In this article:
What causes dry, cracked feet?
How do you treat cracked feet?
How do you get rid of thick, dead skin on your feet?
What can I use to exfoliate my feet?
How do you hydrate your feet?
What is the best lotion for dry feet?
How to prevent dry, cracked feet and heels
When to see a dermatologist for foot care
Our feet are workhorses—they support our frames and get us where we need to go—but all too often they’re an afterthought in our skin care routines.
Neglecting foot care can lead to dry, cracked heels and rough soles, but, with a few simple steps, you can have sandal-ready feet all year long. Keep reading for answers to what causes dry, cracked feet, how to get soft feet and which foot care products deliver on hydration.
What causes dry, cracked feet?
Our feet don’t have oil glands, so they rely solely on sweat glands for hydration (1). This, paired with our near constant use of them, means our feet are susceptible to dryness and cracking. Feet also develop thicker layers of skin to protect us from harsh environments (think about what it would be like to walk around with paper-thin skin on our feet- ouch!). These thicker layers become a real pain when dry and cracked.
Although dryness can appear all over the foot, cracking is usually centered around the heel area, where friction with shoes is common (think about trying to break in a new pair of boots, our heels often bear the brunt of this heroic effort!). Constant wear and tear paired with daily friction can result in extremely dry, cracked heels. Not to mention that’s where the main points of pressure are concentrated.
Symptoms of dry, cracked feet can include:
- Flaking
- Peeling
- Hardened, discoloured skin, particularly around the heels
- Itchiness and stinging
- Discomfort when standing
- Bleeding (if your cracked heels begin to split)
Outside of shoe wear and wear-and-tear, the following can cause extremely dry feet:
- New, dryer environments
- Using drying, sensitising ingredients and products
- Walking barefoot often when outside
- Skin conditions (like eczema and psoriasis)
- Medical conditions (like kidney disease and taking cholesterol medications)
How do you treat cracked feet?
Achieving healthier, softer skin on the feet and heels is an easy process that you can complete at home. To remedy this problem and rejuvenate your feet, you’ll need quality, gentle skin care products paired alongside a few minimal lifestyle tweaks. Let’s get into the specifics!
How do you get rid of thick, dead skin on your feet?
You might have been told the best way to exfoliate feet is to physically scrub the skin with a harsh or abrasive ingredient like salt or pumice. While foot scrubs do have their place (the skin on the feet is generally more resilient than that on the face), you’re not going to get the same results that you would if you used a powerful, potent leave-on exfoliant.
Instead of foot scrubs, the best way to get rid of thick, dead skin on your feet is to exfoliate them using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA). Hydroxy acids work to remove dead, dull top layers of skin to help reveal the softer, newer layers underneath (2). Alpha hydroxy acids, like lactic acid and glycolic acid, are also humectants, ingredients that help bind moisture for softer feet.
AHA and BHA exfoliants go deeper than surface scrubs to help skin remove the dead, dry, over-thickened layers more efficiently, like how skin naturally sheds.
What can I use to exfoliate my feet?
There’s no need to go out and buy new feet-specific exfoliants or peels to help you tackle dry, cracked feet and heels. The face and body exfoliants you likely have on hand will help you slough away the dead skin cells that are keeping your feet from being hydrated, soft and healthy. Let’s dive into the best exfoliating options for feet:
- Salicylic acid for feet: A well-formulated body BHA (AKA salicylic acid) product can double as a salicylic acid cream for feet and cracked heels. Our moisturising Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA not only helps exfoliate feet but delivers moisture and protects with several antioxidants. Using salicylic acid for cracked heels is a great option as well, because BHA is naturally soothing.
- Glycolic acid for feet: Glycolic acid is the AHA top dog. When formulated in a foot exfoliator, glycolic acid exfoliates and draws moisture into the skin. This makes it a must-have for dry, parched feet. Our Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA contains glycolic acid in a shea-butter based creamy formula fortified with vitamin C, making it a dream for dry, cracked feet.
- Chemical peels for feet: There are tons of single-use foot peels on the market. Not only is single use wasteful, but you’re also not likely to use a sock-shaped peel elsewhere on your body. Rinse-off at-home chemical peels with potent levels of AHAs and BHA that can be used on the face, body and feet are wonderful for helping to chip away thicker layers of skin on heels. Their advanced formulas mean quicker visible results, but it also means they shouldn’t be used as often.
- Leave-on exfoliating creams, liquids and gels can be used up to twice a day on feet. Many prefer to apply their favourite foot exfoliant after showering as a part of their body care routine or before bed, letting it work its magic, undisturbed, overnight.
- Foot peels should be used less often, due to their higher acid concentrations. Depending on the product, at-home chemical peels for feet should only be used once weekly or once monthly. Be sure to check the packaging of your peel for correct application directions. “Otherwise, the skin can exfoliate too aggressively and cause irritation and difficulty walking,” adds board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman.
How do you hydrate your feet?
The most effective way to hydrate your feet is to apply an emollient foot cream after thoroughly cleansing and exfoliating. First, cleanse feet with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser or body wash to remove the grime, dirt and odor that’s accumulated throughout the day. Then towel dry and exfoliate to rid feet of dry, dead skin that would otherwise go on to prevent a moisturiser from doing the best job that it can. Cleansing then exfoliating creates the perfect canvas for your creams and lotions. Finally, apply your favourite foot cream and voilà- you're on your way to hydrated feet.
Although this skin care routine for feet sounds time-consuming, it’s not! You can easily add this to your regular shower routine or nighttime routine, as it’s best to complete this routine before bed, when you’re off your feet and not wearing shoes that could cause friction.
