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Skincare Tips for Your Feet

October 9, 2019
By: Dermatology Consultants of Frisco

We spend hours tending to the skin that everyone sees but we forget about our feet, especially in the colder months when they are frequently out of view.

You can give your feet a treat by exfoliating them within of your own home. DIY skincare is convenient and inexpensive. Also, exfoliation leaves your feet feeling clean, smooth and healthy.

What is Exfoliation?

Our feet have some of the toughest skin on our bodies. Neglect can encourage buildup that leaves your soles feeling like sandpaper. Sadly, the dead skin on our feet doesn’t shed easily. In order to get to the softer skin underneath, manual exfoliation is needed.

The Benefits of Exfoliation

Dry skin on your feet is not only itchy and irritating, but it can also crack and bleed. Open wounds increase your susceptibility to infections. Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and encourages cell regeneration. Faster cell turnover leaves you with healthier skin that is far more manageable. Exfoliation also helps to remove unsightly calluses and rough patches.

Three Approaches to Exfoliating Your Feet

You can exfoliate dry or wet skin. In fact, soaking your feet in warm, soapy water can help loosen the skin and make for a much simpler process. Below are three tools to exfoliate your feet. We at Dermatology Consultants of Frisco recommend adding these to your DIY skincare routine.

Pumice Stone

A pumice stone is a highly porous piece of volcanic rock. There are man-made variations that make for great exfoliants. Pumice stones are available at most grocery or drug stores. Just make your way down to the health and beauty aisle. Once you get one, be sure to give your heels a good scrub. If there was any part of your body that need some TLC, it’s there. They’re extremely prone to dead skin buildup.

Foot Files

There are metal and emery foot files. Although metal foot files are more effective in removing thick, hard calluses, they might also remove too much skin. That can result in burdensome cuts and bruises. In fact, it could result in calluses growing back even thicker. Be sure to gently smooth your calluses and dry patches over time rather than trying to do too much in one sitting.

Foots Scrubs

Foot scrubs are gentle exfoliators you can use daily. Most foot scrubs include moisturizers so you can moisturize as you exfoliate. Because they are slippery, we recommend using them after your shower while you’re seated. To save money, you can make your own foot scrub. There are several recipes all over the internet. However, we do recommend meeting with a dermatologist to understand how certain ingredients will interact with your skin.

Moisturizing After Exfoliation

The most important part of the exfoliation process is moisturizing. A good foot cream or lotion can properly protect the new skin. Apply moisturizer generously, slip on a pair of socks, and let it seep into your skin.

Consult a Dermatologist

If you would like to find out more about exfoliation, consult one of our skincare experts today. At Dermatology Consultants of Frisco, we can show you how to take the best care of your skin to keep it healthy and problem-free.