Dry Feet? Essential Tips for Treating Dry Skin on Feet (2024)

Dry Feet? Essential Tips for Treating Dry Skin on Feet (1)

Dry, cracked feet can be a common problem. Read on to find out the causes of dry feet and how to prevent & soothe dry skin on the feet.

One of the key essentials to maintaining soft, beautiful, and healthy-looking feet is to give them a little care every day. Unfortunately, many of us forget to include our feet in our regular skin care routine.

Understanding the causes of dry, cracked feet – and avoiding them – is easier than treating the issue afterwards, so thinking of your feet as worthy of a little attention is a great start. If your feet are already dry and cracked, you might need to know how to treat and soothe them – here's how to take care of both prevention & care.

Why do we get dry feet? As the skin on the foot is naturally dry – the soles of the feet do not have their own oil glands – it can sometimes be tricky to keep your feet hydrated. In fact, dry skin on the feet is a common problem.

It usually occurs in areas where there’s lots of pressure or friction, such as between the toes, the ball of the foot, and on the heel. If left untreated, dry skin can become uncomfortable. This can be alleviated by giving the skin the essential moisture it needs.

How to Help Prevent and Treat Dry, Cracked Feet

  1. Dry Feet Prevention
    Moisturize Daily– Use lotions that contain glycerin and micro-droplets of Vaseline® Jelly, like Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Essential Healing Lotion. The glycerin will pull in moisture to the skin layers and the jelly seals this moisture in to help keep your feet hydrated throughout the day.

    Wear Socks – Wearing suitable socks can help prevent friction and skin irritation when wearing shoes, especially when you exercise. Socks made from cotton can be a good choice. It’s a soft, breathable fabric, meaning your feet are less likely to sweat and dry out from excess moisture loss.

    Choose the Right Footwear – Ideally, you should always wear flat, well-fitting shoes that support the feet. But, fashionable high heels and flip-flops are often a more desirable footwear choice, particularly in summer. If you want to wear this type of footwear, remember to moisturize regularly and protect the skin on your feet. We also recommend that you choose weather-appropriate footwear. Flip-flops and open shoes expose the feet to the elements, which can cause the skin to dry out. So it’s best to only wear these in the warmer months.

  2. How to Combat Dry Feet
    If you experience dryness on your feet, here’s what you can do to relieve and soothe them:

    Apply Vaseline® Jelly – To help protect your toes and reduce friction and rubbing as you walk, apply Vaseline® Jelly to the problem areas so that your toes don’t stick to each other, or rub together.

    Gently Remove Dry Skin – Exfoliate dry skin and calluses on the ball of the foot. Do not use harsh exfoliators too regularly as this can actually dry your skin out more. Instead, try gentle body or foot scrubs and use only as directed. As soon as you’re finished exfoliating, apply a moisturizer to replenish lost moisture and hydrate the skin.

    Use an Overnight Treatment – Vaseline® Jelly can be used as an effective overnight cosmetic treatment for dry, cracked feet and heels as it helps create a sealing barrier, locking in the essential moisture your feet need to repair themselves .

Expert Advice

The advice in this article does not constitute medical advice, it is solely available for information purposes.

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Dry Feet? Essential Tips for Treating Dry Skin on Feet (2024)

FAQs

Dry Feet? Essential Tips for Treating Dry Skin on Feet? ›

People can use pumice stones, exfoliators, and foot soaks to remove dry skin from their feet at home. Regularly applying moisturizer and removing dead skin will help keep the feet healthy and hydrated. Certain medical conditions, such as eczema, hypothyroidism, and diabetes, can cause very dry skin on the feet.

How to get rid of really dry skin on feet? ›

People can use pumice stones, exfoliators, and foot soaks to remove dry skin from their feet at home. Regularly applying moisturizer and removing dead skin will help keep the feet healthy and hydrated. Certain medical conditions, such as eczema, hypothyroidism, and diabetes, can cause very dry skin on the feet.

How do you treat severely dry feet? ›

Apply a heavier, oil-based cream or petroleum jelly (Vaseline, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, others), then slip on a pair of thin cotton socks at bedtime to help the moisturizer work. Don't ignore dry, cracked heels, as over time you may develop deeper fissures, which increases your risk of infection.

