Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Take care of your feet
• Method 2 of 3: Make lifestyle changes
• Method 3 of 3: Understand the importance of foot care
• Tips
• Warnings

Dry, rough skin on the feet can be more than just a cosmetic problem. Your feet are complex musculoskeletal devices consisting of bones, joints, muscles, tendons and nerves that support your entire body as you walk. Taking good care of your feet can reduce pain in your knees, hips and back, and keep your feet looking good when wearing sandals. There are a number of different remedies you can use to soothe the dry and rough skin on your feet. If you don't get results after a few weeks, you may need to see a doctor who can examine you and make a diagnosis. In general, rough and dry skin that is not caused by another health condition is often successfully treated at home.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Take care of your feet

1. Soak your feet. It is not good for your skin to be immersed in a chlorinated pool or a hot bath for a long time, but it is useful to soak your feet in water 15 minutes before moisturizing or exfoliating. When your feet have healed and are no longer dry and rough, you no longer need to soak them to treat them.
   • Soaking your skin in a hot bath for a long time will lose the natural oils in the skin and the heat will reduce the amount of moisture in the outermost layer of the skin. This can cause dry skin, so don't soak your skin for too long.
   • Don't soak your feet more than three times a week, or you'll just make your skin drier instead of tackling the problem.
   • You can make a variety of mixes to soak your feet, including:
     • A mixture of baking soda, water and a drizzle of vinegar in a bucket of warm water.
     • Mild soap (you can use scented soap if you prefer) and a bucket of warm water.
     • 100 grams of Epsom salt in a bowl with warm water.
     • 60 ml of white vinegar in a bucket of warm water.
     • 60 ml lemon juice to dissolve dead and dry skin.
2. Exfoliate. Manual exfoliation means removing the top dead skin layer to treat the layers below. You can use a pumice stone, stiff brush, or loofah sponge after softening the top layers of skin by soaking your feet.
   • You can buy a pumice stone at the drugstore or the drugstore section of a large retailer.
   • You don't need a particular kind of stiff brush. Even a brush from the shelf with cleaning products is suitable, as long as you do not use it for other purposes.
   • It's a good idea to soak your feet in warm water before exfoliating or take a warm shower for 10 to 15 minutes beforehand.
3. Hydrate your skin. When you've removed the top layer of dead skin cells, it's time to moisturize your skin. Immediately after showering or soaking, moisturize your skin with a product that does not contain alcohol to lock in the moisture on the skin and keep the skin itself moist. Some moisturisers trap moisture on the skin, while others penetrate the skin into the dermis.
   • Thick creams such as Eucerin and Cetaphil trap moisture in the skin. Other products with lanolin (wool grease) work in the same way. Olive oil has the same effect on the skin and you probably already have it in your kitchen cupboard. Use just a little and rub and massage into the skin.
   • Other moisturizers will absorb into the skin and treat the dermis. Coconut oil is an oil with many good properties and naturally has an antibacterial and anti-fungal effect. Using this oil on your feet will moisturize the skin, heal cracked areas and prevent infections.
   • Alcohol-based products may feel less greasy, but the alcohol will also dry out the skin more quickly.
   • After moisturizing your feet, put on cotton socks so that you are less likely to slip or fall on the floor. This way, the moisturizer stays on your skin.
4. See your doctor. If you've used these drugs multiple times and they don't work, you may need to see your doctor. You can expect to be tested for hypothyroidism if you also have dry skin on your arms and legs.
   • If the remedies you have used at home don't get rid of dry skin, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter remedy with lactic acid or a combination of lactic acid and urea. These ingredients help the skin to retain more moisture.
   • More serious conditions may need to be treated with prescription ointments or creams to minimize the risk of dryness cracking the skin.

Method 2 of 3: Make lifestyle changes

1. Stay hydrated. Your skin uses the moisture in your body to stay hydrated and nourished. When you become dehydrated, the water in your body is used for the highest priority functions, such as your circulation. Then the skin comes next. By drinking at least 8 glasses of water with a capacity of 250 ml every day, the skin will remain hydrated all over your body and will not dry out quickly.
   • If possible, try to avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these substances can make your dry feet more itchy.
2. Pay attention to the side effects of the medications you are taking. Diuretics used to reduce the amount of water in the body and topical or oral retinoids used to treat acne can cause temporary dry skin.
   • If you have dry skin as a side effect of any medication you are taking for more than two weeks, ask your doctor if you can switch medications.
3. Wear cotton socks. Cotton socks let your feet breathe and dry when you sweat. If sweat remains on your skin, your skin will lose moisture faster and your feet will dry faster.
   • Put on clean socks daily, as well as after you sweat (for example, by exercising or taking a long walk). Always wash your socks well after wearing them.
   • Sleep with socks on every night after hydrating your feet.
4. Wear shoes that let your feet breathe. Don't wear the same pair of shoes every day. Your feet must be able to breathe to retain moisture, so wear supportive sandals or other shoes with air holes during the summer. During the winter, don't wear your heavy winter boots indoors when at work or school, and instead bring another, lighter pair of breathable shoes with you.
5. Don't use harsh soaps that dry out your skin. Aggressive soaps don't clean your skin any better than mild soaps that are gentle on the skin. However, they dry your skin well and ensure that you quickly get dry skin. Aggressive soaps remove the fats from your skin, leaving your skin feeling tight and dry.
   • Dermatologists often recommend soaps that are high in glycerin, such as pure glycerine bars and natural bars of soap. You can buy these soaps at most drugstores and health food stores.
6. Use warm water when taking a shower or bath. Instead of taking a hot shower or bath, it is best to use warm water and take a shower or bath for no more than 10 minutes. Hot water and a low humidity level draws water from the outer skin layer, leaving your skin feeling tight and dry.
   • A good rule of thumb is to use water at a temperature that is comfortable to the touch while taking a shower or bath but will not make your skin red.

