Cold Feet?

A bit fresh out isn’t it? A bit on the chilly side. 

Bet we've all said something along these lines recently with the cold snap we’ve had. 

Ive been reading a lot online about how the cold in the UK feels colder than the cold in, for example, the Scandinavian countries. And it appears to be true! Apparently because we have a wet/damp or ‘moist’ cold you feel colder than in a dry cold. 

If you are anything like me I hate having cold feet, unfortunately I very much suffer from cold feet (even in the summer) so Im always trying to find ways to keep them warmer.

One of the main reasons we suffer from cold feet in this country is because our footwear doesnt really change much from season to season (other than flips flop season). So our light spring/summer trainers are still what we are going out and about in during the winter months. They do not magically become more insulating depending on the weather. Should we be shocked that we are getting cold feet and chilblains?

So what do we do about this? There are actually a few simple things we can do to try and keep our feet warmer in the cold weather. 

1. Wear appropriate shoes out. If it's wet, wear waterproof shoes. If it's icy wear shoes with a good grip on the sole. Snowy? Wear warm waterproof boots ideally. 
2. Wear thicker socks, or 2 thinner socks together. If your feet get wet, change your socks as soon as possible. Bamboo socks are quite good because they have both wicking properties and some thermal properties. Thermal socks can be easily purchased these days and can be very helpful. 
3. Keep your shoes somewhere warm before putting them on. If you keep your lovely winter shoes in the external porch where they get cold they are immediately going to zap all the heat out of your feet when you put them on! 
4. Make sure you are keeping the foot, ankle and lower leg warm. Those trainer socks and pop socks are not going to cut it in the winter! Blood cools as it travels over your ankle as the arteries are much closer to the surface of the skin. Keep it as warm as possible as it enters your foot and your feet will stay warmer. 
5. If your feet do get cold try NOT to warm them up too quickly by putting them on a radiator, in front of a fire, on a hot water bottle. Rapid heating can actually cause chilblains. Best to warm them up more gradually. 
6. If you are suffering with cold feet and chilblains there are some warming foot creams and chilblain creams available to help.  
7. Keep active! The more you keep moving and active the warmer your feet will be.  

If you are concerned about your circulation or potential chilblains please see a Podiatrist who can assess your feet.