How do I get my feet to stop being dry? ›

Call us!
  1. Moisturize Daily. If the moisturizer only comes out when feet are severely dry and cracked, you're doing it wrong! ...
  2. Humidify Your Environment. ...
  3. Eat Right and Drink Your Fluids. ...
  4. Turn Down the Heat in the Shower. ...
  5. Avoid Harsh Soaps. ...
  6. Reduce the Pressure. ...
  7. Manage Underlying Conditions.

What deficiency causes dry skin on feet? ›

Cracked heels are a common condition that usually aren't a cause for concern. Vitamin C, vitamin B-3, and vitamin E deficiencies may contribute to dry, cracked heels. However, these vitamin deficiencies are rare in developed countries. Other conditions like athlete's foot or eczema may also lead to cracked heels.

How to remove thick dead skin from feet home remedy? ›

Relax your feet and let them soak in water for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, use a pumice stone to remove the dead skin. You may also make an Epsom salt scrub by mixing salt in olive oil or regular oil and making a paste. Use the scrub to exfoliate your feet and remove all the dead skin.

How to hydrate feet overnight? ›

Gently rub your feet and heels to remove any dead skin, then coat them with a heavy, oil-based cream or petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline). Put on a pair of thin cotton socks, which also helps protect your bedding, and the healing will happen as you sleep.

What is the best cream for very dry feet? ›

O'Keeffe's Healthy Feet foot cream is gentle enough for an everyday moisturiser, but strong enough for the relief of extremely dry, cracked feet.

How does vinegar get rid of dry feet? ›

Mixing white vinegar with curd creates a solution that removes dead skin while filling in the cracks. White vinegar can also be mixed to warm water and sheer or cocoa butter to create a mixture that can be rubbed onto the heels.

Why are my feet so dry even when I moisturize? ›

There are many causes of dry feet. Developing dry feet can be something obvious like your lifestyle, a poor diet, lots of walking and exercise, or just a bad foot care routine. Soaps, shower gels, heat and humidity can also lead to dry, thick, or cracked areas on the feet.

What is the main cause of dry feet? ›

Genetics. Ill-fitting shoes or sandals that don't support the heels. Deficiency of vitamins, minerals, or zinc. Hormonal conditions such as thyroid or estrogen imbalances.

Should you put socks on after lotion? ›

Wear Clean Socks

The key is to put them on right after applying your foot cream or lotion. This helps to hold in moisture while keeping dirt and dust out. Socks help your feet stay clean and avoid infection. Be sure to always wear clean, dry socks.

Why do I have so much dead skin on my feet? ›

Some of the most common causes include athlete's foot, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and hyperhidrosis. In most cases, using OTC medications can help treat the peeling on your feet. However, if the peeling doesn't improve, or you have other concerning symptoms, be sure to see your doctor.

What does dry feet say about your health? ›

Dry, flaking, itchy, or peeling skin may be a sign of a thyroid condition or a fungal infection. Dry, cracked or flaky skin around the heel or on the ball of the foot could signal a thyroid condition. Other symptoms associated with thyroid conditions are weight gain, numbness in the hands, and vision problems.

Is vaseline good for dry feet? ›

Dry Feet Prevention

Moisturize Daily– Use lotions that contain glycerin and micro-droplets of Vaseline® Jelly, like Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Essential Healing Lotion. The glycerin will pull in moisture to the skin layers and the jelly seals this moisture in to help keep your feet hydrated throughout the day.

What do cracked heels say about your health? ›

What does having cracked heels say about your health? In most cases, cracked heels are not indicative of any sort of underlying health disorder. However, they can be a sign of dehydration, skin conditions, fungal infection, hypothyroidism, and a rare condition known as Sjogren's syndrome.

What causes extremely dry feet? ›

There are many causes of dry skin. They range from simple matters of age, shoes that don't fit the foot properly, nutrient deficiency, or dry skin due to heat and low humidity, to problems such as athlete's foot, psoriasis, thyroid disease, diabetes, or various skin conditions.

Why are my feet full of dry skin? ›

Your feet support your entire body weight and are constantly subjected to pressure and friction. Also they can become hot inside their shoes – all of which leads to water loss and dryness. Indoor heating reduces humidity and this leads to dryness, which may also affect the pH balance of the skin.

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