Foot skin that is dry, brittle, or cracked is typical. The feet regularly sustain wear and tear despite having fewer oil glands than other body parts.
Fortunately, per our resident foot doctor, there are easy home remedies that can be used to treat dry, cracked feet with cuts.
To know the best home remedies to use, we must first identify the common elements that can result in dry skin on the feet. Here are some of them:
Lack of moisture.
Because the heel and sole have fewer oil glands than other parts of the body, dry, cracked, and flaky skin is more prevalent there.
Irritation.
Long periods of standing or wearing shoes that don’t fit properly can impose persistent pressure on certain parts of the foot or cause skin to rub together. These parts of the feet may consequently become dry, chapped, or cracked.
Dampness and heat.
The inside of closed shoes, such as boots and sneakers, gets very warm and muggy. Heat and humidity dehydrate the skin, causing parts of the foot to develop toenail fungus.
Soaps.
Body washes and soaps with harsh ingredients or allergens can dry out the skin. These issues might also arise if the feet are not thoroughly washed of excess soap.
Aging.
The skin becomes thinner and less supple as a result of losing its capacity to hold onto water over time. Due to the natural aging process, dry skin may be more common in older adults.
Medications.
Diuretics and other drugs can contribute to dry skin on the feet.
Another cause of dry skin on the foot is a medical condition, such as:
Athlete’s foot.
A scaly rash between the toes and under the foot is the result of the fungal illness known as athlete’s foot.
Eczema.
Eczema is the name for a collection of ailments that result in skin irritation. It can appear anywhere on a person’s body. Patches of skin that are dry, crusty, or itching are typical eczema symptoms.
Psoriasis.
Skin that is thick and scaly in patches is a symptom of the chronic autoimmune disease psoriasis. Psoriatic patches can appear practically everywhere on the body, including the foot.
Hypothyroidism.
Due to the thyroid gland’s inability to control the sweat glands in the feet, people with hypothyroidism may experience very dry feet.
Diabetes.
Living with uncontrolled diabetes can cause neuropathy, which is the deterioration of the peripheral nerves.
The nerves in the feet that control moisture and oil production can be impacted by neuropathy, which can lead to dry, cracked feet or what are known as diabetic toes and feet.
New cells grow in their place as dead skin cells on the skin’s surface naturally shed. Dead skin cells can accumulate and produce thick, flaky patches on the feet if they are not removed.
Dry spots can thicken or crack with time, especially on the heels. Thick calluses can make walking awkward or difficult, while cracked heels leave the feet open to infection.