How to Cope With Dry Skin and Cracks on Your Feet

Do you have dry, cracked skin on your feet? If so, you are not alone. Dry, cracked feet are a common foot problem.

Dry skin, also known as xerosis, can be simply a cosmetic problem. Or, it may lead to symptoms such as itchiness, rash, or even pain and infection.

Sometimes dry skin occurs on multiple areas of the body as part of an underlying health issue. But other times, only the feet are affected, resulting in cracked skin or calluses on the heels or soles of the feet.

Ultimately, dryness and cracking occurs when there is a lack of moisture in the skin. However, you may need to do some detective work to determine the reasons.

This article explains the causes and treatment of dry feet. It also details ways to care for your dry feet at home.

Environmental Factors

Things your body comes into contact with may contribute to your feet's dryness. Environmental factors may include:

• Heat and humidity: The inside of your shoe can get very hot—sometimes well over 120 F. This heat and humidity can cause your skin to lose moisture and thicken.
• Skin cleansers: Certain soaps can strip protective oils from the skin. They can also leave irritating residues that contribute to dry skin.
• Cold weather: Dry skin often worsens in the winter months. That's because cooler outdoor air is less humid. In addition, indoor heating further dries out the indoor air.

Skin Conditions

Certain skin conditions can result in dry, thickened skin on the feet. These conditions include:

• Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)
• Psoriasis
• Skin rashes caused by an allergy or irritants (contact dermatitis)
• Leg vein problems (called venous stasis)

In children, atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a common cause of dry, scaly skin on the feet.

Medical Conditions

Certain health conditions and nutritional deficiencies can lead to feet that are dry and cracked. These include:

• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism
• Malnutrition
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Essential fatty acid deficiency

Conditions that cause poor absorption of nutrients from your diet, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease, may lead to vitamin and essential fatty acid deficiencies.

Aging

Due to changes in hormones and metabolism as you get older, your body replaces skin cells less often. These changes result in your skin's outermost layer growing thicker.

In addition, as you age, the protective fat pad on the sole gets thinner. As you lose this cushioning in the heel and ball of the foot, your skin becomes more stressed, leading to cracked, calloused skin.

Care and Prevention

Often, you can moisturize dry feet at home. To soothe and prevent dry, cracked skin on your feet, consider using these:

• Foot cream: Use a daily foot cream, preferably one that contains an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) or urea. AHA helps slough off dead skin cells and help the epidermis (the skin's outermost layer) retain moisture. Examples of AHAs include glycolic acid and lactic acid.
• Lanolin: For rough or cracked areas of skin, try applying lanolin, which acts as an effective moisture barrier. You can buy lanolin over the counter (OTC) at any pharmacy. It is usually labeled as a product for breastfeeding parents, although you can use it for any form of dry, chapped skin.
• Urea cream: Urea is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient and very hydrating.
• Hypoallergenic products: If you are prone to allergies or skin sensitivities, make sure to use products formulated for sensitive skin.
• File or pumice stone: For rough areas on the soles of the feet, use a foot file or pumice stone after bathing or soaking your feet. This routine is very effective at keeping callouses from building up on the soles. For dry skin on the tops of the feet and the legs, try a loofah sponge or exfoliating skin product.
  

Treatment

Calloused, cracked, dry feet may improve with creams or lotions. However, if they persist even with at-home treatment, you should have a podiatrist evaluate them.

In addition, podiatrists can safely remove corns and calluses. Keeping other foot conditions in check can help prevent future problems, such as pain and skin wounds.

Summary

Environmental factors, aging, and some health conditions can lead to dry feet. Calloused feet may respond to at-home treatments like creams, pumice stones, and switching to sensitive-skin products. Otherwise, a podiatrist can help with diagnosis and treatment.