Everything You Need To Know About Treating + Preventing Dry, Cracked Feet

If you neglect adequate foot care, you may be left with excessive dryness, painful cracks, dense calluses, and even peeling skin. If this sounds like something you've experienced before, you've come to the right place. Here, everything you need to know about the causes, prevention, and treatment of dry and cracked feet. 

There are lifestyle factors that can lead to dry feet, regardless of what's going on internally, too. Here, a breakdown of the more common reasons that are both internal and external.

Skin conditions, especially eczema (atopic dermatitis), can mean dry patches on your feet. Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes irritated, itchy rashes on the body and most commonly shows up on areas where the skin folds and moves, such as the hands, face, elbows, back of knees, and heals.

Hot water strips the skin of its natural lipids, and therefore can compromise the barrier. Without this critical moisture barrier, skin (including that on your feet) can dry out. In addition, you may want to limit the time spent showering too. "Being mindful of how much time you spend in a bath or shower is another simple solution, as overexposing your skin to water can strip the water from your skin, resulting in more dehydration," board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, M.D. told us about dehydrated skin.

Your climate may affect your skin health. Notably living in extremely dry and cold places can cause the skin to crack.

Soaps and harsh sulfates can lead to barrier disruption. This is especially true for those with naturally dry skin: "If you have sensitive skin, eczema, or a history of any skin disease, please be sure that any body wash you use is sulfate- and artificial-fragrance-free," says board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD. Look for hydrating formulas buffered with emollients and oils.

Walking barefoot isn't necessarily the problem, it's where you're doing it. If you're walking barefoot in places where the skin is being exposed to harsh surfaces it may lead to cracked, dry skin. Another major culprit: walking barefoot in places where the skin can be exposed to fungi and bacteria that can cause infection and irritation, such as gym locker rooms.

As we age, our skin naturally becomes drier thanks to declining levels of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and our natural oils. This is totally normal! While there are ways to help slow this process, it's ultimately unavoidable.

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes may cause changes in the skin on your feet due to poor blood flow to the area. Speak with your doctor for more information on how to best manage diabetes if this pertains to you.

Vitamin deficiencies can affect skin, nail, and hair health. If you have dry skin on your feet it may be a sign of low levels of vitamin C, E, B3, B12, iron and fatty acids1. However, the best way to find out if you are deficient in any nutrient is to consult with your health care practitioner.

If your skin and body are dehydrated all over, this can certainly show up on the feet.

On the flip side, if you're one to DIY or if you consistently run into cracked, dry skin on your feet, then creating an at-home routine is definitely worthwhile. Nail expert and co-founder of Brooklyn-based clean nail salon Lili and Cata Lilly Rojas shared some of her favorite at-home remedies with mbg: 

You can pick one of these tools up at your local drugstore for just a few bucks. The file will help exfoliate the driest patches on your feet, especially if you're prone to stubborn calluses. 

For the best results, use these tools after the shower, Rojas says. This way, the dead skin on your feet will be softer and thus, easier to remove. Of course, always follow up with a moisturizer (more on that in a second).

Opt for a barrier-supporting body moisturizer for the area. (Sure you can get a special foot or hand cream if you'd like a richer texture, but if you don't want to overpopulate your routine, a body lotion will do just fine.) We recommend finding a well-rounded formula with humectants (like aloe vera and glycerin), emollients (like oat and moringa seed oil), and occlusive ingredients (like shea butter and coconut oil) to adequately moisturize the skin and aid in water retention. Additionally, biome-supporting ingredients and antioxidants can further improve the skin's function.

Once you've treated your cracked and dry feet, you'll want to get into the habit of keeping them hydrated to prevent a repeat occurrence. A few reminders to keep your feet as soft as can be: 

However, even cosmetic-grade options are not so environmentally friendly, which is enough of a reason to avoid its use: "Mineral oil is petrochemical derived, meaning it's environmentally irresponsible to use mineral oil when there are vegetable and fruit oils, like coconut oil, that are more sustainable," says clean cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline about the ingredient. We recommend sticking to more environmentally friendly options, such as responsibly harvested coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter.

Foot care may not be something you often think about, but it should be, considering your feet help you get to where you want to go every single day. Especially if you're experiencing dry, cracked, or callused skin, it's time for some pedi TLC. Whether internal or external influences cause this dryness, there are plenty of things you can do to treat and prevent dry and cracked skin. A good place to start: this derm-approved DIY foot peel.