If you’re looking for ultimate hydration, we’ve got the foot care tip for you! Put on a pair of cotton socks right after generously moisturising your feet before bed. Along with protecting your bed linens, the socks will help “lock in” the moisture that your cream provides, leaving your feet supple and smooth when you get up the next morning. Furthermore, if your heels are severely cracked, apply a soft gauze pad and secure it with first aid tape, and then put on a pair of cotton socks before getting into bed. This keeps the products you applied in contact with the dry heels throughout the night, which means better results.
Follow these steps, and you’ll have softer feet in no time. Even if you don’t show them off in a pair of sandals, you will feel the difference.
What is the best lotion for dry feet?
The best moisturiser for dry, cracked feet should have emollients like urea and plant butters, such as shea butter, mango seed butter and jojoba butter, to smooth and soften hardened heels and rough skin (3). The best creams for feet also go above and beyond and pair these rich, emollient plant butters with soothing ingredients that further nourish and calm dry skin. Classic, long-proven ingredients like glycerine, dimethicone, ceramides and petrolatum are also excellent for long-lasting moisture and smoothing protection.
Not all foot lotions that have plant butters are good-to-go, however. Some foot creams pair these ingredients with fragrance. Sure, peppermint, lavender and orange oils will make your feet smell better, but they’re not doing your skin any favours, in fact they’re irritating it. This can result in skin becoming drier and that’s the last thing you want if you’re already seeing parched, cracked skin on your feet. A foot cream that actually works will skip out on essential oils and volatile fragrances.
Hydrating foot care products can come in an array of product formats. Body and foot butters, lotions and creams are all perfect options for dryness, whereas balms, ointments and sticks are better for cracked heels. Remember, you can also use your normal fragrance-free body care products on your feet, too.
Great, gentle hydrating foot care options include:
- Replenishing foot creams perfect for daily application. These quick-absorbing lotions and creams are a great option because they don’t leave a film that halts movement or makes socks and shoes feel “greasy.” Our Daily Replenishing Body Cream doubles as a perfect foot cream because although it has a rich, whipped texture chock-full of hydrating, emollient plant butters and oils, it doesn’t leave behind a slick or sticky feel, making it great to use on feet both in the morning and at night.
- A heel balm that helps restore rough, dry and cracked skin. Balms are usually thicker in texture, meaning they form a more intense barrier over skin to really lock in moisture. Balms work particularly well on cracked heels. Our emollient Lip & Body Treatment Balm was formulated to have a rich texture that provides targeted relief to extremely dry, cracked skin all over the body.
- Non-fragrant plant-based body oils are perfect for spot treating dry patches on the feet. Place 1-3 drops on tougher, drier areas for customised hydration. These oils can also be placed into your favourite moisturiser. Our Moisture Renewal Oil Booster is one such example.
- Fragrance-free body butters also work wonders on the feet and help restore moisture. These more emollient creams are best applied before bed due to their thick nature.
How to prevent dry, cracked feet and heels
Believe it or not, there are quite a few lifestyle hacks that can help you on your journey to smooth, hydrated feet and heels. Foot care doesn’t stop at cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising. Those are the dos, here are the don’ts...
Avoid the following to prevent dry, cracked feet and heels:
- Walking barefoot on harsh, hard, uneven or dry surfaces.
- Using harsh scrubs incorrectly. Although skin on the feet is thicker, harsh scrubs can still irritate dry, cracked skin on the feet.
- Avoid long, hot showers. Aim for anywhere between 5-10 minutes. Longer, warmer showers can dry out skin further (4).
- Wearing ill-fitting, tight shoes. Sometimes function triumphs over fashion! Any shoes that cause friction or expose the heel can worsen dryness and cracking.
When to see a dermatologist for foot care
Not every foot care concern can be solved at home. Dr. Corey L. Hartman says, “If you notice blisters, fissures, excessively scaly plaques or pustules despite following the above advice, then it’s time to visit a dermatologist.”
Unlike the skin on the face and scalp, the skin on the feet is often quite literally under pressure. “Hands and feet comprise some of the toughest, hardest working skin on the body and can tolerate a lot of wear and tear. They are exposed to extremes of weather and the most confined conditions in sweaty, hot shoes all day and are therefore susceptible to several skin conditions like dyshidrosis, fungal infections, psoriasis, contact dermatitis and so much more,” says Dr. Hartman. He adds “If the steps to hydrate the skin of the hands and feet fail to keep an intact skin barrier free of skin lesions, then seek a dermatologist to make a diagnosis that may require prescription management.”
Although dry and cracked skin on the feet are often signs of wear-and-tear, there are instances where they can be indications of more serious issues (5). It might be time to see a dermatologist or podiatrist (foot specialist) if:
- The skin on your feet doesn’t improve after practicing a well-rounded foot care routine.
- There’s deep cracking along the foot and heel.
- You experience discomfort or pain, including from ingrown toenails.
- You notice flesh-coloured bumps on toes (corns) or see small patches of rough, dry skin with a black dot in the center (plantar wart).
- You’ve injured your toe(s) and may be at risk of losing a toenail.
- You experience incessant itching between the toes.
- You notice persistent odors.
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References for this information:
- Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, October 2018, pages 1,727-1,736
- Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products, January 2012, pages 9-10
- Dermatology and Therapy, December 2021, pages 1,905-1,915
- American Academy of Dermatology Association, Webpage, Accessed April 2024
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, July 2022, pages 2,889–2,896
