USEFUL TIPS
Why Are My Feet Hot at Night & How To Cool Them Down
5 min read
5 min read
Keeping cool at night isn't always easy; whether it's your entire body or just your feet, it can be impossible to get a good night's rest if you wake up to a puddle of sweat every few hours. There is tons of awesome info on how to keep yourself cool all hours of the night, but today we're keeping things strictly foot-talk.
Hot feet can be caused by something as simple as non-breathable bedding, but in some cases, your comforter isn't the culprit. That hot or burning sensation you're feeling from your feet can actually have many causes.
Join us as we review how to get a super cool good night's rest:
Why Do My Feet Get Hot?
Hot, clammy feet and a peaceful night's rest don't always go hand and hand, which is why the first step to solving your foot dilemma is to find the cause.
Here are all the most common causes of hot feet at night.
Nerve-Damage
Nerve pain is one of the common causes of burning feet. Nerve-damaged feet often have a burning or tingling sensation that can make your feet feel like they're on fire. This type of foot pain is caused by inhibited nerve function.
If you do have nerve damage in your feet, you might not even know. Some potential causes of nerve damage to your feet and legs include:
Vitamin deficiency: A significant deficiency in vitamin B-12 can result in a lack of myelin production. Myelin is a coating that protects the nerves. If the nerves are left unprotected, this can damage the peripheral nerves (the nerves in the hands and feet).
Alcohol misuse: If there is an interference with the communication between nerve cells, it can suppress the excitatory nerve pathway activity. Alcohol interacts with the same brain receptors that can affect these nerves. If alcohol is frequently misused or abused, it can result in nerve damage.
Chemotherapy: Certain chemotherapy may damage the nerves that send signals between the central nervous system and your extremities.
Hormonal Changes
If you were under the impression that your hormonal changes would halt once you passed your awkward teenage years, we're sorry to say you may have been misinformed. The truth is your body is constantly changing, and no matter your gender, your hormones can be affected by many things like your environment, stress levels, and even diet.
Narrowing down what's causing a sudden shift in your hormones can be tricky. Common hormonal changes known to cause hot feet are pregnancy, thyroid issues, and menopause. Medical conditions like hypothyroidism, as well as medications like some antidepressants, can also cause hormonal imbalances.
Athletes Foot
You don't have to be an NFL superstar to develop athlete's foot (not cool, we know). Athlete's foot is a fungal infection; the side effects consist of burning, tingling, and itchiness of the feet. It's not uncommon for the symptoms of this foot care issue to flare up at night or once you finally kick off your shoes and socks.
You can generally resolve athlete’s foot by paying more attention to your foot health and hygiene. However, if the itching or burning feeling persists, consider getting medical advice from your primary care doctor or podiatrist.
Your Bedding Is Too Thick
Thick synthetic fabric isn't necessarily known for its breathability, and anything that constricts airflow to your feet can raise your body temperature at night.
Yes, sometimes your hot feet are due to more serious causes like health issues, but that's not to say it can be something as simple as your bedding.
Perhaps it's time to give your mattress a wardrobe revamp with some new and improved bedding. Having breathable sheets that will keep you cool all night is important, but that’s only half the battle.
The other essential is going to be your comforter. If you're tucked in with a Miracle Made Temperature Regulating Comforter every night, your hot feet will hopefully be a thing of the past. Bedding made from Supima cotton (like ours at Miracle Made) has a longer fiber than traditional cotton, making it more breathable. It keeps you warm, but not too warm — Goldilocks would definitely prefer Supima cotton.
Cooling Your Feet Down
Now that you have a good idea of what could be causing your hot feet, let's talk about how we can cool them down and keep 'em that way.
Vitamins and Supplements
Sometimes hot feet are caused by vitamin deficiencies, so here are a few supplements that may help soothe that burning sensation.
Turmeric: Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can help minimize nerve discomfort.
Evening primrose oil: This herb is commonly used to help combat the symptoms and side effects of nerve damage like tingling and burning.
Iron and B-12: Deficiencies and iron and B-12 are two very common causes of nerve damage. If you think your hot feet are due to nerve damage on your extremities, you may want to consider adding these two supplements to your daily dose of vitamins after talking to your doctor.
Topical Creams and Ointments
While topical creams and ointments are a great way to treat hot feet, you must know what is causing this hot burning sensation to know which cream to use.
If athlete's foot is the culprit, then any antifungal creams or foot ointments will work just fine. If you think nerve damage is to blame, then your doc might recommend a cream like Capsaicin, which is known to help with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Improve Blood Circulation
That burning, tingling, and numbing sensation in your toes and feet may just be from poor circulation. Having good blood flow throughout your entire body is crucial for ideal comfort. Improving your body's blood circulation may be the fix you were dreaming of.
Here are a few of our tips that should get your blood vessels dilated:
- Prioritize wearing comfortable shoes
- Avoid high heels
- Wear gel orthotics
- Soak your feet in Epsom salt and cold water
- Elevate your feet at night
- Wear compression socks
- Massage your feet before bed and rinse them in cool water
Sleep With Your Feet Out of the Covers
If you haven't gotten around to purchasing more breathable bedding, then you may want to consider sleeping with your feet out of the covers. We understand that this might feel completely unnatural, but it may be the best way to cool your feet down.
Use a Fan at night
Placing a fan at the end of your bed at night is a great way to bring some much-needed airflow down to your lower half.
Wear Cold Socks to Bed
This hack may seem a bit crazy, but putting a pair of socks in the fridge or freezer is a great way to keep your feet nice and cold for the majority of the night. Of course, after a few hours, your body heat will warm up the cold fabric. But, it should keep your feet cool long enough for you to fall asleep.
What if the Issue Persists?
If you've tried every tip and trick in the book but still have no luck cooling your feet, it may be time to contact a healthcare professional. Yes, often hot feet are not always a serious health issue, but not getting enough sleep can be.
A consistent amount of inadequate sleep can be detrimental to mental and physical health. It's always better safe than sorry — your feet (and sleep schedule) will thank you later.
Sources:
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Good Sleep for Good Health | NIH News in Health
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Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia Information | Mount Sinai - New York
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Burning feet Causes | Mayo Clinic
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Hot feet: Causes and treatments | Medical News Today
