Red Toes – Understanding the Health Implications

Swollen red toes combined with itchiness, pain and discomfort can be the symptoms of some health problems. Most often people who complain of red and purple patches on the toes indicate that this condition is noticeable in winter. It can be painful and nerve-wracking to deal with this problem as it affects people with normal health and leaves them wondering about the cause and the solution. Very often it is mistaken for a case of athlete’s foot or a fungal problem and then it is discovered that anti-fungal sprays aggravate the problem. This is because there are other explanations for this condition.

The most likely explanation for this condition is called ‘Chilblain.’ This refers to a blood circulation problem that the human body faces when dealing with dramatic changes in temperature. If a person has been exposed to severe cold and then the body heats up, the toes and feet region still seem to be struggling with balancing the temperature stimuli and this leads to some malfunctioning of the circulatory system. Painkillers are used to relieve the pain and some people find it effective to cover the torso in multiple layers to increase the body heat while leave the feet uncovered. This apparently helps balance the body’s blood circulation.

Some others who suffer from the red toes problem find that while the temperature does have something to do with it, using rough textured wool socks and hard shoes aggravates the problem. So, using smooth material socks and choosing properly cushioned shoes seem to go a long way in reducing the swelling and the discoloration of the toes. Being seated for long stretches of time or keeping the feet in an unmoving position can also amplify the difficulty. Those who are seated through the day or are called to do some task in a set position without movement should set aside time to exercise the feet a little. It also seems to help to elevate the feet at the end of the day as it changes the circulations patterns. While the problem does not stem from hygiene, it is also helpful to make sure that you wash your feet everyday and clean it well and to make sure that socks and shoes are cleaned well between uses.

One other explanation for the burning, itching, red toes is called ‘erythromelalgia.’ This refers to an occasional blood vessel blockage and is classified as a neurovascular problem. The triggers are found to be anything from stress, insomnia and exertion to heat, pressure and inadequate support. Erythromelalgia can be a problem in and of itself or it can be a symptom of other neurological disorders. The treatment has to be a case of addressing the symptoms independently if it is a case of primary erythromelalgia; the underlying problem has to be treated if it is secondary erythromelalgia.

Aspirin is found to be effective in dealing with the pain and swelling. There are a few topical creams that are effective although generally lotions and creams seem to increase the sense of irritation and itchiness. Many find the dipping the feel in a cold water bath provides relief although this may not be an advisable long term treatment.

Those struggling with red toes should visit a doctor and make a catalog of the symptoms. The overall picture will help the doctor evaluate the implications of the symptoms in terms of the patient’s comprehensive health and well-being. The problem is sometimes hereditary and sometimes acquired. There has not been sufficient research to understand all the details of the problem and this is one of the reasons people with the problem suffer for a long time without a proper diagnosis. While that sounds dire, the good news is that it is a manageable issue and not usually an indication of a fatal health problem.