How To Treat Peeling Feet
Your feet are humble servants that carry you around all day without getting much love. After a hard day, you could prop up your feet and notice they're cracked or peeling. Peeling feet can occur for many reasons, including dry skin, eczema, athlete's foot, psoriasis, or hyperhidrosis, which is when you sweat excessively (via Healthline).
According to Medical News Today, peeling feet is usually nothing to worry about unless you have wounds on your feet, excessive pain, or signs of infection, injury, or psoriasis. However, you should still be careful about cracks in your skin because they could get infected.
Your foot could also get infected if you try to peel the skin away, according to Women's Health. You should also be careful about using harsh foot peels, especially if you have sensitive skin. Your peeling feet could easily get inflamed and painful.
For the most part, you can treat peeling feet with some remedies at home. The type of remedy will depend on your condition.
Different treatments for peeling feet
If you have dry skin, moisturizing after a shower or bath is essential, according to Healthline. Avoid hot water because it can dry out your skin. If the humidity is low in your home, use a humidifier to help with moisture.
Dehydration can also cause dry skin, so be sure to stay adequately hydrated. Switch to mild soap, and look into over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.
If you have athlete's foot, which is a fungus that can get between your toes, find an over-the-counter antifungal treatment (via Medical News Today). If you have a fungus on your feet, it will also be in your shoes, so be sure to treat your shoes as well (via Women's Health).
If you have psoriasis or eczema, alternate between hydrocortisone cream and a thick moisturizer, suggests Medical News Today. If your feet are peeling from blisters, then cover the blisters, wear comfortable shoes, and keep your feet clean, dry, and away from dirty surfaces.
You can use a foot file to help remove calluses and dead skin, according to Feet First Clinic. It helps to soak your feet first in lukewarm water for about 20 minutes. After filing away dead skin, be sure to apply a moisturizer.
If home remedies aren't effective, your doctor can provide a prescription treatment. Once your feet are healed, Feet First Clinic suggests taking your shoes and socks off daily to allow them to breathe. You should also wear shower shoes in public showers and pools to avoid bacteria or fungi.