3 Podiatrist-Approved Tips for Healthy Winter Feet

In our chilly Indiana climate, you have to work for healthy winter feet. Non-stop home heating dries your skin, increasing your risk for cracked heels. Then, there are those warm winter boots: when you pair them with thick socks, your feet could sweat and up your odds of getting athlete’s foot!  

Thankfully, the long winter doesn’t have to destroy your feet. With a little TLC—and Westfield, IN podiatrist Dr. David Sullivan’s top foot care tips—you can enjoy healthy feet all year long. Let’s dive in!

Preventing Cracked Heels in the Winter

Dry, cracking heels are the opposite of healthy winter feet. But staying indoors in dry, heated environments saps your skin of moisture. And that means your already-delicate foot skin is more likely to crack, bleed and get infected. But this problem is avoidable—you just need to moisturize daily. Now, because your foot skin takes all-day beatings while you walk, regular moisturizers may not offer enough protection. Instead, look for a balm that contains lactic acid and/or urea. These products soften dry skin and help lock in that moisture. Plus, they may heal small, existing cracks! Just remember, if your heels are deeply cracked or bleeding, home care won’t be enough: you’ll need to come in for an immediate appointment to prevent infection!

Fighting off Fungal Infections

Remember, warm socks and boots keep out the cold, but they can also trigger foot sweat. And sweaty feet are more vulnerable to foot fungus. But, if you take care to keep your feet dry, you can easily avoid this itchy problem.

To do this, swap out wet socks at your earliest opportunity. Once you remove those socks, dry your feet everywhere, from your soles to between your toes. Then, put on clean, fresh socks. (Never dried-out dirty ones.)

Your sock material is also important: sweat-wicking material is best for fighting athlete’s foot. Paired with breathable winter boots (avoid rubber ones if possible), these socks can help keep your healthy winter feet free from fungus!

Restoring Your Nail Health

In the Indiana summer, it’s fun to show off a pretty pedicure. But come wintertime, few will see your toes or feet which means it’s a great time to take a vacation from nail polish. Because, pretty as it may be, nail polishes dry out your toenails. And dry nails are as vulnerable to foot fungus as are wet, sweaty feet! How could that be? When your nails are dry and brittle, they’re more likely to crack, which means bacteria trapped beneath your nail polish could make its way to your skin. Now that could result in a hard-to-heal infection. So why waste time and money on polish? Instead, snag this final healthy winter feet hack, and you’ll have the healthiest nails in Indiana once the sunshine returns in spring!