How is trench foot treated

Updated June 2, Nonfreezing cold-induced injuries. J R Army Med Corps. Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Trench foot PDF. Trench foot or non-freezing cold injury as a painful vaso-neuropathy: Clinical and skin biopsy assessments. Front Neurol. Battlefield trauma-induced hypothermia: Transitioning the preferred method of casualty rewarming.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is Trench Foot? Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Trench foot pictures. Trench foot symptoms. How is trench foot prevented and treated? Treatment for trench foot is similar to the treatment for frostbite.

Take the following steps: Thoroughly clean and dry your feet. Put on clean, dry socks daily. When sleeping or resting, do not wear socks. Obtain medical assistance as soon as possible. For wet conditions, use polypropylene sock liners, which are specially designed to draw moisture away from your feet.

Socks made out of natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, tend to be better for preventing trench foot than artificial materials. Wear properly fitting footwear. National Institutes of Health Go to source In addition to your socks, make an effort to wear appropriate footwear if you anticipate being in damp or wet conditions.

Ideally, you should wear waterproof boots that fit above your ankle, but regardless of type, make sure they fit well — not too loose or too tight. Leather is more expensive, but repels moisture while being able to breathe ventilate. Depending on your situation, it may be best to change your footwear a few times daily and let the wet pair dry out overnight.

Rubber boots and gators are great for spending a few hours standing in the water for fly fishing, for example , but can help trigger trench foot after many hours, especially if the rubber doesn't have an insulating inner lining. Apply Vaseline or talcum powder to your feet. An old trick used back in the World War 1 era to prevent trench foot was to apply lots of whale oil to the feet in order to repel the moisture and help insulate the feet from the cold.

In modern times, it's more practical to rub some Vaseline over your feet instead, although the effect and helpful benefits remain the same. Talcum powder is especially recommended for people who tend to sweat more.

Excessive perspiration can also be controlled by applying drying agents, such as aluminium chloride. Foot infections are very serious. If you suspect you have a foot infection, visit your healthcare provider right away.

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. Keep your feet dry as much as possible. Don't walk around in the rain or wear wet socks for days on end. If you do develop trench foot, seek care immediately so you can dry out your feet and prevent or treat any infection. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Trench foot is most commonly seen in builders, security guards, disaster aid workers, hikers, campers, extreme-sports hobbyists, and outdoor music festival goers.

Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. People with poor diets and sleeping habits appear to be predisposed to developing trench foot. Because nicotine from cigarettes tobacco impairs blood flow, avoiding smoking while recovering from trench foot will help.

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Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: September 15, Categories: Foot Problems Blood Health.