Condition Center: Trench Foot

Having wet feet seems pretty harmless. But if your feet remain wet and cold for long periods of time, it puts you at risk of developing a condition called trench foot. Also known as immersion foot, trench foot is usually painful and common among those who work in wet or moist environments or spend a lot of time outdoors — winter-sports-lovers beware.

The condition is typically characterized by numbness, redness, and swelling. But it can be effectively treated and prevented in the future. Here, podiatrists break down everything you need to know, including what trench foot is, trench foot symptoms, causes of trench foot, and trench foot treatment.

Trench foot is considered a nonfreezing foot injury, which means the temperature that causes the condition is usually cold but not freezing, the Cleveland Clinic explains.

Trench foot can cause the skin and tissue in your feet to break down, increasing your risk for an infection, according to Melissa Lockwood, DPM, a podiatrist at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates in Bloomington, IL.

"People in the military during deployments or in their training are most likely to develop trench foot," says Sondema Tarr, DPM, a foot and ankle specialist at Direct Podiatry Arizona. However, people who work or spend a lot of time in wet or moist environments, people who spend a significant amount of time outside, and those who go to music festivals are also at an increased risk, Dr. Tarr explains. "Less frequent are people on vacation who don't take appropriate shoe gear with them and may end up in wet shoes for a longer period of time than strictly necessary," Dr. Lockwood says.

These are the biggest symptoms of trench foot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

When the foot becomes warm, it may be red, dry, and painful, per the CDC. Blisters can also form, and the skin and tissue can die and fall off.

It's usually a combination of being exposed to low temperatures and damp conditions, says Bruce Pinker, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon with New York's Progressive Foot Care. "The extended time exposed to cold temperatures and dampness can lead to the breakdown of skin and soft tissue, which can increase the risk of infection," he says.

The actual amount of time it takes to develop trench foot varies, but Dr. Pinker says between six to 24 hours of exposure to cold and dampness can lead to the condition.

Trench foot is considered an urgent issue that needs quick treatment, Dr. Lockwood says. "First, the primary infection could be from a fungus or bacteria," she explains, noting that those need to be treated with antibiotics or an antifungal medication. "But more importantly, the secondary issues of chronic athlete's foot or even gangrene if not treated quickly cannot be emphasized enough," Dr. Lockwood says. (Gangrene is a serious infection that can require amputation if it's not treated quickly enough, she points out.)

Trench foot is treatable if it's caught early. That involves gently rewarming your foot, usually by putting it in warm — but not hot — water, Dr. Pinker says. (If the foot rewarms too quickly, it can become painful and swollen.)

If you have any obvious wounds on your skin, those will need to be treated, too, he warns. You also may need medications like an antibiotic to treat or prevent infection, as well as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or amitriptyline for pain.

Doctors say there are a few things you can do to lower the risk of developing trench foot in the future:

Again, if you suspect you may have trench foot, it's important to see your doctor or a foot specialist quickly. "Trench foot can lead to damage of the soft tissues of your foot and even nerve damage," Dr. Tarr says.