Is Winter Still Stuck on Your Feet? Solution to Dry, Cracked Heels

Having dry skin is one thing, but when dry skin turns into flaking, peeling, and even painful cracking you’ve got a problem on your hands (or should we say feet). With rising temperatures here in Georgia and Lake season in FULL effect, we want to give you all the tools you need to restore and rehydrate those Winter feet.

While there are many causes of deeply dry skin, including genetics, age, and health conditions like eczema and diabetes, the result is the same for everyone: flaky, painful, cracked heels and unsightly skin. Here are a few “at-home” tips to rejuvenate your Winter feet.

At-Home Tips to Combat Dry Skin

1. Hydrating Foot Soak 

Fill a basin with lukewarm water and 5-10 drops of tea tree essential oil. This is a great way to clean your feet and apply the medicated power of Melaleuca (tea tree) to hard-to-reach areas of your dry feet. Simply soak your feet in a footbath 3-5 times a week, and always completely dry your feet before putting on socks or footwear.

2. Vinegar Rinse 

While vinegar may be stinky, it is a proven at-home remedy to soften dry feet. Vinegar’s natural acidity can help to remove old, dead skin cells, encouraging the growth of new skin. To use vinegar as an exfoliant, simply fill a basin with vinegar and allow your feet to soak for up to 10 minutes. Then, gently scrub your feet with a coarse rag to remove lingering dead skin, revealing softer, smoother feet. When doing this treatment, it is important that you use Apple Cider Vinegar that contains “the mother”.

3. Milk and Honey Soak

Cleopatra knew that a milk bath was good for glowing, youthful-looking skin. Today, you can use whole milk and a dab of honey to restore your dry skin to touchable softness. Simply let your feet soak in nutrient-rich whole milk to rebuild new, stronger skin cells. The added humectant properties of honey lock in natural oils, preventing evaporative moisture loss.

Put Some “Spring” Back in Your Step

4. Pumice Stone 

The rough surface of a pumice stone is the most common way to remove accumulated dead skin of calluses, corns, and heel fissure cracks. For people with these types of dry skin, simply rub the pumice stone across trouble areas, until the skin is resurfaced. Additionally, apply oils or other moisturizers to ease dryness more effectively.

5. Foot Mask 

Lock moisture inside of dry, damaged feet with a foot mask. Use petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, beeswax, or even lanolin for this. Just apply the substance of your choice to your feet, then gently massage it into cracks, peeling areas. and in-between toes. Then, cover your feet with thick, clean socks.

Callus Removal

OVERNIGHT HEALING

If your feet are painfully cracked it can be helpful to treat them overnight, while you’re sleeping. Here’s how:

First, use a pumice stone to smooth the skin on your feet and heels. This is best done right after a shower or bath when your skin is clean and the skin on your feet is much softer. If your cracks have been bleeding, or are very deep, it’s a good idea to apply an antiseptic ointment and cover the area to avoid infection. This will also help to lock in moisture. If the area isn’t too bad, you can use a healing balm by slathering it all over your feet and heels generously. Then, slip on some 100% cotton socks for the night. This balm can be applied twice a day.

In-Office Products at Da Vinci Foot and Ankle

If at-home solutions just won’t cut it, we recommend our Doctor approved products that you can find in any of our offices. Here are 2 of our favorites:

  1. Dr. Canuso Products for Dry, Cracked Heels

Dr. Dana Canuso (the founder of Dr. Canuso skincare) is a Podiatric Surgeon who has devoted her time to work with world renowned chemists in creating a line of products that not only treat the problem but also their causes when it comes to cracked heels and foot repair. She created an entire brand of luxury skincare designed exclusively for the feet and we stand by it 100% at Da Vinci Foot and Ankle podiatry. Read more about it here.

  1. Dr. Blaines Revitaderm 40 Keratolytic Emollient for Calluses 

Infused with Aloe Vera, Chamomile, and Tea Tree Oil for their emollient properties, Revitaderm 40 Keratolytic will retain moisture for hours where applied and help to soften even the toughest of calluses on the feet. This product utilizes Urea (40%) as its softener and begins to work immediately upon application. We offer a Doctor approved pumice stone along with this product to assist in effective, clean callus removal. 

Feel free to call an office near you if you have any questions about the products above or which combination of products might work best for you. Furthermore, we are happy to consult with you over the phone or in person to discuss at-home treatment.

CLICK HERE to book your next appointment at Da Vinci Foot and Ankle.

Lake Oconee, GA 706-999-9994

West Augusta, GA 706-597-0102