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With winter in full on deep-freeze mode with no signs of letting up, it’s time to dig deep and make the best of winter. While getting through the winter unscathed requires a good diet, regular exercise, socializing regularly and doing whatever you do to keep a balanced mind (yoga, meditation, therapy), here at Feet First Clinic, we can advise you mainly on matters of the feet.
In our opinion, staying busy in the winter while still giving yourself time to rest and recharge is extremely important. But if your day involves going to work, heading to the gym, going out for dinner before heading home – in addition to other winter adventures – your feet are going to be experiencing all sorts of climate contrasts that can create problems.
Additionally, the contrast between hot, cold, wet and dry can put you at a higher risk for swelling and foot and toenail fungus. Feet First Clinic offers expert nail fungus treatment in Toronto, but as we often say, prevention is always better than treatment!
Without further ado, here are our top tips for keeping your feet happy through the frigid months.
Rub with foot cream to warm
If your feet are cold, you can kill two birds with one stone by rubbing foot on in a circular pattern to generate warmth. A cream is best applied after a hot shower or bath to better help your skin absorb the lotion, and this will obviously go a long way towards addressing your cold feet!
Boots with a deep toe box
When you buy winter boots, make sure you leave a little room in the front. This will leave an extra real estate for nice thick socks on those freezing days and allow your feet to breathe. Having your toes scrunched into tight boots is no fun! A Toronto foot clinic near you should have some suitable winter boots on hand that are a good fit for you.
Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese art of acupuncture can relieve stress and muscle tension by working with trigger points. Some needles go right into the feet or ankles, and while this may seem frightening, typically the needs don’t cause any pain.
Tea tree oil/ Clean toenails
Using products with tea tree oil help reduce the likelihood of foot fungus, as tea tree oil has antibacterial properties. Clipping your toenails and cleaning underneath them is a great habit for the winter. If residual moisture is trapped on your feet/ under your toes when you swaddle your feet in socks and warm boots, you may develop fungus.
Get out of wet boots/ socks quickly
On a similar note, make sure to get out of those wet socks and boots as quickly as possible and dry those cold feet (preferably by a fire or woodstove). In addition to the icky feeling of having wet cold feet, this can lead to fungus as well. Generally keeping your feet is always desirable before putting on socks, so dry carefully after you shower.
Whether you need foot corn removal services, custom orthotics or new winter boots, Feet First Clinic can help. Call us today!
