A dermatologist has revealed two surprising products that will get rid of dry skin on your feet and why even the thickest moisturizer might not help you.
Dr. Abigail Waldman told her 264,000 followers on instagram that thick cosmetic creams are useless in treating dry and flaky skin.
This is because scaly feet are likely not due to dry skin at all, but rather a common fungal infection.
The assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard University recommended that those who suffer from this unsightly problem wash their feet with athlete’s foot cream and anti-dandruff shampoo.
He explained that the foot fungus tinea pedis, also known as athlete’s foot, is very common and is often confused with dry skin.
Also known as athlete’s foot, the fungus is best known for causing white, itchy patches on the cracked skin between the toes.
But it can also cause dry, scaly skin on other parts of the foot, including the heels.
Dr Waldman said: “Tinea pedis (foot fungus) is very common and is often confused with dry skin.
“Moisturizer won’t help and instead treat with an athlete’s foot cream like clotrimazole or Lamisil, or wash with an anti-dandruff shampoo like Selsun blue.”
These over-the-counter creams can help destroy fungus, and anti-dandruff shampoo contains chemicals like zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide that prevent skin peeling.
Athlete’s foot can be contracted by walking barefoot in places where another person has athlete’s foot, such as changing rooms and showers, explains the NHS.
Having wet or sweaty feet or having cuts on the skin can make someone more susceptible to getting it.
Studies suggest that fungal infection affects about 15 percent of people each year worldwide.
Fungi thrive in warm, humid areas, meaning your feet provide the perfect environment as they have around 250,000 sweat glands, providing an ideal breeding ground.
Fungal infections are very contagious and can spread to any part of the skin, including the scalp, hands, and even the groin.
This is especially likely if you use the same towel for your feet as you do for the rest of your body.
Athlete’s foot is unlikely to improve on its own, and antifungal medications, such as creams, sprays, and powders, can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Dry, cracked heels can also be caused by a lack of moisture in the skin.
The NHS recommends filing hard skin with a pumice foot stone, using moisturizer on the skin after washing and continuing to apply cream to prevent it from recurring.