How to Remove Thick Dead Skin From Feet?

Do you have thick dead skin on your feet? October is here, and the weather is a little cold. You must be here to know How to Remove Thick Dead Skin From Feet.

Our feet often become as dry as dessert, especially during winters. Dry, cracked skin is a common problem that many of us experience.

Some people use expensive foot creams and scrubs but still have thick and dry skin, leading to dead skin.

Keep reading the article to know how to remove thick dead skin from feet.

What Causes Thick, Dry and Dead Skin?

Your entire body weight is on your feet, as they are subjected to pressure and friction. Your feet go through a lot of changes throughout the day. Thus, there are several causes of thick, dry, cracked skin on feet.

1- Heat and Humidity

There are a lot of reasons for heat and humidity. Wearing tight shoes for a long time can also cause humidity. Heat and humidity remove moisture from your skin, leading to dry, cracked and thick skin.

2- Cold Weather

The season changes time by time. As the weather gets cold, our skin becomes dry. Our feet get dehydrated, which also causes cracked and thick dead skin.

3- Eczema

Dry skin also occurs due to medical conditions. Eczema is one of them. Eczema refers to skin inflammation. Sometimes people have allergies that trigger eczema on the feet.

4- Excess Use of Chemicals

Soaps are made of chemicals, some of which contain harsh chemicals, which can cause damage to your skin and feet. If you bathe every day, the soap you use may remove natural oil from your feet. Thus, it causes dry and dead skin taking away all the moisture.

5- Diabetes

Diabetes affects the body’s ability to maintain sugar levels in the blood. As a result, it may cause dry feet. Diabetes can damage the nerves in the feet. The skin may peel and crack. So people, having diabetes often have the dry and thick dead skin on their feet.

How Do You Prevent Thick Dead Skin?

Have you heard the saying, “prevention is better than cure”? You should follow the few tips below to prevent dead and dry skin on the feet.

1- Daily moisturizing is the best defense against any skin. Yes, moisturizing is the best thing you can do to your skin. Try to keep your skin hydrated. Use a moisturizer on your skin before going to bed.

2- Socks are the best garment your feet need. Socks are made from soft fabric, and they cause less dry skin and help in locking natural oil in your feet. Dr Andrasik says, “socks add a layer between your skin and the environment and can limit damage to the outer layer of the skin.”

3- Wear comfortable shoes and shoes that fit you perfectly. Clean your shoes daily and wash your socks daily.

4- Don’t spend too much time standing in one position, as it causes damage to your feet.

5- Don’t use soaps and lotion that contain alcohol as it can contribute to dry skin. Its harsh nature can strip the moisture from your skin and leaves the skin dry and dead.

How to Remove Thick Dead Skin From Feet?

Follow the above steps to get rid of dead skin from your feet.

1- Soak Feet in Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is a crystal form of Magnesium Sulfate. It is a mineral compound. Soaking your feet in Epsom salt water helps lose dead and dry skin.

Epsom salt improves blood circulation to the feet. It can also help exfoliate and smooth dry and cracked skin.

Dissolve the Epsom salt in a bathtub of warm water. Soak your feet for 20 minutes. You can use the foot brush to rub the dead and dry skin.

2- Pumice Stone

Pumice stone is one of the most common ways to remove thick dead skin. A pumice stone is a natural lava stone that can help remove dead skin and calluses from your feet.

Fill your bathtub with warm water, dip your feet in the warm water and gently rub the pumice stone over the dead skin in a circular motion. 

After using a pumice stone, dry your feet and apply moisturizer to your feet.

If your feet are injured, do not use the pumice stone. If you use a pumice stone on any other part of your body when your skin is injured, don’t, as it can cause damage.

3- Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is a soft wax offered at many salons for a pedicure treatment. Paraffin wax is melted at a medium temperature around 125 F, or 51 C. Don’t overheat the paraffin wax as it will burn or irritate your skin.

You can do this at home by dipping your feet in the paraffin wax until several layers are formed. Later, wrap your feet in plastic and leave it for a while until the wax becomes dry. 

After the wax dries, remove the wax, the dead skin will also be removed along with the wax.

If you are using the wax at home, be very careful and use the wax by measuring its temperature.

4- Foot Scrub

Foot scrub is one of the best products for your feet. Foot scrubs contain many benefits, including boosting blood circulation and relaxing your body. 

It exfoliates the dead and dry cells from the skin and soothes foot pain. Before using any scrub, do a patch test to know whether the Scrub suits your skin or not. 

A coffee scrub is an excellent scrub for your feet. You will need only two tablespoons of coffee, two tablespoons of powdered sugar, and one tablespoon of coconut or almond oil.

Mix the ingredients and make a thick paste. Apply it for 20 minutes, gently massage it, and then wash it off. It will remove dead skin cells and soften your feet.

Not only this, you can try other homemade foot scrubs like using sea salt and lemon juice. Honey and sugar foot scrub is also moisturizing your skin. Strawberry foot scrub is best for all skin types and keeps your skin moisturized.

5- Soaking Feet in Vinegar

Soaking the feet in vinegar is very beneficial. Vinegar is primarily available in all homes. White or apple cider vinegar can help remove dead and dry skin from your feet.

Fill your bathtub with warm water and add four drops of vinegar. Soak your feet for around 15 to 20 minutes.

Vinegar can fight athlete’s infections also. It is a fungal infection that primarily develops on the soles of feet and between the toes. It can also help improve foot odor. 

We experience lousy food odor from sweating or the growth of bacteria. Vinegar kills bacteria and enhances food odor.

6- Banana Peel

Yes, you have read right. Bananas peel! Everybody loves bananas, but what is the usage of peel? After eating the bananas, do not throw away the banana peel. 

Banana peel has dozens of uses; it glows your skin, removes dead and dry skin, and whitens the teeth.

Banana peels are rich in vitamins A, B, C and E. They work on every skin type. They help moisturize your cracked, dry, thick dead skin.

Using a foot brush, rub the peel on your feet and leave it on for 10 minutes. Repeat the process for a few days until you get the results.

Summing Up

Dry, cracked and dead skin is a common skin problem most of us face nowadays. You only have to follow the ways that prevent dead and dry skin.

If you care for your feet regularly and stay away from the conditions that cause thick, dead and dry skin, your feet won’t become dry and cracked. Make sure to use some moisturizers or lotions for hydrating your skin. Oils like coconut, tea tree, and almond oil help remove dead and dry skin cells.

We hope you liked this blog and that we were able to answer your question How to Remove Thick Dead Skin From Feet. The remedies in this blog will surely prove to be helpful for you.

FAQs

Should You Use a Razor to Cut off Dead Skin?

No, never attempt this! This can be very dangerous. You should never cut the dead skin as it can cause more dead cells to develop. You can follow the tips above to remove dead skin from your feet.

Should You Pull the Dead Skin From Your Feet by Yourself?

No, you can’t pick or remove dead skin from your feet. When you remove dead skin by yourself, it may lead to several infections. The bacteria will spread more. Consult your doctor if you are having a severe issue.

Does Vaseline Help Dead Skin on Feet?

Yes, you can use vaseline to treat dry and cracked skin. It removes dead skin from your feet if you apply it and leave it overnight.