Cold and frostbite feet are the result of wet shoes or very low air temperature. How to prevent excessive cooling of the feet and how to deal with their frostbite? Check how to heal frozen or frostbitten feet.
It's easy to frostbite your feet when the temperatures drop below zero. Not only are the feet closest to the ground, but also farthest from the heart. Staying in the cold for a long time without proper shoes can slow down blood circulation and lead to freezing.
Freezing feet: prevention
The cause of freezing feet are circulatory disorders and … tight shoes (narrow upper and shoe tip). Blood is not flowing to the squeezed feet in sufficient quantity. And malnourished tissues are less resistant to low temperature. Our ways:
- It's better to buy winter boots a number larger so that you can move your fingers freely in them, even when you put on warm socks. This slack is especially useful when you've been waiting a long time for the bus.
- Warm thermal insoles also work well. Before you go outside, you break a small plaque placed in the gel and insert a sockliner. As a result of a chemical reaction, the insole heats up and after a dozen or so seconds you feel pleasant warmth in your legs.
Freezing feet: treatment
- If your feet are chilled, treat them to a warming bath or massage when you come home. When the water cools down, rinse your feet with clean water and rub with a foot balm.
- After bathing, put on warm socks. The ones with an acupressure map on the sole are recommended (price around PLN 15, available in stores with hosiery products). By walking in socks, you stimulate the receptors and improve the blood supply to the body. After 15-20 minutes, the feet regain their proper temperature.
Frostbite feet: prevention
The most dangerous for feet are freezing and soaking, because they may cause frostbite . But you can protect yourself from that too. Our ways:
- Brush your shoes daily so that they don't absorb water. You can also use impregnations for leather and suede.
- If wet feet freeze, give them more attention. You start with a bath in cool water and gradually increase the temperature until it is very warm. Then you dry it gentlyYour feet with a towel (do not rub) and rub with vitamin A lotion. You put on woolen socks (or thick cotton socks) and hide under the blanket.
- Tea with ginger and cinnamon will complete the treatment. You put tea leaves into the teapot, sprinkle a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or crushed bark and a few slices of fresh ginger. Pour boiling water over the mixture and drink it in small sips after brewing it. This tea improves blood circulation and warms the whole body.
Foot frostbite: treatment
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After returning home, take off your shoes and warm your feet with warm (but not hot!) Water. Warm up the body from the inside by stimulating the blood circulation with tea with ginger and honey.
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When your feet get warm, wrap them with a soft cloth and cover the damaged areas with sterile gauze.
- A person with frostbitten feet should keep their legs above their heart and avoid walking so as not to burden them.
- After regaining sensation, you can rub ichthyol ointment and apply warm olive oil compresses or smear frostbitten places with arnica ointment (only on he althy skin). It is also recommended to use routine preparations orally, which improve the condition of blood vessels. Alternating cold and warm baths will help restore proper circulation.
A warming bath will help you with frostbitten or cold feet. You can also soak your feet in warm water with table s alt, which will improve blood circulation.
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