When it comes to brutal winds and cold temperatures, most of us are making sure we stay warm with heavy jackets, gloves, scarves, and hats. But did you know one of the most important areas of our bodies that we need to keep warm is our lower extremity? Unfortunately, it’s commonly neglected when it comes to wintertime. This leaves room for plenty of dangerous conditions like frostbite.

All About Frostbite

When you expose your body to freezing temperatures for extended periods, you are likely to develop frostbite. Frostbite is an injury caused by frozen skin and underlying tissues. Early stages of frostbite are called frostnip and usually don’t require much medical attention. But as the skin gets more damaged, the need for immediate help and treatment increases.

How Can You Tell?

Below are some of the top symptoms of frostbite:

• Cold skin
• A prickly feeling
• Numbness
• Red, blue, white, or purple skin, depending on how severe your frostbite.
• Hard or waxy looking skin
• Joint or muscle stiffness
• Skin blistering after warming up.
• Pain, swelling, and inflammation.
• Discharge
• Fever

Avoiding Frostbite

The best way to keep your feet healthy is to prevent them from any disasters, like frostbite. Here are our top tips for staying safe and warm this winter:

• Dress in multiple layers
• Stay out of dangerously cold temperatures.
• Change out of any cold, wet clothes as soon as possible.
• Try glove or sock liners.
• Look into foot and hand warmers.
• Wear thick socks and winter boots whenever you leave the house
• Watch out for signs of frostbite.
• Keep your blood circulating by staying active.
• Hydrate

You can count on the Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC foot doctors, to care for your feet using a full range of conservative and surgical therapies. Our expert team, including board-certified podiatrists Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele, serves patients of all ages with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies, including on-site digital x-ray, and ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. We offer house calls Monday through Thursday.