Winter is a truly magnificent time, filled with cosy jumpers, twinkling lights, and the joy of the festive season. But as temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, it’s important to pay a little extra attention to your feet. Whether you’re popping out for a stroll or enjoying family gatherings, healthy feet will help you make the most of this special time of the year.

Keeping Feet Healthy in Winter

Cold, damp weather can be tough on our feet. To keep yours in tip-top shape, start by washing and thoroughly drying them each day, especially between the toes. Choose warm socks made from natural fibres like wool or cotton and avoid socks that are too tight. Well-fitting shoes with a good grip will prevent slips and keep your feet comfortable. Moisturise your feet regularly to fight dryness, but steer clear of putting cream between your toes, as this can encourage fungal infections. Finally, don’t forget to trim your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown nails.

Diabetic Foot Care

If you have diabetes, winter can pose extra challenges for your feet. Reduced circulation makes it harder for your body to keep your toes warm and any cuts and blisters may take longer to heal. Inspect your feet daily for any redness, swelling, or sores. Don’t ignore any changes, even if they seem minor – if in doubt, contact your podiatrist straight away. Choose socks that are seamless and not too tight, and always keep your feet warm, but never use a hot water bottle or electric blanket as you may not feel the heat and could risk burns. Stay active to help your circulation and wear shoes indoors to protect your feet from knocks and bumps.

Keeping Feet Warm

Nobody likes cold toes! Try layering socks if you are heading outdoors, but make sure your shoes still fit comfortably. Choose waterproof footwear for wet days and always change out of damp socks and shoes as soon as possible. At home, keep floors free from clutter to avoid stubbing your toes, and consider wearing slippers with a non-slip sole for added warmth and safety.

Preventing Falls in Icy and Wet Conditions

Slippery pavements and icy paths can turn a simple walk into a risky business. To stay steady, opt for shoes or boots with good support and non-slip soles. Take your time when walking outside and look out for black ice in shady spots. If using walking aids, make sure they have suitable tips for winter weather. Indoors, keep hallways and stairs well-lit and clutter free and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you feel unsure – your safety comes first!

Christmas Wishes from All of Us at Reid Podiatry

As the festive season approaches, we want to thank all our patients for trusting us with your foot care throughout the year. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas filled with warmth, laughter and healthy, happy feet. Should you have any concerns this winter, remember, we’re here to help – because every step counts.

Best wishes from

Marie-Noelle, Aimee, Laura, Lucy, Desiree, Rob, Bev and Deb – the Reid Podiatry Team

I want to use this opportunity to talk about excessive sweating or Hyperhidrosis as the condition is often overlooked and not talked about, as it can be embarrassing for the sufferer. I hope this helps give you some insight into Hyperhidrosis, tips on how to manage the condition, what treatments are available and where to go for help and further information.

Let us kick off with how it can feel to have Hyperhidrosis…
Do your feet feel soggy and sloppy all the time? Does sweat ruin your shoes? Are you afraid to wear sandals or flip-flops for fear that you’ll slip right out of them? Do you leave damp footprints when you walk barefoot? Are your feet always cold because they are always wet?
These are just some of the experiences of people with extremely sweaty feet, or plantar hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis, also called excessive sweating, is a medical condition that affects different body areas, including the feet. Fortunately, there are treatments available and I will go through them here for you:

1. Simple measures such as
   a. wearing bamboo socks and insoles, which help wick moisture away from the skin.
   b. wearing copper or silver-impregnated insoles helps to fight fungal infections, which are common with excessive foot sweating.
   c. wearing leather shoes or shoes made from natural fibres.
   d. Seeing a podiatrist regularly, who will help with some of the conditions associated with excessive sweating, such as ingrowing toenails and fungal infections.
2. Strong antiperspirants can be prescribed by the GP or available from the Chemist or online at sweathelp.co.uk. The antiperspirant is applied to the underside of the feet each night following a shower/bath and careful drying. When there is an improvement, this can be applied every few days.
3. Tap-water Iontophorosis is a safe and effective method to reduce sweating. A low-voltage electric current is passed through water to the skin of the feet. It is painless and takes 30 minutes each session. Around seven sessions over a 4-week period are required to get the sweating under control, and then top-up treatments every few weeks. It may be possible for you to be referred to a dermatology unit for an initial course but many patients purchase their own device for use at home.
4. Botox may be available from some practitioners but care must be taken that the person administering the injections has been trained to administer botox specifically for sweating. You should know, however, that plantar injections of Botox (injections on the foot) can be painful (although there are pain-relieving techniques that experienced medical providers use) and the results on the feet “wear off” in 3 to 4 months, meaning you’ll need to return for re-treatment at that point.
5. ETS Surgery (Lumbar sympathectomy) is a surgical procedure that destroys part of the sympathetic nerve trunk in the thoracic region. It is major surgery and is only considered as a last resort, as the side effects can be severe and it is not reversible. A decision for this option must not be taken lightly and is not to be recommended.
   Useful websites to help with hyperhidrosis are listed below:
   • www.sweathelp.co.uk to browse and buy specialist products such as Forte Max Antiperspirant Spray, Bamboo and Alum Insoles,
   • www.hyperhidrosisuk.org for tips and useful information
   • www.reidpodiatry.com or by phone on 01889 801772 – Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating can cause other foot problems such as fungal skin infections, fungal nail infections, ingrowing toenails, blistering, and more. An HCPC registered podiatrist can help with these problems, and appointments can be made online at www.reidpodiatry.com

