Thick socks and foot baths are powerless to solve your problem: your feet are perpetually cold! How can we explain and remedy this predominantly female phenomenon? Alpaca wool socks, exercises, cream, we give you all the tips.
“When you have cold feet, in addition to the outside temperature, poor blood circulation is most often the cause.”, Explains Brigitte Oudet, chiropodist. There is less blood flow to the extremities, hands and feet, and these areas are then cooler. “Sometimes the feeling of cold is so intense that it resembles a burn”, Adds the specialist. Some people are more likely than others to get cold feet. “People who work in the markets for example and who trample long hours in the cold or those who work in trades where they sit all day”, Adds the pedicure-podiatrist.
The latter reminds us that in some cases, having cold feet can be the sign of a real circulatory pathology: Raynaud’s disease. The blood vessels at the extremities constrict and block the flow of blood to these areas. Feet and hands are then not only cold, they will turn white with loss of sensitivity and then take on a bluish appearance before turning red. The phenomenon may be accompanied, in the last phase, by other symptoms such as tingling and pain. In the presence of these signs, it is better to consult a doctor in order to rule out an underlying health problem. Treatments may be necessary.
Cold feet: what are the causes?
We all get cold feet at one time or another in the winter, without this necessarily being a sign of a problem with the circulation of blood in the body. But different causes can be at the origin of this unpleasant sensation when it persists: Raynaud’s disease or syndrome, diabetes (due to possible lesions in the feet and toes), hyperhidrosis (sweat excessive), theatherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), hypothyroidism, smoking, excess caffeine, excessive sedentary lifestyle and therefore lack of exercise.
Cold feet: we move, we move, we move!
To activate blood circulation, there is nothing like doing a physical activity. No need to run a marathon, just getting up and walking for ten minutes while working all day seated is already helpful. While women tend to cross their legs when seated, this posture is far from ideal as it hinders blood circulation and can lead to various inconveniences.
You can also do some exercises when getting out of bed to restart the blood circulation, such as a little warm-up before starting the day.
For example, you can make small circles with your ankles (by raising the foot if you want to work the abdominals in addition!), Ten turns in one direction, ten turns in the other. Also take the time to relax your toes one by one. When standing up, and especially when the outside temperature is very low in winter, stand on your tiptoes and then slowly drop your entire soles onto the ground before leaning back on your heels. You can repeat the exercise ten times on each foot.
Good shoes and good socks
If these postural and sports advice are obviously useful to have less cold feet, it is also necessary to be well equipped to face the outside temperatures. “Socks and shoes that are too tight should be avoided as they obstruct circulation”, Recommends the chiropodist. The latter advises to choose socks in wool or in a natural material: cotton (even if it means superimposing two pairs), silk etc.
But wool, alpaca or yak down, is really the ideal material to protect the feet and toes from the cold because it helps to retain heat and regulate the temperature. Regarding shoes, it is better to choose them with a very thick sole in order to protect the sole of the foot from the cold and humidity, if you have to stay outside for a long time, the ideal is to choose boots or boots with fur.
Massage: the number one ally to boost blood circulation
Among the other tips to relieve yourself when you have cold feet: massage. “To restart circulation and venous return, we vigorously massage what is called the plantar venous sole (the sole of the foot) with the palm of the hand from the bottom up. It is a massage that you can easily perform yourself and which allows blood to flow back up in the vessels on either side of the malleoli.”, Explains Brigitte Oudet. You can perform this massage with an oil or a cream.
And the foot bath in all of this? You can take a foot bath in which you add a handful of coarse salt or a few drops of essential oil of cypress or lavender. There are also effervescent pebbles, especially at Kneipp or Akiléïne, which can be added to the water. If you are short on time, the chiropodist recommends alternating a jet of hot water then a jet of cold water to activate circulation in the shower.
Why do women often have colder feet than men?
It is a fact, women have cold extremities (feet and hands) more often than men. According to Michael Tipton, professor of human and applied physiology at the University of Portsmouth, there is a scientific explanation for this difference. As the scientist explained a few years ago in the Daily Mail, “blood flow to the skin is stopped earlier and more intensely than in men, and subsequently women take longer to warm up”. In addition to this phenomenon of exaggerated vasoconstriction, women would also be more sensitive to cold for hormonal reasons due to estrogen. It is also for these different reasons that Raynaud’s disease concerns women more.
Which cream to choose to warm cold feet?
Several brands and laboratories have put on the market in recent years creams intended to warm cold feet. These products, if they do not solve the root problem, can be very effective. The number cream is the Cold Feet warming cream from Akileïne. Rich in grape seed oil and Ginkgo Biloba, it is aimed at people suffering from Raynaud’s disease but is also suitable for all those who regularly have cold feet. Other warming creams, the warming balm from Gehwol and the heating cream-gel from Biosprinter.
If you don’t have any cream on hand, a simple, very rich and nourishing balm will also do the trick. The action of massaging itself is very important for warming up.
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