How to Get Rid of Cracked and Callused Feet

Make your feet feel young again.

You might think that getting older means you're stuck with cracking, callused skin, especially on your feet, but you need not succumb to unsightly, dry heels. You can incorporate a few steps into your grooming routine to return your heels to a softer, more youthful appearance and feel.

Things You'll Need

• Pumice stone
• Callus remover
• Shielding lotion

Instructions

1. Soak your feet in a bucket of warm, soapy water for at least 10 minutes to soften the rough areas. Another way to do this is to relax in a tub of warm, soapy water.

2. Use a callus remover to scrape away the hard, dry areas of your heels. Scrape all of the rough edges, being sure to get the heel, the balls of your feet and the edges of your big toes.

3. Use a pumice stone. As you attack one spot, count the strokes. Do between 20 and 30 stokes per spot, then move to the next spot. This way you're sure to cover all the necessary areas.

4. Apply a shielding lotion to the rough areas of your feet after you've dried off. Shielding lotions, unlike mere moisture lotions, actually shield your skin, both from moisture escaping and the elements. A shielding lotion acts like a thin barrier that effectively keeps your skin moist naturally and lasts a long time.

5. Apply another layer of a shielding lotion to your heels before going to bed. This is important because nighttime is the perfect time for the lotion to shield, protect and treat your feet.

6. Repeat these steps over the next few days until your feet look youthful and smooth. Do a weekly maintenance to maintain the effect. At the very least, apply shielding lotion each night before bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Store your shielding lotion bottle beside your toothbrush, as it will help you remember to apply after brushing your teeth at night.

• Do not use a callus remover that involves a separate blade.

• Don't expect to remove all of the calluses on the first round.

• Other types of lotion will not work as effectively as shielding lotions.

References

• Daily Glow: How to Remove Calluses
• LIVESTRONG.com: How to Remove a Foot Callus