What is the reason why feet turn black after soaking in hot water?

I believe that many people have this habit. In order to be able to sit in front of the TV and watch TV, and also to save time, they often soak their feet while watching TV, and each time they soak their feet for a long time. Sometimes the water is hot, and I’m too lazy to get some cold water and just put my feet in. At this point, do you think that soaking your feet in this way is good for your health? Wrong, wrong, absolutely wrong. Why is it wrong? Let's take a look at the answer below. You will suddenly understand.

Many patients soak their feet in hot water because of cold feet, but their skin quickly turns black after soaking, "just like wearing black socks." In fact, this is a manifestation of skin necrosis of the foot, and the consequence is likely to be amputation. Under normal circumstances, the blood supply to the lower limbs is normal, and washing feet with hot water will play a health-care role because it increases the metabolic rate of foot tissue. However, as the metabolic rate increases, local tissue oxygen consumption will also increase. If the lower limbs are in an ischemic state at this time, the degree of ischemia will be aggravated, and the tissues will not receive enough oxygen, eventually leading to foot tissue necrosis, which means the foot will turn black.

There are many causes of lower limb ischemia. For the elderly, the most common one is diabetic vascular disease. As the incidence of diabetes continues to increase, diabetic vascular diseases (such as diabetic foot) are becoming more and more common. In addition, arteriosclerosis obliterans is also very common. Arteriosclerosis occlusion will cause the lower limbs to be in a state of ischemia. There is also thromboangiitis obliterans, which can also cause lower limb ischemia. However, the incidence of this disease has shown a clear downward trend in recent years.

If your doctor tells you that you already have lower limb ischemia, then washing your feet with hot water is not suitable for you, and it can even be dangerous. At this time, protecting the ischemic limbs from damage is the most important thing, and you should pay attention to the water temperature when washing your feet. Generally, the degree of ischemia varies from mild to severe, and the more severe the ischemia, the lower the temperature that can be tolerated. The temperature of human feet is generally between 34 and 35 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the principle for people with lower limb ischemia is that the temperature of foot washing water cannot exceed the temperature of the foot skin, that is, the water temperature should not exceed 34 degrees Celsius.

The water temperature of 34 degrees Celsius does not feel hot to our skin. Therefore, you should never rashly wash your feet in hot water just for the sake of momentary pleasure. A simple hot foot massage could result in the loss of a limb, and that risk is not worth taking.

Do you think that the way you soak your feet is wrong? Now that we know that this method of foot soaking is harmful to the body, we must change this habit. The water temperature for foot soaking must be appropriate. Don’t endanger your health just to avoid being lazy. Friends who have cold feet in winter can wear some warm shoes and sit in front of the TV to watch TV.