Stay One Step Ahead in Foot Care this Season

Although most of us shudder at the thought of dry scaly feet, it becomes all too easy to neglect our precious tootsies as sock weather swoops in. Let’s face it: flip-flop season eventually dies, pedicures become less of a seasonal treat and boots become the new home for our feet – but this doesn’t mean we can forget about our daily foot care routine.

As the days get chillier, follow these simple steps to keep your feet healthy and hydrated:

Exfoliate

To keep your feet soft, exfoliate once a week. Soak in warm water for 15 minutes, and use scrubs especially formulated for feet that contain granulated ingredients such as sugars and certain salts to help remove dead skin. Combine the use of a pumice stone to really loosen rough areas of the foot.

Tip: Want to avoid buying a foot scrub? Try soaking your feet in lemon juice for 10 minutes. Lemon juice is a mild acid that works to dissolve dead skin for easy removal.

Hydrate

Anytime you exfoliate, make sure to lather your feet with a thick lotion. Most likely the lotion you use in the summertime is not the lotion you should use during the cooler months. Any lotion with petroleum jelly, shea butter or oil will do the trick.

Tip: Try Archipelago Milk Foot Balm – $22 in select stores.

Repair

Treat your feet to an intense hydration treatment and apply a thick coating of lotion, wrap your feet in plastic wrap and slip them into a pair of clean cotton socks while doing some homework or watching TV.

Tip: Try applying vegetable oil to your feet and wear a clean pair of thicker socks before going to bed. You should see results within a few days!

Stay with it

Although these steps assist with prevention, colder weather ushers in cracked feet. Failure to take care of cracks can result in deep fissures that are extremely painful, can house bacteria and restrict movement – so be sure to keep up with this simple foot care routine.

Fill your boots with the healthiest, happiest, and most hydrated feet to ever walk on campus this season. Your feet will thank you for it.

Photo by Amanda Hunt