During the winter months, it’s not uncommon for your skin to dry out. And that includes the skin on your feet. You might even notice some new calluses and cracked heels—and be glad your feet spend those months hiding inside socks and boots.
Now that summer is here, your feet need to come out of hiding. But it might take some time to get that rough skin smoothed out. “There really is no quick fix for getting rid of cracks, calluses and dry skin on your feet,” says Nicole Brouyette, DPM, a podiatrist at Henry Ford Health. “The best way to maintain smooth, healthy feet is to take care of them all year round.”
Why Do My Feet Have Calluses?
In a perfect world, your feet would remain as smooth and callus-free as they were when you were young. But in the real world, that’s not usually how it goes. “The body makes rough skin and calluses over prominent, bony body parts,” explains Dr. Brouyette. “It’s the body’s way of trying to protect itself from external pressure and friction.”
Pressure and friction are typically the result of not treating your feet well. Shoes that rub or pinch and repetitive stress on the feet (lots of walking or running) often lead to calluses. Those hard, thickened patches of skin can get worse over time.
It’s also common to experience some changes to your feet as you age. Arthritic joints, flattened arches, hammertoes or bunions can increase your risk of developing calluses.
It Takes Daily Care to Heal Your Feet
Treating foot calluses and healing cracked heels is not something that happens overnight. “It starts with keeping your body hydrated—from both the inside out and the outside in,” says Dr. Brouyette. That means drinking plenty of water.
It also means using a thick, emollient moisturizer on your feet daily, year-round. Don’t skip it all winter and expect a few days of lotion to leave your feet looking sandal-ready.
The routine Dr. Brouyette recommends is simple but requires commitment. Doing it every day (or at least a couple of times a week) is key to keeping feet as soft as possible:
- In the shower, use a body scrub to gently exfoliate the feet. This helps remove the top layer of dead skin cells.
- Next, use a pumice stone, rubbing it over the heels and other areas with thicker calluses.
- After you dry off, apply a thick, emollient cream. Look for one that contains petroleum or urea as the active ingredient. (Avoid applying it in between the toes, where it can lead to bacterial infection.) You can find these creams at the drugstore or ask your doctor for a prescription-strength version for more intense moisturizing.
Foot And Ankle Care At Henry Ford
Treat Rough Skin Gently
As tempting as it may be, Dr. Brouyette warns against aggressive callus and dry skin removal. “Using a blade or grater on the skin is never a good idea,” she says. “It removes too many layers of skin at once, leaving your feet vulnerable to infection.”
Having it done at a nail salon as part of a pedicure is no better. “That is not a sterile environment, so a cut puts you at high risk of infection,” she says.
At home or at the salon, using a pumice stone is a safe, gentle way to help slough off the top layer of skin. “You never want to remove so much at one time that it causes pain,” says Dr. Brouyette.
When to See a Doctor About Foot Calluses
If chronic or new foot conditions are causing more friction and resulting in calluses, you should talk to your doctor. A podiatrist can identify conditions such as bunions, arthritis in toe joints or hammertoes that can increase your risk of developing thick, painful calluses.
“If there’s an underlying cause, there’s usually a fix,” says Dr. Brouyette. “Surgery or nonsurgical procedures can address biomechanics and deformities to help keep your feet healthier.”
She also cautions that anyone with diabetes or neuropathy should be extra careful about treating their own cracked or callused feet. “If you can’t feel your feet, you may go too deep and increase risk of infection,” she says. People with these conditions should see a podiatrist every few months for treatment (which is typically covered by insurance).
Reviewed by Nicole Brouyette, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon who sees patients for podiatric needs at Henry Ford Hospital — Detroit, Henry Ford Medical Center — Fairlane and Henry Ford Medical Center – Pierson Clinic.
