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Causes of dry feet and how to prevent them.
One of the key essentials to maintaining soft, beautiful, and healthy-looking feet is to give them a little care every day. Unfortunately, many of us forget to include our feet in our regular skin care routine.
Understanding the causes of dry, cracked feet – and avoiding them – is easier than treating the issue afterwards, so thinking of your feet as worthy of a little attention is a great start. If your feet are already dry and cracked, you might need to know how to treat and soothe them – here's how to take care of both prevention & care.
Why do we get dry feet? As the skin on the feet is naturally dry – the soles of the feet do not have their own oil glands – it can sometimes be tricky to keep your feet hydrated. In fact, dry skin on the feet is a common problem.
It usually occurs in areas where there’s lots of pressure or friction, such as between the toes, the ball of the foot, and on the heel. If left untreated, dry skin can become uncomfortable. This can be alleviated by giving the skin the essential moisture it needs.
How to Help Prevent and Treat Dry, Cracked Feet
- Dry Feet Prevention
Moisturize Daily– Use lotions that contain glycerin and micro-droplets of Vaseline® Jelly, like Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Essential Healing Lotion. The glycerin will pull in moisture to the skin layers and the jelly seals this moisture in to help keep your feet hydrated throughout the day.
Wear Socks – Wearing suitable socks can help prevent friction and skin irritation when wearing shoes, especially when you exercise. Socks made from cotton can be a good choice. It’s a soft, breathable fabric, meaning your feet are less likely to sweat and dry out from excess moisture loss.
Choose the Right Footwear – Ideally, you should always wear flat, well-fitting shoes that support the feet. But, fashionable high heels and flip-flops are often a more desirable footwear choice, particularly in summer. If you want to wear this type of footwear, remember to moisturize regularly and protect the skin on your feet. We also recommend that you choose weather-appropriate footwear. Flip-flops and open shoes expose the feet to the elements, which can cause the skin to dry out. So it’s best to only wear these in the warmer months.
- How to Combat Dry Feet
If you experience dryness on your feet, here’s what you can do to relieve and soothe them:
- Apply Vaseline® Jelly – To help protect your toes and reduce friction and rubbing as you walk, apply Vaseline® Jelly to the problem areas so that your toes don’t stick to each other, or rub together.
- Gently Remove Dry Skin – Exfoliate dry skin and calluses on the ball of the foot. Do not use harsh exfoliators too regularly as this can actually dry your skin out more. Instead, try gentle body or foot scrubs and use only as directed. As soon as you’re finished exfoliating, apply a moisturizer to replenish lost moisture and hydrate the skin.
- Use an Overnight Treatment – Vaseline® Jelly can be used as an effective overnight cosmetic treatment for dry, cracked feet and heels as it helps create a sealing barrier, locking in the essential moisture your feet need to repair themselves .
Expert Advice
The advice in this article does not constitute medical advice, it is solely available for information purposes.
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