Podiatrist | Foot & Ankle Surgery Questions Dry skin

Why are my feet dry and cracked?

I'm a 22 year old student, so I do walk back and forth to my classes a lot. I noticed though that the bottom of my feet are cracked and dry. Should I see a podiatrist about this?

21 Answers

Yes. This can be easily treated with prescription topicals and then can be maintained with certain lotion. This will progress if left untreated.
There are multiple conservative options that work very well. Please, make an appointment with me in my Chandler office (480) 269-7130 and I will go over all of your options. Depending on Xrays (if needed) that I can take at my office and the clinical exam, I am able to diagnose and recommend different treatment options. I recommend you have this checked as soon as you can, especially since I can usually treat this without surgery very well in just one visit with me. My office is located on Dobson road, just north of Chandler Regional Hospital. Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists of Arizona. Feel free to ask to be seen by me specifically and I will get you in the same day or latest the next day. I take all insurances, please do not go off of the insurance list on this website as it is not updated yet. Mention that I have talked to you on the internet. I can also do the entire visit with you over the phone or video call as well, which most insurances cover, even if you are out of state and my staff can verify this for you when you schedule. Thank you and have a good evening.
SADLY, YOU WILL HAVE TO USE CREAMS THAT WILL HELP YOU. THERE SEEM THERE IS NOT A BASIC CAUSE, IT COULD BE GENETIC OR LACK OF LUBRICATION YOUR SKIN
You should see a podiatrist or a dermatologist. You may have tinea pedis, which is a form of fungal infection on your feet.

Dr. Kathleen Neuhoff 
Yes. See a podiatrist. Your skin is dry because you are not getting enough hydration. Dehydration can show up in the skin early on. Drink more water. Also, moisturize the skin with creams and lotions. These help moisturize
Hello,

I would try Eucerin cream or Gold bond's foot cream twice a day. Also if you walk bare foot at home I would recommend not doing so.

Dr. Lui
Hello and thank you for the question. The most common cause of dry feet is a moisture imbalance in your skin. The lack of proper moisture can lead to dry, cracked skin on the feet. There are other causes of dry skin such as certain autoimmune, metabolic and endocrine disease that cause dry skin as well. I recommend a good over the counter foot cream twice a day. Also I sell a nice compounded foot cream in my clinic if you are ever interested. Thank you for your question and good luck in your studies.
That can be normal if you walk barefooted with sandals or flip flops. Otherwise, see a podiatrist or dermatologist to determine the etiology. This may be a skin condition like psoriasis, fungus, Lichen planus, or some other eczematous condition.    

Jan David Tepper, DPM, FACFAS
I would suggest an evaluation. It could be just dry skin or possible fungal infection.

Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
Excessive drying and cracking of the skin can result from many factors. These can include environmental, dermatologic, endocrine/metabolic, and normal aging. Environmental can include reduced humidity which commonly occurs in the winter. Dermatologic can include infectious and noninfectious such as athletes foot, contact dermatitis, nummular eczema, and atopic dermatitis. Endocrine/metabolic disease can present with dry skin in the conditions of diabetes and thyroid disorder. Normal aging is as explained. The basic tenet of dermatology suggests if it is wet, dry it and if it is dry, wet it. Use of daily emollients or creams to hydrate the skin is very important. Excessive bathing is extremely drying to the skin as it strips the normal oils that maintain hydration. If there is a concern for noninfectious inflammatory dryness use of topical corticosteroids may be helpful. If there is a suggestion of infection due to fungal elements then anti-fungal creams should be considered.
Probably a good idea. Kerasol is an over-the-counter product that's very good. Bed, Bath, and Beyond has a greater product...a values rotary wheel for about 25 bucks.
Good luck.
Depending upon where you are this may be related to dry winter weather. This is also a common problem in the summer when people wear open back shoes. That being said there are also some skin conditions that cause this. If the cracks are bleeding or painful see a doctor immediately. If it is just dryness try a ointment based moisturizer for a week or two and see if it helps.
I would highly recommend you do see a podiatrist as there are certain topical medications that you can apply to your feet which will significantly improve them very rapidly. The podiatrist also can give you information about certain proper hygienic techniques to keep your feet from becoming dry and cracked.
Yes. You may have a condition that is inflammatory or may be due to a glandular problem. A podiatrist can help.

Ahmad Farah, DPM
It is always a good idea to do so to determine if the dryness and cracking is secondary to a systemic condition or environmental, and to be given the right treatment to prevent the cracking.
Dry and cracked feet can be painful and can lead to infection. Start by getting a pumice stone and applying a lotion or cream with some urea in it. Both of these can be found in any drugstore. Apply the cream daily and cover with socks. Use the pumice stone in the shower daily, a little every day goes a long way. If there are open cracks that are especially painful, apply neosporin at night to keep those areas safe from infection. If the condition does not improve in a few weeks, it’s time to see your local podiatrist.
Yes, because there are various causes for cracked skin, from fungus, to dermatitis, to eczema, to environmental causes. See your doc to find out why your skin is cracking in the first place.
It might not be a bad idea to see a podiatrist however he could try starting with over-the-counter moisturizing cream that he'll applied to the feet twice daily.
You could possibly have a fungus or could just need a lotion and hydration.
Cracked and dry feet, if not addressed, can lead to infection. The cause of the cracking needs to be established. I recommend you be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) to determine the cause and the appropriate treatment options
Yes, see a podiatrist. Also, increase your water intake. This dry, cracked skin in your body showing some hydration. Also, apply lotion or cream to your feet at least twice daily.
This is a problem that can arise secondary to Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), fungal infections, and abnormal biomechanics. You can try over-the-counter Amlactin cream, and if the problem is bad, you can apply the cream, then wrap your feet in saran wrap for the night. In the morning, you can use a callus file or pumice stone to lightly go over the callused areas, and they should resolve in a few weeks. If it is a fungal infection, this remedy will not help, and you should seek medical attention.