The skin on your feet is one of only two places that have no oil glands, the other being the palms of your hands.
Because of this, the feet are naturally dry, but if left uncared for, they can become problematic. If you don’t care for your feet, they eventually become dry and cracked. Not only is this unappealing, but if left untreated, this skin can become susceptible to infection or other problems.
Let’s look at a few things that can cause your feet to dry out, and see how you can keep your feet soft and healthy.
Causes
While feet are naturally dry, they can become extremely dry for a number of reasons. Here are a few things that can cause excessively dry skin.
- Hot showers or baths
- Cold weather
- Lack of humidity
- Medical conditions
- Lack of moisturizer
Keep Your Feet Moisturized
Keeping your feet moisturized, and avoiding excessively drying products can help you to keep your keep your feet soft and smooth.
File Your Feet – You can use a foot file or pumice stone to get the hard skin off. Or, try this tip: soak your feet in lemon juice for approximately ten minutes, then use a loofah or soft foot brush to scrub your feet.
Moisturize – Moisturizing your skin is important. Consider buying some specific lotions or creams that help to manage dry skin. You should moisturize your feet after every shower to help keep the moisture sealed in.
Avoid Scratching – Scratching the affected area can cause the dry skin to spread. Instead of scratching, moisturize, or apply a cold pack to your feet until the itching subsides. Scratching can only cause the skin to become flaky.
Change Your Soap – Avoid or cut back on bubble baths and fragrant soaps and lotions, especially if you notice that they are irritating or drying out your skin.
While you can usually treat dry feet at home, sometimes it’s important to see a podiatrist. Elderly people or those with diabetes who develop severe cracks should seek medical attention. This is important to prevent ulcers from forming. On the other hand, if you’re in good health, but have severe cracks that won’t heal, it’s also important to contact a podiatrist.
If you have excessively dry feet, contact Houston podiatrist Dr. Lamarra of Shepherd Square Podiatry today.
Tags: Foot Care, Podiatrist, Prevention