Taking Care Of
Cracked, Dry Feet
Dry feet is a very common and potentially painful condition. I have seen many people suffer from cracked heels, itchy and dry feet. Believe me, it can make even the simple act of walking, very painful.
Skin problems dealing with the feet may appear at any age. Whether from work, the environment or a physical condition such as psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, or dermatitis , the skin on your feet is actually very vulnerable to problems. Since there are 2000 pores on the bottom of the feet and they are the largest pores anywhere on the body, great care is essential.
The following is a short list of some very common concerns that I have seen:
Calluses: are hard, thickened areas of skin which form on the bottom of the foot and can also be found on the toes. Over time, walking straight becomes a problem.
Dry Skin: skin on your feet can sometimes become dry and cracked, particularly on the soles where the most pressure is put. In time, this can lead to chronic scaling and itching. Constant splitting in between the toes can become quite painful.
Infections: good hygiene is important to prevent dry feet and infection. People with diabetes are prone to foot infections from poor circulation and a loss of feeling.
Itchy Feet: severe dryness can lead to itchy red skin on the feet. Constant scratching can make the skin split and peel.
Psoriasis, Eczema, Dermatitis: these are conditions that many times appear on the feet. Compound the scaly, itchy symptoms with bacteria growth and sweat and the problem worsens.
Athlete's Foot: also called Tinea Pedis, is a parasitic fungal infection of the epidermis of the foot that produces scaling, flaking, itching, blisters and cracked skin over the affected areas. . The term "athlete's foot" refers to the disease and not the micro-organism or fungus that causes it.
Bunions or Hammertoe: a bunion is an abnormal, bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. A hammertoe is a toe deformity in which your toe becomes curled-up like a claw. Both of these conditions can cause constant rubbing inside your shoe and result in damaged skin and subsequently, dry feet.
Foot Deformities: a pre-existing foot deformity, such as a bone spur, may put extra pressure on certain parts of your foot irritating your skin.
Nail Fungus: these infections usually develop on nails continually exposed to warm, moist environments, such as sweaty shoes or shower floors and can irritate surrounding skin. Fungi are microscopic organisms that don't need sunlight to survive and can cause illness and infection.
These factors can increase your risk of developing nail fungus:
**Smoking
**Perspiring heavily
**Working in a humid or moist environment
**Wearing socks and shoes that hinder ventilation and don't absorb perspiration
**Walking barefoot in damp public places, such as swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms
Scratching and rubbing can lead to further complications. Certainly, never try to "file down" hardened skin or calluses on your dry feet with a pumice stone since pumice is porous and can harbor harmful bacteria.
A daily foot care program should be designed to help you prevent dry feet as well as provide proper care for already occurring problems.
Here are some preventative measures I have recommended and that produce excellent results:
1) Check Your Feet - check feet every day for blisters, cuts scratches and nail problems.
2) Hygiene- wash your feet daily using lukewarm water with mild,
"non-soap" anti-bacterial cleanser . By reducing the bacteria count, you will minimize the risk of infection. Remember, bacteria can instigate a number of irritating and often debilitating problems so don't skimp on this one.
3) Proper Environment- always dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes. This is important to prevent development of breaks in the skin as this can lead to fungal infection.
4) Moisturize - Moisturize - Moisturize! - use a highly therapeutic cream designed to replenish much needed moisture to dry feet that have cracked and flaky skin. This cream should penetrate 7 layers deep and apply it without skipping even a day! Your feet work hard and they need daily attention.
The best foot cream should contain vitamins, plant extracts, shea butter and urea to repair and hydrate problem dry feet quickly and stop the itching associated with fungus infection, psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. A cream that also carries with it anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties is CRITICAL.
And NEVER use anything on your dry feet that contains the ingredient MINERAL OIL since this a by product of making gasoline from petroleum....imagine that!! Add to this the fact that the molecules of the mineral oil are too large to even pass the pores of the skin and will only sit on top of your skin "sealing in" the germs and suffocating your already thirsty skin.
To summarize the routine I recommend for people who have dry cracked feet:
A Simple 2 Step Program For Problem Dry Feet:
This daily foot care program is designed to help you prevent and repair foot problems and take proper care of your feet.
1) First, use a non-soap anti-bacterial cleanser as your ONLY foot cleanser to cleanse away skin bacteria. When your feet are clean you will do much to keep harmful germs that cause infections and odors away! And don't forget to dry feet carefully.
2) Then apply a therapeutic cream that is also anti-bacterial, thoroughly rubbing into the soles and heels, particularly areas of thick or rough skin to restore and protect them. Do this EVERYDAY! Your feet deserve it and need it to stay healthy and to keep your skin moist and problem free!
Below you will find a link to the natural products I recommend that, in my professional opinion, work BEST for dry feet.
View Our Products For Dry Feet
Choose: ALL OVER FACE & BODY WASH and DOUBLE STRENGTH THERACREAM
Hi Nanette,
Here are my husband's pictures.....the pictures speak for themselves!! My husband usually can take better pictures but he did not have his camera available (only his cell) the day he needed to take the picture and he urgently needed to use your Double Strength TheraCream. As you can see, the change is stunning....thank you so much!! Janine I., Puerto Rico
My dry feet and heels were so badly cracked I had a hard time fitting into anything other than loose sandals or over sized sneakers! Nothing I tried could remove all the packed on dead cells. It hurt just to walk and quite embarrassing to boot. I called you up to find out what I could do and I started right away without another moment's delay. I was totally amazed that in a week's time my heels were so smooth I had forgotten what they looked like! Thank you again and again.....you are a life saver! Jackie P., Indiana
Hello Nanette:
For years my feet would itch like crazy and I just learned to live with it. Then, I started to develop dry patches all over my feet and these would not only itch, but split open and bleed. I found it almost impossible to put shoes on and go to work. That's when I met with you and immediately began following your recommendations. I was shocked at how fast these products worked and thankful too!! Within a weeks time I was back in my shoes with restored skin on my feet. God bless you! Mark S., Pensacola, FL
Dear Nanette,
Your products DO work and I have seen the difference that your Double Strength TheraCream product has had on my whole body. I have never been able to comfortably wear open toed/backed sandals and shoes because my legs and heels and feet would be ashy even within an hour or so after a professional pedicure. My husband even commented how soft my skin was which he has never had the opportunity to do because it was always quite dry and somewhat scaly feeling. I have even been using it on my one year old because she had some scaly patches on her side, which have disappeared!! My heels were pretty bad and so I was desperate to find something that would work. I had cracks in my heel but they were getting worse and although it wasn't painful, I knew it wouldn't be long before I started having issues if I didn't do something. The cracks are healing and I can wear open back shoes and shorts because my legs and heels aren't ashy. I noticed the difference in the feel of my skin on Day 1; it was amazing!! Thank you for developing this product. Next time, I'll tell you about how the lip balm and the shampoo has helped my lips and scalp! :-D)
Please Note: Disclaimer - These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information, products, answers to viewer questions as well as comments and testimonials from viewers are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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