Introduction

No one likes dry and cracked skin-especially on their feet! Dry skin on the feet can often form calluses and lead to discomfort, bleeding, deeper skin damage, scarring, and even further infections. Continue reading below to learn how you can heal and smooth away any cracked and dry skin on your feet today.

What Leads to Dry & Cracked Skin?

Dry skin can often occur during cold and winter months as low moisture in the air, naturally dries out our skin. Other habits such as the water temperature we take showers with and what products we use might also be a top reason why we are experiencing dry and broken skin.
Some of those factors that might be causing dry skin are:

• Not Drinking Enough Water
• Taking Hot Showers
• Chemical Irritants in Body Soap
• Wearing Sweaty Socks For Too Long

How To Treat Dry & Cracked Skin

Incorporating the healthy habits below are some of the easiest treatments to heal and smooth your dry skin on your feet.

• 
  • Drink Water Daily- 60% of our body is water! So drinking water is crucial for our bodies to stay performing at an optimal level. The common tip that we hear is to aim to drink 8 cups of water a day, however, recent studies have shown that each person’s weight, height, and activity level can determine a unique water intake goal.
    
    To find out exactly how much water you should drink daily, visit the online calculator tool at How to Calculate How Much Water You Should Drink A Day.
  
  
  • Take LukeWarm Showers-Avoid Hot Water!- Oftentimes we might think taking a hot shower feels more relaxing and comfortable but it can damage our skin’s natural hydration barrier. Causing more harm in the long term than good, hot water strips away your skin’s natural oils and moisture leaving it dry and susceptible to itch, flake, and dry skin. So the next time take a lukewarm water shower to avoid overstripping our skin!
  
  
  • Avoid Chemical Irritants in Body Soap & Lotions- The type of products we put on our skin can also lead to reactions such as dry and irritated skin. When shopping around for new products or replacing old ones make sure to avoid products that have fragrances, synthetic colors, sulfates, and solvents that might carry chemicals that cause reactions and rashes. Some key ingredients to keep an eye out to maintain hydrated skin will be Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid as these both help retain moisture and help keep skin supple. To view a list of some of the most recommended products for hydrated skin, visit 15 Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin, According to Skincare Experts and Dermatologists.
  
  
  • Wearing Clean Socks Every Time- After a long day of walking or a workout it’s important to switch out your skins as soon as you can to prevent sweat and moisture buildup. Think about it, the longer you wear socks with sweat the more prone they are to develop foot odor, dryness, and sometimes even athlete’s foot!

Dr. Kim’s Last Tip For Cracked Heel Skin & Calluses!

Healthy skin begins with having healthy habits, the sooner and more consistent you apply these healthy habits, the sooner you will be able to notice smoother skin. Many of our patients always ask for “What is the best way to treat dry skin and heal calluses?” One of my top recommendations is to try to add a Urea 40% Cream. Urea cream has an ingredient named lactic acid that can help break down any dry skin and smooth away rough skin. If you are currently experiencing dry skin on your feet, try the tips above! If you are still experiencing itchy and dry skin we encourage you to visit our office to see if a specialized treatment might work best.

To schedule, an appointment with any of our top specialists, click here. You may also call our office at (562) 426-2551.