Thank you for reading this blog, and I do hope it has been helpful.

Can you feel a chill in the air? Just as the temperatures drop, this is the time that we may be prone to developing chilblains.

I hope this information helps you understand what childblains are, why we get chilblains, what can we do to prevent them and what to do to help if they do develop.

This is general information and should not replace the advice of a podiatrist should you have a problem and require professional advice.

What are Chilblains?

Chilblains affect the toes but can also affect the fingers, ears and nose. They appear on the skin as small, itchy swellings which occur as a reaction to cold temperatures.

They can be uncomfortable but rarely cause any permanent damage. They will normally heal within a couple of weeks if further exposure to the cold is avoided.

What causes Chilblains?

The majoroty of sufferers develop Chilblains in the winter due to low temperatures which cause a restriction of a small branch of artery leading to the capillaries which supply blood to the skin. When the skin is warmed quickly, this can lead to blistering, redness and itchy lesions.

What will happen if left untreated?

Chilblains usually don’t require any treatment as the symptoms often get better on their own after a week or two.

Occassionally chilblains can reoccur or become severe with a small chance that an infection can develop from the blistered or scratched skin which could lead to permanent scarring. In very severe cases, painful ulcers may develop on the skin.

What can I do to prevent Chilblains?

If you suffer from chilblains, you can reduce your risk of developing them by limiting exposure to the cold. If your feet do get cold, it is important to warm them up gradually as heating them too quickly is one of the main causes of chilblains. Avoid extremes of temperature.

Taking care of your feet by regularly moisturising them to stop the skin splitting is a great prevention tool, as is warming your shoes on the radiator before you put them on and keeping your feet dry.

You can insert heating reflecting insoles into your shoes and wear thermal socks which all help to retain heat in your feet.

What are the treatment options?

If the skin is itchy, a soothing lotion such as witch hazel or calamine lotion can help. Most importantly, keep the toes warm and dry as much as possible. Occassionally, the skin can break and if it does, apply a dressing to keep infection at bay. A combination of a healthy diet and exercise can also help reduce the occurance of chilblains.

If you have an infection, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Your Podiatrist will be able to assess and provide treatment and antibiotics if required. At Reid Podiatry, we also stock Carnation Silver Socks, ideal for retaining heat in feet prone to childblains.

KEEP YOUR FEET HEALTHY – KEEP YOUR FEET HAPPY

Summer is almost here, although you may be forgiven if you think it is March or April due to the breezy, rainy days we have had lately.

Anticipating beautiful sunny days over the next few months, I thought it helpful to discuss some tips on how to care for your feet during the summer and how to prevent common problems during this time.

Many people ditch the socks and boots for sandals, flip flops and light weight shoes during the summer and it is at this time they become aware of their feet and possible problems that might have gone under the radar.

Toenails are on show and many women like to paint their toenails, who can resist some of the beautiful colours and nail effects available? Be aware though, that nail varnish, if left on too long may lead to fungal infections which destroy the nail plate.  Those cream discolouration marks on your nail when you remove nail varnish is a sign of superficial changes. TOP TIP: Remove your nail varnish regularly and leave a couple of days before reapplying. Condition your nail with a product such as EMTRIX Nail Renewal in between nail varnish applications.

Verrucas are a virus which may be caught at the swimming pool or pool side. Most verrucas go on their own but treatment such as Bazuka is available from the chemist. If they become large, painful or start spreading, you may wish to treat with something a bit more effective. At Reid Podiatry we have the cutting-edge treatment Swift Microwave Verruca treatment available. It is 80% effective compared to other treatments such as acids or freezing. The beauty of this treatment is that there are no needles involved, no need for dressings or to keep your feet dry. For more information, take a look at our webpage.

Many of us relish lying in the sun on our holidays. TOP TIP: Please, please, please don’t forget to apply suntan cream to your feet as well. The tops of your feet often get forgotten while the rest of the body is covered in suntan cream. Noone enjoys sunburnt feet and with melanoma on the increase, it is important to protect your feet as you would any other part of your body.

Thanks for reading my blog, I hope it has been helpful and I wish you all a very happy summer.

Marie-Noelle Reid