When the temperature drops and the moisture vanishes from the air, your skin feels it. But it’s easy to forget that your feet need special care, too. Winter weather makes painful foot problems like chilblains and cracks more common, and the good news is that some proactive care can help you stay more comfortable.
Lisa Burson, DPM, Joe Aoun, DPM, Michael Rose, DPM, and our team at Legacy Foot & Ankle treat foot pain and skin issues in Bay City, Caro, Lapeer, and Rochester Hills, Michigan. Whether you’re battling flaky skin, heel fissures, or cold-weather reactions like chilblains, winter foot care is essential — and here’s how to get started.
Chilblains (or pernio) are painful, itchy, or burning skin patches that develop on your feet or hands after exposure to cold, damp air that’s above freezing temperatures. The patches may turn red, purple or blue, they can swell or blister, and they often appear after periods of cold exposure followed by quickly warming up.
When your feet are cold, the surface blood vessels constrict. When they warm up quickly, the vessels may dilate too fast and leak fluid into surrounding tissue, triggering redness and inflammation. People with lower body mass, poor circulation, or frequent damp cold exposure are often more likely to develop chilblains.
Signs to watch for include toes or heels that feel burning or painfully itchy after being cold, new-onset red or bluish patches on your feet, or skin that looks suddenly swollen in cool, damp conditions. If left unchecked, chilblains can recur seasonally or even become complicated by skin breakdown or infection.
The heels and soles of your feet bear the most stress, particularly when you walk and stand. Over time, the skin thickens as a result of the pressure — and this can become an issue when cold outdoor air combined with dry indoor heating strips moisture from your skin.
Those thickened patches of skin get dry, harden, and split into painful cracks or fissures. If you have conditions like diabetes or poor circulation, this dryness can escalate faster and lead to deeper cracks, bleeding or infection.
Foot pain, calluses, and cracked skin often go together in winter, so caring for your skin is part of protecting your overall foot health. Our team at Legacy Foot & Ankle offers comprehensive podiatric services, and here are the winter foot care tips we recommend.
Wear moisture-wicking socks (wool or synthetic blends), change out of damp shoes or boots, and avoid going barefoot on cold surfaces. To help avoid chilblains, gently warm cold feet instead of suddenly exposing them to intense heat. For example, put on warm socks after shoveling snow outdoors instead of climbing straight into a hot bath.
Cold feet can also mean reduced circulation. Proper shoes that fit well — not too tight and not too loose — help maintain circulation and reduce friction on your skin. At Legacy Foot & Ankle, we also offer custom orthotics to support your foot alignment, reduce pressure points, and help prevent heel cracks or pain caused by winter conditions.
Preventing dry, cracked skin is often easier than treating it after it develops. Look for foot cream with ingredients like urea or shea butter, and get in the habit of applying it after washing your feet. Wearing socks after moisturizing can help seal in moisture.
Avoid long, hot showers, which strip skin oils further. If you already have cracked heels, gently exfoliate and then apply moisturizer. If you have diabetes, talk to our team about the best way to moisturize your feet without keeping them too damp.
Cold weather can reduce foot motion and circulation. Gentle foot stretches, toe wiggles, and walking indoors can encourage healthy blood flow and reduce your risk for both chilblains and dryness.
If you already have foot pain or structural issues, scheduling a podiatry visit can identify problems early and keep you mobile through winter.
If you develop patches of red or purple skin that persist or hurt, deep or bleeding cracks on your heels, or foot pain that worsens — especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation — come in for a foot exam. We’re here to evaluate skin issues and foot pain, and we work with you to find treatment that protects your feet year-round.
Don’t suffer through foot pain, discomfort, or persistent skin damage, this winter. Book an appointment at Legacy Foot & Ankle to get personalized care, so you can move more comfortably today and every day.
