Dry, Callused Feet? Here's What You Can Do

Taking care of your feet isn’t always as simple as slathering on a foot cream post-shower and booking the occasional pedicure. If your feet are dry and callused, you’ll have to go beyond basic pampering to see relief. Thankfully, if your feet are already marked by a callus or two, they don’t have to be stuck that way for long. You can help reduce dryness and gradually minimize the look of calluses in the comfort of your own home. Below, we’re sharing the proper steps to take care of dry, callused feet—plus, what causes calluses to form in the first place.

What Causes Callused Feet?

If you have calluses but aren’t quite sure why, we have the answer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the hard, thickened areas of skin that you know as calluses are a result of friction or pressure on the skin. In fact, while you may not be a fan of calluses, they are actually your body’s natural attempt to protect the skin underneath them. Poorly fitting shoes are a common cause of calluses. The Mayo Clinic states that wearing shoes without socks can also lead to callus-causing friction on your feet.

How to Get Rid of Dry, Callused Feet

Now that you have a better idea of what’s behind your dry, callused feet, here’s how to take care of them, according to the experts:

1. Soak in warm water. Start off by soaking your feet, just like you would at the nail salon. The AAD suggests doing this for 5-10 minutes or until the skin softens.

2. File with a pumice stone. Dip a pumice stone in warm water, and use it to gently file the calluses. Move the stone in circular or sideways motions to remove dead skin. The AAD notes that it’s important not to take off too much skin, as it could lead to bleeding and infection. 

3. Apply an ultra-thick moisturizer. There’s no doubt, if your feet are dry and callused, they’re in desperate need of a moisturizer. And not just any old foot cream, but one that’s extra thick and emollient.  

4. Use tactics to amplify moisturizing. You may notice your feet don’t seem to be soaking up moisturizer as well as they should, and if that’s the case, board-certified plastic surgeon, SkinCeuticals expert, and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Forrest Roth, has a suggestion for you. In order to help ensure better penetration of moisture, you can do an Epsom salt soak beforehand. After using the Epsom salts, don’t rush to dry off; applying moisturizer directly to damp skin will help trap more moisture.

5. Protect with pads. After calluses are formed, they can continue to be irritated by movement and activity. To help prevent that, the AAD recommends placing moleskin around the calluses as padding. The Mayo Clinic mentions that you can also use non-medicated callus pads to help cushion the skin and decrease friction. 

6. Wear well-fitting shoes. It’s likely that your shoes were part of the problem in the first place, which is why the AAD recommends wearing shoes that are the right fit—not too loose or too tight. In addition to your shoes, Mayo Clinic warns to switch your socks to a comfortable fabric that can wick away moisture well.  

7. See a specialist. In most cases, an at-home plan should be enough. The AAD reveals that most calluses gradually go away when the friction or pressure causing them stops (another reason to toss those too-tight shoes). However, if the calluses are painful or you believe there may be an underlying health issue, both Dr. Roth and the AAD say to see a podiatrist for an expert opinion.