Skin Health Foot Care

Booting Up: Don't Forgo Foot Care During Winter

As people store their sandals and other airy summer shoes for the winter, they are probably not thinking about how their feet will adjust to boots. In fact, people in the colder parts of the country may not be considering their feet much at all since they will no longer be on public view. But the truth is that feet often need more care in winter, not less.

"Feet tend to sweat more when they’re enclosed in heavy socks and shoes, so they smell more and there are more fungal infections," says Dr. Arnold Ravick, a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association and a podiatrist in private practice in Washington, DC. "Feet also dry out more in the winter."

Foot Fungus
Fungi, which are organisms that grow on dead or dying tissues, can appear on the skin of the feet as athlete’s foot or on the toenails. People tend to pick up foot fungus by walking barefoot in public areas like gym locker rooms, but it can also thrive inside a wet sock or a rubber boot. In fact, a fungus may live inside a winter shoe over the summer, just waiting to re-infect a foot or toenail.

Unfortunately, people don’t always immediately realize that they have developed a fungal infection. "While people think of athlete’s foot as the cracking and blistering between toes, it can also appear as dry, flaky skin on the back of the heels and little bubbles or bumps on the arch area or on the sides of the foot," Ravick says.

Nail fungal infections usually appear as a yellow or brownish discoloration of the toenail and can become thick and disfigured. They usually occur when a skin infection of the feet spreads to the nails, or if the nail is damaged or cracked. Cutting the toenails straight across and avoiding pointy shoes that crush the toes may help prevent ingrown toenails and minimize nail damage that can lead to infections.

Fungal infections can be treated with a range of medications, including creams such as Lotrimin, a nail lacquer such as Penlac or oral antifungals such as Lamisil or Sporanox. Since nail fungal infections can be particularly resistant, one may ultimately need a podiatrist remove the affected nail.

People with fungal infections are at high risk for re-infection, Ravick says, especially if they don’t treat their shoes. "When people have fungal infections, microscopic skin and nail pieces get into your socks and shoes," he says. "You’re figuring people wash their feet and socks, but they don’t wash their shoes. I have my patients spray all of their shoes once a week with an anti-fungal spray."

Dryness Dangers
The colder months also leave people more vulnerable to dry and even cracking feet. The lack of moisture in the air and heavy socks and shoes may prohibit dead skin from shedding, leading to flaky feet.

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