Method 3 of 3: Understand the importance of foot care

1. Know what functions your skin has. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it is tough and stretches. Its function is to protect your body against bacteria, viruses and fungi. When your skin is cracked or torn, infectious diseases can enter your bloodstream. Your skin also plays a role in the heat balance of your body and ensures that your body has the optimal temperature to function properly.
   • The skin is sensitive, so you can feel different things that are interpreted by the brain. There are no areas on your body that are normally numb or numb, including your feet.
   • New skin cells are produced every day. Your entire body loses between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells per minute every day. The dead skin cells are located on the top 18 to 23 skin layers.
   • The outermost skin layer made up of dead skin cells is called the epidermis. This layer of skin is very thin on some parts of the body, such as on the eyelids, and thicker in some places, such as on the soles of your feet. When the old skin cells in the epidermis fall off, there are new skin cells underneath.
2. Diagnose dry and rough feet. Dry skin is also called xeroderma. Dry skin is lighter in color than the rest of the skin on your feet, and often feels rough as well. You may experience the following:
   • Itching
   • Cracked skin
   • Redness
   • Chaps (deep cracks) in the heel of the foot
   • Flaking skin
   • Both the heel and the ball of the foot will roughen more quickly because these parts are the most in contact with the ground. This puts you at greater risk of cracked and flaking skin.
3. Understand the causes of dry feet. There are a number of different reasons why the skin on the soles of your feet can become dry and rough, including:
   • Age: due to aging and disturbances in the hormone balance due to aging (caused by the menopause) your skin can become less elastic and lose lipids. This puts you at greater risk of dry skin.
   • Climate and weather conditions: If you live in an area with a dry climate or if the weather is very dry, this can reduce the amount of moisture in the skin, causing dry skin. Air conditioning extracts moisture from the air, causing your skin to lose some of its natural moisture. Winter weather is also harmful to the skin.
   • Skin disorders: Atopic eczema and psoriasis are two skin conditions that can cause dry and rough patches on the areas where these conditions affect the skin.
   • Chlorine: Swimming or soaking in a pool with a lot of chlorine can cause your skin to lose some of its natural moisture.
   • Medical conditions: Diabetics often suffer from dry skin on the feet, which puts them at greater risk of infections. Poor circulation can cause skin cells to get less moisture and increase the risk of complications. If you have diabetes and dry feet, see a doctor or podiatrist to have your feet cared for.
4. Avoid dry and rough feet. Prevention is always better than cure. It's easier to keep taking good care of your feet than to reverse the effects of dry and rough skin. Here are some tips for keeping your feet healthy and soft:
   • As you get older you should take good care of your feet with the remedies mentioned above.
   • If you often swim in pool water that contains chlorine, take extra precautions to care for the skin on your feet. Chlorine will draw moisture from your skin and cause dry skin.
   • Shower and bathe for as long as it takes to get clean, but no longer. Take a shower instead of a bath to reduce the chance that the natural moisture will be extracted from your skin. Always moisturize your skin after showering or bathing with a non-alcoholic moisturizer.
   • If you have atopic eczema or psoriasis, take extra care of the skin on your feet so that your skin is less likely to crack or flake.
   • If you have diabetes, check your feet every night to see if your skin is cracked. You can reduce the risk of complications from your diabetes if you take good care of your feet and prevent dry skin.

Tips

• If you're using coconut oil, you may only need to moisturize your skin two to three times a week to keep the skin on your feet and heels soft and supple.
• When your feet have healed, keep moisturizing your skin after taking a shower or bath to avoid getting dry feet again.
• Know that the health of your feet is related to your overall health. Your feet are a good indication of your overall health.

Warnings

• If you have diabetes, it is very important that you take care of your feet. Due to diabetes, the circulation in the feet deteriorates. This means that just a small crack or cut in the skin can give you an infection that will not heal easily.