susceptible to fungal diseases. In addition, a cold and damp foot poses a risk of  catching a cold  .

The following tips will help to avoid sweaty feet:

1. Be sure to buy breathable and waterproof footwear (leather shoes and shoes with TEX materials). Such shoes ensure dry feet and an exchange between warm air in the shoe and fresh air outside.
2. Wash your feet daily and then rub them with rubbing alcohol.
3. At home, preferably wear open slippers or even  walk barefoot  and let your feet breathe as often as possible.
4. Spray your shoes with disinfectant spray once a week.
5. Put on thin cotton socks, because these transport sweat to the outside better than synthetic socks and thus reduce the moisture in the shoe.

What is atopic winter foot?

In winter, the skin on the feet can not only become damp, but also cracked and dry. The risk of this is particularly high if she is in thick shoes and generally receives little oxygen. This then favors the formation of calluses.

Atopic winter foot is a  mild variant of neurodermatitis. Therefore, people with allergies or neurodermatitis  are often – but not exclusively –   affected by atopic winter feet. Typical symptoms are  dry skin  and bloody cracks on the soles and toes. As a rule, those affected, like people with sweaty feet, should wear breathable and waterproof shoes and cotton socks and ventilate their feet frequently.

In addition, the following measures are recommended:

• Carry out lukewarm foot baths with moisturizing bath additives. These make the skin supple and, if used regularly, prevent dry feet.
• Contact your dermatologist. In most cases, he will prescribe fatty ointments.

Feet in winter: the right care

In general, it is advisable to take foot baths with essential oils  regularly in winter  and to massage your feet at the same time. This promotes blood circulation and invigorates the feet. Regular  foot peelings are also worthwhile.  They remove scales and create a soft skin.

To remove calluses, it is advisable to soften the skin on the feet with a bath and then work on the rough areas with a pumice stone and callus files.

Beautiful and healthy feet with creams and lotions

However, the best care for your feet is still  rich creams and lotions  . To prevent damage to your feet in winter, you should apply a special cream to your feet in the morning and evening. Creams and lotions support natural sebum production and maintain the skin’s protective film. A cream with urea and  aloe vera is recommended for particularly cracked and dry feet .

Ingredients such as eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary, on the other hand, stimulate  blood circulation  in the feet. This is very beneficial and warming, especially for cold feet.

Special lotions  and deodorants with aluminum chloride are primarily suitable for sweaty feet  . However, you should not use deodorants with aluminum chloride in the long term, as the metal can have a damaging effect. As an alternative, you can also use powder, because powder also helps to absorb sweat and ensure dry feet.