Most of us are hard on our feet. We tend to expose them to the elements, stuff them into pointy, high heel shoes and run or walk miles on them. It is no surprise that dry skin on the feet is a common complaint. Dry skin on your feet is not only unsightly and embarrassing but can be painful, itchy, burning and uncomfortable.
There are several reasons for dry skin on your feet. The most common are caused by environmental factors such as dry, cool air or lack of humidity, harsh ingredients in soaps that diminish the fatty protective coating over the skin, increased pressure to the skin from certain activities, sports, exercises and walking or standing on hard surfaces without protective foot wear. You can commonly see people who walk barefoot a lot or practice yoga with dry cracked heels and skin on the bottom of their feet.
If routine care and moisturizing does not help, you may be suffering from a larger issue. Medical conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and athlete’s foot can also cause dry, cracked and irritated skin on your feet and toes. Diabetes and thyroid disease may cause your skin to become less supple and more susceptible to extreme dryness. If your skin becomes extremely dry and cracked it may start to bleed. This can lead to infections especially in diabetics and those with decreased circulation.
I have seen several patients who think their problem is dry skin or were misdiagnosed with xerosis (dry skin) and it was actually athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot can appear red, scaly and itchy. It can occur at the soles of the feet and or between the toes. You may even notice blistering in more severe cases. In this case, simply applying a moisturizer will not work. Fungus grows best in warm, moist environments, such as locker rooms and the floors of public showers. Certain types of foot warts can also be an issue in change rooms and yoga studios, since the viruses that cause them can be transferred from person to person through contact with an infected surface. If you think that you may have athlete’s foot, are diabetic or believe that you have another skin condition, immediately call your podiatrist for an appointment.
Here are 3 easy ways to take care of dry, cracked skin at home.
1. Use a pumice stone or coarse foot file. Shaving your own rough skin and calluses can be difficult. You may cut yourself and cause an infection. Your tools at home are likely not sterilzed using medical grade techniques. Leave the sharp removal to us professionals! At home you can use a pumice stone or a gentle filing device such as Amope. I recommend using this at least once a week and up to two or three times a week for more severe cases. The best time to use this is when your feet are clean and right after a bath or shower when your feet have been soaking and skin is softened.
2. Apply a foot moisturizer that breaks down stubborn callouses and dry skin. One of my favorite moisturizers that can be used on both feet and legs is called Funki Foot Repair and is from Primal Life Organics. It also contains calendula which is a natural antifungal and antibacterial. (Get an extra 10% off Primal Life Organics Funki Foot Repair™ by going through this website link and using code: DRSUZHEALS at checkout)
3. When walking around your home, yoga studio or other place you would normally walk barefoot, try wearing cushioned socks around your heels or for yoga try toesox. These will help prevent heels and feet from drying out, add grip for better foot posture and decrease pressure and friction to skin.
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