How to Remove Dry: Cracked Skin From Feet

Ever wonder why the bottoms of your feet are always dry and cracking? Or maybe the better question: what is the best way to repair that damaged skin? Well, learn how to remove dry cracked skin from feet and everything you need to know about foot care right here.

Sometimes our feet need a little extra love and with these tips, you can learn how to get rid of cracked skin on your feet without any chemicals.

Each of these recipes can be done easily at home with minimal ingredients and equipment.

If your feet need more than one recipe, we gathered all of our DIY foot care recipes into a single post so you can pick whatever sounds good that night.

Whether it is from dry, winter skin or walking around barefoot in the summer, the skin on our feet can become cracked, dry, damaged, and peeling.

We spend a lot of time caring for our face by washing and applying masks and creams. But all too often, our feet go untouched, covered up with socks and left for later.

This note will show you a few easy things you can add to your skincare routine to keep your feet soft and smooth.

What Causes Dry, Cracked Skin on Feet?

The main reason for dry cracked skin on our feet is simply that feet have the difficult job of withstanding all of our body weight each day.

Being on your feet for long periods of time, standing on hard floors, wearing shoes that don’t fit correctly, or walking around barefoot can be other reasons for dry, cracked skin.

Dry, cold weather is another contributor, so you may notice a worsened foot condition in the winter.

This can cause flaky, cracked, and blistered skin. Athlete’s foot can be another big culprit for cracked skin on the feet. The most common place for Athlete’s foot is between the toes, but it can also be found on the heels or sides of the feet.

Other Factors for Dry Cracked Skin

Lack of hydration or dry skin
Skin irritations
Wet or humid feet
Aging
Certain medications
Wearing open-heeled shoes, such as sandals

6 Best Ways to Fix Dry Cracked Skin on Feet

Exfoliate the skin
Homemade Foot Soak
Vinegar foot soak
Moisturize with coconut oil
Use a pumice stone
Apply a DIY foot mask

Exfoliate

Exfoliating the skin can be the best way to remove dry, cracked, or damaged skin. Our favorite way to exfoliate the skin is by making a salt scrub or homemade sugar scrub.

Salt and sugar both work very well to exfoliate the skin gently with natural ingredients.

It is important to exfoliate the skin first if the feet have been neglected. It is the best way to remove dead skin cells and leave the skin super soft.

Coarse salt and sugar are best for the feet as that is where the skin tends to be the toughest. You can also use coffee grounds or sand to exfoliate the skin.

Try these recipes to make your own exfoliating scrubs:

Pink Himalayan homemade foot scrub for cracked skin on the end of a wooden applicator.

Foot Soak

Before exfoliating the skin, try soaking your feet in warm water for about 20 minutes to soften the dead skin.

You can soak your feet in plain warm water or add in some Epsom salt and essential oils. We like to make a homemade detoxifying foot bath that will soften and detox the skin with baking soda, salt, and essential oils.

Cracked Feet Vinegar Soak

Soaking your feet in a homemade vinegar baking soda foot soak can help to soften the skin and remove dead skin. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work for this soak.

Add 2 parts warm water and 1 part vinegar to a small tub. Soak your feet for 20 minutes. After the soak, exfoliate the skin and moisturize.

Coconut Oil for Cracked Heels

Moisturizing your feet daily can help prevent dry and cracked skin.

You have probably seen gel-infused or moisturizing socks at the store before. They basically work as a deep moisturizing treatment.

You can get the same effect by applying coconut oil and putting socks on. Coconut oil is ideal for dry, cracked heels because it is deeply moisturizing.

To use coconut oil on your feet, follow these simple steps:

Apply a generous amount of coconut oil to the bottom of the feet.
Cover with a thick pair of socks and let it soak overnight.
Exfoliate feet and wash well in the morning.

Pumice Stone

When used on the feet, they can remove dead skin cells, improve cracked skin, and even soften calluses. Pumice stones are made with lava and water. They have an abrasive texture, making them a great tool for exfoliating the skin.

Soaking your feet in warm water before using the stone will help to soften the hard skin on your feet and make it easier to remove.

You can use a pumice stone daily or a couple of times a week. If it starts to feel painful, reduce the frequency at which you’re using it.

Aloe Vera Foot Mask

Use aloe vera to soften dry, cracked feet. Aloe vera is a powerful moisturizer and a wonderful skin-softening agent. We love using aloe vera on our face and many of the benefits work for the feet, too.

Here’s how to use aloe vera on your feet:

Apply aloe vera gel generously to the bottom of the feet.
Cover with thick socks.
Leave on for at least 4 hours, then wash the feet.

How to Prevent Cracked Skin on Feet

Once you repair the skin on your feet, you can take a few steps to prevent it from happening again.

Scrub your feet with a loofah whenever you take a shower.
Apply DIY foot lotion or natural homemade foot balm to the feet daily.
Keep your feet clean and dry.
Minimize how much you wear open-heeled shoes such as sandals and flip-flops.
Use a gentle soap such as homemade natural body wash or homemade goat milk soap on your feet.

FAQs

Which method should we use to heal dry, cracked feet?

You may want to try all of the different methods to see which works best for your skin. If you aren’t sure where to start, we recommend soaking, exfoliating, and moisturizing with whichever products are most readily available to you.

How often should we exfoliate our feet?

2-3 times a week is typically enough to keep the dry, dead skin off. Avoid over-exfoliating and if it ever feels painful, you probably need to cut back.

How long does it take to heal cracked feet?

That depends on how severe the dryness and cracking is. If you have a mild case of cracked feet, they may recover in a few days. More severe, deep cracks can take weeks to heal fully.