4 Winter Foot Infections and How to Spot Them

Winter foot issues aren’t only about ankle sprains, slips, and falls from shoveling. They can also be about the moisture and heat we trap against our skin as we attempt to keep ourselves warm… and how that can lead to a sneaky foot infection. Here is what you need to look out for as the cold weather persists, according to your trusted friends at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group.

Athlete’s Foot

You might associate Athlete’s Foot with locker rooms and summer heat, but it is incredibly common in February. When you wear heavy boots all day, your feet inevitably sweat. If that moisture has nowhere to go, it sits against your skin, which softens the protective outer layer and allows fungus to move in.

You’ll know you’re dealing with this if you notice persistent itching, redness, or scaling, particularly between your toes. If your skin starts to look soggy or white and starts to peel, the fungus has taken hold.

Pitted Keratolysis

If you’ve noticed that your feet have a particularly strong, sulfur-like odor when you take off your boots, you might be dealing with more than just sweat. Pitted keratolysis is a bacterial infection that thrives in the high-pressure, high-moisture areas of your soles.

This infection looks like tiny pits or small craters on the bottom of your heels or the balls of your feet. It happens when bacteria feast on the thickened skin of your calluses in the damp environment of your winter footwear.

Keeping your feet bone-dry and using moisture-wicking socks is the most practical way to keep this infection at bay.

Fungal Nails

Those same fungi that cause Athlete’s Foot can also find a permanent home under your toenails. In the winter, your toes are often cramped into tight boots, which can cause minor micro-trauma to the nail bed. This tiny bit of damage is all the fungus needs to get underneath the nail.

And once it’s in, it’s hard to get out (trust us). You’ll notice your nails turning yellow, getting thicker, or becoming brittle and crumbly. Because we often keep our feet hidden in socks all winter, many people don’t notice the change until spring.

Winter Ingrowns and Secondary Infections

Tight winter footwear can often push your skin against the edge of your nail, which often leads to an ingrown toenail. This can lead to paronychia, which is a painful, red, and swollen infection around the nail.

If your toe feels throbbing or hot to the touch, it’s a sign that the ingrown toenail is heading toward infection (or already there).

Book an appointment if you’re concerned about a possible toenail or foot infection!

If you’re worried about your foot pain, come see the expert team at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group. With more than 30 locations, from Newark, NJ, to Cape May, NJ, we value convenience and excellent service for our patients. To schedule an appointment, first find a podiatrist in your area.