What socks should you wear if you get chilblains on the feet?

Chilblains are a condition characterized by red, itchy, and swollen skin caused by cold exposure. The best treatment is to use a good cream and use socks that keep the feet warm. When it comes to choosing the best socks for chilblains, it’s important to prioritize warmth, insulation, and not have socks that impair the circulation. There are several issues to consider, such as material, thickness, and insulation. Some of the popular sock options that may help include:

  1. Wool socks: Wool is a natural insulator that can provide warmth and regulate temperature effectively. Cashmere wool is much warming than merino wool, especially for socks for the cold feet.
  2. Thermal socks: Thermal socks are designed to provide extra warmth in cold conditions. Look for socks with a high TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) rating to ensure optimal insulation.
  3. Moisture-wicking socks: It’s crucial to keep your feet dry to prevent chilblains. Look for socks with moisture-wicking properties that can draw sweat away from your skin and help regulate moisture levels.
  4. Compression socks: Compression socks can improve circulation, which is important for preventing and managing chilblains. They can help promote blood flow and reduce swelling. Look for socks with graduated compression for the best results. Compression socks should not be used if you have poor circulation as they will further restrict that.
  5. Layering socks: Layering socks can provide added insulation and help regulate temperature. Consider wearing a thin moisture-wicking sock as a base layer to keep your feet dry, followed by a thicker wool or thermal sock for warmth.
  6. Fleece-lined socks: Fleece-lined socks have a soft lining that provides extra insulation and comfort. They can help trap warmth and keep your feet cozy in cold weather.

Remember, it is probably important to keep your entire body warm and protected when dealing with chilblains. Apart from wearing appropriate socks, make sure you dress in layers, wear insulated footwear, and avoid prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. If you’re experiencing persistent or severe symptoms, it’s best to consult a podiatrist for further advice and treatment.

Treating Plantar Plate Tears

Plantar plate tears or dysfunction are a common cause of metatarsalgia in the ball of the foot. It typically causes pain under the ball of the foot, especially under the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint that can also cause that weird sensation like a scrunched up sock sensation when the sock is not. When standing it is common to the 2nd toe slightly elevated or even not touching the ground.

A reasonable new device from Spain, the FixToe is starting to be used more commonly to treat this problem, especially if that 2nd toe is off the ground:

You can purchase the FixToe device here:
FixToe (USA); Fix Toe (Canada); Fix Toe (Mexico)

Are the Circulation Boosters any good?

The circulation boosters are products which you come across extensively offered in TV advertisements as well as infomercials and print media with assertions that they can increase and enhance the circulation. You also see a lot of celebrity endorsements for this kind of device. The assertions that get made are usually made with care since there is not any proof that they can really do help the circulation. Zero research has revealed that these gadgets result in any significant or advantageous impact on the blood circulation for the legs and feet. The theory behind the circulation booster is that they make use of electric muscle stimulation to relax and contract the muscles, therefore improving the circulation of blood to the legs and feet. This can improve the blood flow from the feet upwards to the heart. They are doing this for the duration of the limited time that you will be while using the booster, however the impact will carry on no longer than the period that your feet are on the product.

When you genuinely wish to improve your circulation then go out and go for a power walk. That will do substantially more for improving your blood circulation when compared with purchasing one of these devices. Raising the heartbeat for amounts of time, gently loads the vascular supply and triggers improvement for the blood supply. Additionally, there are an abundance of many other advantages from a mild exercise program than simply increasing the blood supply, thus everyone ought to be carrying out it in any case. If you have not exercised for some time then it may pay to check in with your medical professional first.

That being said, the electrical stimulation may a great help for a few people with some kinds of nerve related pain within their feet. Which means that there aren’t any shortages of customer feedback that these boosters help because they could help a number of these issues. These are definitely not helping because they increase the blood flow. These are helping a lot of the symptoms as a result of electrical and vibratory activation with the muscles. It is actually hard to select those that will or will not really benefit from this sort of relief. Regardless of the duration these particular circulation boosters have been available on the marketplace there’s a simple distinct and clear absence of clinical and medical research providing evidence for their use.

Another way of thinking about it, exactly why are all of the vascular surgeons not even advocating the circulation boosters for their patients? These are the experts which take care of blood circulation and vascular problems in the lower limb and you will hardly ever see any vascular experts proposing these types of products to boost the circulation within the lower limb. Afterall, if these boosters do work, don’t you think that they would all be endorsing that their patients and people with blood flow issues get help from these circulation boosters. There’s a reason for why they are not doing this. Also, there’s a good reason why so many are now being sold on pre-owned websites like eBay. That is for the reason that the circulation boosters do not necessarily improve the blood circulation and do not benefit individuals that purchase them that so many them are selling their circulation boosters pre-owned.