Just like the rest of your body, your feet can develop dry skin. Sometimes, the cause can be lack of moisture in your skin. But at other times, underlying conditions could be to blame. So, how can you tell what’s causing dry skin on your feet? And how can you restore the health of your skin after a diagnosis? Here’s what you need to know.
Dry Skin on Feet: What are the Causes? ![woman holding her feet while stretching]()
There are three possible causes of dry feet that we see in our Long Island podiatry practice:
- Lack of moisture in the skin
- Fungal infection
- Dermatitis
When dry skin on your feet is the result of insufficient hydration, you’re also likely to experience symptoms like itching, and patches of skin that are rough in texture. At first, the skin on your feet may start flaking off. But, without intervention, the skin may become hard and callouses can develop.
If a fungal infection is the cause of your dry feet, itching and flaking could also be a problem. But you could also experience intense burning and itching. Your skin could crack—especially in the spaces between your toes. A foul odor may be present, and you could notice spots on your skin that appear to be white in color.
But how can you tell if dermatitis is making your feet dry? Again, you may notice intense itching or burning, and your skin may peel. To distinguish this condition from other causes of dry skin on feet, you can look for symptoms such as skin discoloration—it may be red or, in some cases speckled with a brownish tint. As with fungal infections, dermatitis can lead to skin cracks, but they’re more likely to develop on your heels than between your toes. And, unlike with other causes of dry feet, dermatitis can cause blisters or oozing lesions to form on your feet.
Why are Your Feet Dry?
If your feet are dry due to lack of hydration, your symptoms should improve when you begin moisturizing them regularly. (These at-home remedies for heel fissures can help you heal dry, cracked skin. But if you have underlying conditions such as diabetes, you may need the support of Dr. Mark Gasparini or Dr. Novneet Chhabra in order to quickly and safely restore your skin’s health and moisture balance.
But what should you do if dry skin on your feet doesn’t resolve after a week or two of following a careful moisturizing routine? At the point, it’s best to make an appointment at our podiatry practice in Massapequa, NY. When you come into the office, we can determine the precise cause of your dry feet, and steer you toward the appropriate treatment plan.
Diagnosis and Treatment Plans
Dry feet are a common problem, especially after our long, cold New York winters. Luckily, when you come into the office, it’s easy to diagnose the cause of dry skin on your feet, and to come up with a fast and effective treatment plan to resolve your symptoms.
If lack of moisture is the cause of your concern, and over-the-counter products haven’t provided sufficient relief, we have more effective product available. Today, you can purchase this Hydro-Cutis cream in our office; containing ammonium lactate for effective hydration, the cream also provides gentle exfoliation to safely remove dead, dry skin on feet, allowing healthier skin to emerge and shine. While the product is strong enough to only be available at doctor’s offices, it’s also specially formulated for use on your lower extremities. And even patients with diabetes can safely use this product.
Is tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) or another fungal infection leaving your feet dry? Then we’ll recommend using Tolcylen’s Antifungal Skin Renewal Cream, also available in the office. T only does this quick-drying cream resolve fungal growth, it also exfoliates and softens rough skin, and can even address spots of discoloration that may have developed.
Finally, if dermatitis is to blame for dry skin on feet, we can recommend this new Triple-Action Keratolytic formula, available for purchase from your Long Island podiatrist’s office. The product relieves dermatitis symptoms by breaking down thickened, scaly skin to restore healthy tissue. And, as an added bonus, it can even help prevent other causes of dry skin on feet due to its blend of ingredients that also fight fungus and promote hydration!
Are you tired of living with itchy, cracked, dry feet? Do you want to restore the health of the skin on your feet but aren’t sure where to start? Reach out to our office to request an appointment. When you come in to see us, we’ll determine the cause of your dryness and help you find the perfect product to fully restore your skin’s health!