How to Cure Dry Feet
With all the punishment meted out to our feet on a daily basis, it is no surprise that dry feet are a common problem. Not merely a problem from the vanity standpoint, extreme dryness (xerosis) can lead to cuts and infections when left untreated. While dry feet are an unwelcome condition, they are highly responsive to good care. An easy five-step plan will turn rough and cracked skin into soft and smooth skin, and end your dry feet woes once and for all.
Things You'll Need
- Large bowl
- Bath oil
- Bath salts
- Moisturizing liquid soap
- Towel
- Pumice stone
- Foot file
- Foot cream
- Therapeutic socks
- Padded shoes
Instructions
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1
Fill a large bowl or a bathtub with warm, soapy water. Add 1 tbsp. of bath oil and some bath salts to the water. Soak the feet 10 to 15 minutes. Soaking the feet before starting a treatment will not only get them clean, but will also soften the rough areas that need to be exfoliated. Pat feet dry with a towel.
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2
Use a pumice stone or a foot file to soften the thick skin on the heels and the soles of feet. If necessary, use a foot scrub on the other areas of feet, such as the top of the feet, to exfoliate them as well. Cell turnover slows with age, and dead skin that looks dull and dry builds up on areas that are not exfoliated.
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3
Moisturize feet with a special emollient lotion or cream made especially with foot concerns in mind. Specialty foot creams take a two-pronged approach to treating dry skin by both exfoliating and deeply moisturizing them at the same time. They combine an exfoliator such as glycolic or lactic acid with powerful hydrating ingredients such as urea, shea butter, and nut or seed oils.
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Wear cotton socks immediately after moisturizing the feet. Use regular cotton socks, or therapeutic socks specially designed to help moisturizers penetrate better into skin. Avoid synthetic socks because they don't let the skin breathe, and can contribute to further dryness.
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5
Prevent dryness by avoiding bathing for long durations, and using harsh soaps on the feet. Wear well-padded shoes to reduce the pressure on heels, and to keep them from getting cracked.
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Tips & Warnings
Use sunscreen on feet when wearing sandals.
Consult a doctor if skin is cut open and bleeding.
