I spy with my eye something green—it’s the Inaugural Festival of Trees, open until January 3 at the Indiana History Center in Indianapolis. The exhibit features 25 trees all decked out in their own special themes, including “Santa’s Workshop” and “Home for the Holidays.” Just make sure you keep warm; you don’t want to be walking around with cold toes that feel like they’ve been to the North Pole and back!
Please note that these tips only apply to mild cases of cold feet and frostnip. If you feel like you may have frostbite, do not try to warm the affected tissue at home. Instead, please visit the emergency room as soon as possible.
For cases of cold toes, you can rewarm the area with a simple foot bath. After you dry your digits, make sure to slip on some warm socks. You can also wrap a heavy blanket around your feet. Wrapping them more tightly ensures that the blanket will trap your body heat, keeping the cold air out! You can also use an electric blanket or a hot water bottle to bring warmth back to the area. One more thing: next time you head out, put some hand or foot warmers in your shoes!
When you have frostnip, a mild stage of frostbite that requires simple treatment at home, your skin should not be warmed with a heating pad or by running the toes under water. That’s because your sensitivity is lessened, making you more likely to burn your skin. You can, however, take a shower, submerge in the sink, or use a warm washcloth on your limbs. If you feel any type of pain, tingling, or numbness and notice that your skin is white, hard, and waxy, you may have frostbite, which requires immediate medical attention.
If you have chronic cold toes, it could be due to poor circulation or conditions like Raynaud’s phenomenon. Please call Kevin J. Powers, DPM, to ensure the proper diagnosis. Our office in Bloomington, IN, can be reached at (812) 333-4422. We also service Ellettsville, Bedford, and Indianapolis!
