Cracked, Dry Feet: Causes, Prevention, + Best Treatments

Whether it’s walking to work, taking a long stroll on the beach, or hiking with friends; your feet help you get from point A to point B. While you may not often think to give offer gratitude to this part of your body, it’s about time you start. 

If you neglect adequate foot care, you may be left with excessive dryness, painful cracks, dense callouses, 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 D.P.M., 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 few to note: 

• Extra hot showers
• Low humidity 
• Soap that contains harsh cleansing agents
• Walking barefoot 

If your feet are already cracked, dry, or peeling, you have a few different options to treat them. First, pedicures can provide salon-grade exfoliating treatments. Especially if your toenails are dry and brittle, a pedicure is never a bad idea.

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: 

If your feet are on the sensitive side, or you’re experiencing minor dryness, then a pumice stone might be a better choice. These tools are a bit gentler than files, but still work wonders for sloughing off dead skin. 

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).  

Arguably the most important step for your skin: Hydration. No matter what steps you take before or after, if your skin barrier is compromised your your feet will feel dry and cracked.

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 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 skin’s function.

• Moisturize daily: The key to happy feet is daily moisturizing. “Hydrating lotions with shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, or aloe work great,” Rojas says. Here, a few of our favorite foot creams if you’re on the hunt. 
• Exfoliate regularly: If your feet are generally on the dryer side, exfoliating every week or two is a good idea. You can use a foot scrub, the tools mentioned above, or get regular pedicures. 
• Be mindful of your habits: Podiatrist Michael Galoyan, D.P.M. tells mbg that excessive stress to the feet, even if that means walking more often than usual, can lead to dryness as well. If you’re frequently on foot, you should be extra mindful of exfoliating and hydrating to keep your feet in the best shape. 
• Avoid hot showers: Opting for a lukewarm rinse will certainly help preserve moisture in the feet, but benefits you body skin, scalp, and strands too. Extra hot water can disrupt the skin’s microbiome by stripping the skin of natural oils and lipids, so it’s best to avoid a steamy cleanse.