{"id":22960,"date":"2021-01-25T23:59:16","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T23:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=22960"},"modified":"2022-07-29T19:45:08","modified_gmt":"2022-07-29T19:45:08","slug":"how-to-heal-dry-cracked-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-heal-dry-cracked-feet\/","title":{"rendered":"This Is How to Heal Dry, Cracked Feet for Good"},"content":{"rendered":"Three doctors share how to heal dry, cracked feet for softer heels, soles, and toes. Plus: What causes dry feet to begin with?<\/em>\n\nI have a confession: My feet are really, really<\/em> dry. Over the years, I’ve tried dozens of treatments\u2014from peels and creams to foot files and even a fish pedicure<\/a> in Bali\u2014hoping to fix my cracked feet… and yet I’m still on the hunt for the ultimate solution.\n\nReady to get to *the bottom* of my problem and learn how to heal dry feet for good, I asked a dermatologist and two podiatrists for some desperately needed tips.\n

why are my feet so dry?<\/h2>\nTsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist based in Beverly Hills, says that there are three main causes of dry feet:\n
    \n \t
  1. weather\/environmental conditions<\/li>\n \t
  2. friction + poor footwear<\/li>\n \t
  3. insufficient skincare<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nLet’s investigate each in a bit more detail.\n

    Weather<\/h3>\nFirst, you may notice that your feet get especially dry in the winter and\/or summer.\n\n“Cool, dry winters<\/a> with moisture-sucking electric heaters, wool socks, boots, and synthetic tights wick moisture from the skin, leading to dryness,” Dr. Shainhouse explains.\n\nThen, come summertime, hot and dry weather can lead to skin dryness as well.\n\n\"Close-up\n

    Friction<\/h3>\nNext, since too much friction and pressure can exacerbate dry, scaly feet, your choice of footwear comes into play.\n\nIn particular, “Backless shoes and flip flops provide minimal foot support, which increases pressure on the heels and surrounding skin,” Dr. Shainhouse continues. “They also cause your heels to rub on the back edges of the shoe.”\n\nAs a result, she concludes, wearing open shoes and shoes without socks “can force your skin to thicken and toughen up as a means of protection.”\n\nFurther, Hillary Brenner, DPM<\/a>, a board-certified podiatric surgeon based in NYC, adds that a lifestyle that requires standing for long periods of time can also contribute to dry, cracked feet.\n

    Inadequate Skincare<\/h3>\nThen, the wrong products and a lack of proper care could also be what causes dry, cracked feet.\n\n“Not moisturizing dry feet to hydrate and soften the skin\u2014as well as helping to strengthen and protect the skin barrier<\/a>\u2014can lead to skin over-dryness, thickening, and cracks,” Dr. Shainhouse explains.\n\nPlus, when it comes to healing dry feet, sooner is always better. “Not dissolving callouses and thick patches before they become too thick and inelastic can lead to thickening and cracks [that are more difficult to repair],” she warns.\n

    Additional Causes of Dry Feet<\/h3>\nDr. Brenner adds that other causes of dry feet include:\n