The UK’s cold spell has been lingering around for a while, with temperatures rarely hitting double figures. You might be eager to slip into your spring wardrobe soon, but until temperatures improve, it’s thick coats and warm shoes-weather.
However, while you are doing what you can to stay warm, spare a thought for how your feet are feeling, tucked away in tight, enclosed shoes, which often lack support or breathability. These shoes could lead to an array of uncomfortable foot lesions.
In fact, millions of Brits suffer from common foot lesions, including corns, calluses and verrucas. Studies have found that 48% of people suffer from corns, meaning lesions are a problem that affects nearly half the UK population.
David Barton, podiatrist and co-founder of ZeroSole, said: “In the colder months, we get wrapped up to protect ourselves against the elements and this includes our choice of footwear. But this also means our feet spend hours each day tucked away in tight, enclosed footwear, which often lack support or breathability and could lead to an array of uncomfortable foot lesions.
“Big thick winter boots keep your feet warm and toasty, but they can be tight, placing extra pressure on feet, especially if you spend much of your day standing up or walking around. Trainers, although made to be comfortable and supportive, might not be too breathable and feet may swell, potentially leading to extra pressure on feet. The support in trainers can also wear out in time, leaving you prone to soreness and, again, excess pressure.
“And if your shoes don’t fit properly, they can create a lot of pressure and friction on certain areas of your foot, particularly on the toes. This can cause the skin to thicken, which can lead to corns and other foot lesions. These lesions can be painful and make general movement uncomfortable. And anything that gets in the way of moving comfortably needs to be sorted.”
Looking after your feet in cold weather
David offers his advice on looking after your feet during winter months:
Change your footwear regularly: It’s easy to wear the same shoes all day but when you can, switch things up as your feet will be subjected to rubbing and excess friction, without you even realising, as they sit in your tight winter shoes. Give them a break, and when you can, slip off your shoes and let your feet breathe.
Wear your shoes inside first : Splashed out on a new pair of shoes? Make sure you wear them indoors before heading outside. When you buy new shoes, wear them around the house for a day or two so that you break them in. Wearing new shoes out and about for hours at a time can lead to pain, blisters and cuts.
Relieve pressure with a customisable insole : David said: “Try ZeroSole Reliever, which can help ease pain caused by pressure on corns, calluses and other foot lesions, allowing you to move without pain. Its patented, unique hexagon ‘cell’ technology offloads the pressure on the plantar, the sole of the foot, helping to not only prevent some foot lesions but also help lesions to heal. It’s the removal of ZeroSole’s individual hexagon ‘cells’ that makes it unique, as it creates a cavity at the point of the lesion, therefore reducing the pressure placed on them.”
Five minutes for your feet: You might regularly devote time to caring for your hands, but your feet? They may have taken a back seat this winter as they’re hidden away in your shoes. Stretch feet regularly, put them up to rest and/or let them relax in warm water before exfoliating off any dead skin with a pumice stone and then hydrating them with a thick moisturiser.