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. It’s important to note that there is a wide range of causes for dry feet. Sometimes lifestyle habits are relevant, but other times what’s going on inside the body is the primary cause. A few examples of the latter, according to Brooklyn-based podiatrist Greg E. Cohen DPM, FACFAS, include dehydration, anhydrous (a lack of sweat gland production), diabetes, and aging. 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. 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: 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. Petrolatum, by definition, is a gelled mineral oil, which garners some hot debate: Some deem it unsuitable for some skin types; others say it’s totally fine. While mineral oil is petrochemical derived, you can find purified, cosmetic-grade options that are theoretically safe to apply on the skin (as opposed to technical-grade options, which are typically used to lubricate car engines). 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.
