Do you have dry, flakey, dehydrated feet?
Sometimes, dryness is straight forward, and the solution lies in using a customized foot moisturizer regularly. In other cases, there's more to the problem than dryness, and in these types of cases, applying a moisturizer won’t always solve the problem
Let’s talk about the major factors contributing to dry feet:
Factor: Sweat
Your feet sweat. That’s a fact.
They contain more sweat glands than any other part of your body.
How is this relevant to dryness?
The body uses sweat as a mechanism to cool itself off. When your body needs to cool down, it sweats to give off heat. This results in evaporative water loss from the skin and decreases the body’s overall water retention. The loss of water via sweating can manifest as dryness in your feet. Because the feet play a major role in heat regulation through sweat production, (which means overall water loss), they are prone to dryness.
Solution: When water loss through sweat is responsible for dryness, using a daily moisturizer specialized for the foot is the best solution. The Intensive Hydration Crème was specially designed to optimize nourishment and moisturize your feet. Apply daily, or twice daily morning and night, for
Factor: Underlying medical conditions
Dryness in the feet can be caused or exacerbated by systemic medical conditions such as :
-Diabetes
-Hyperhidrosis
-Dermatitis
-Eczema
-Psoriasis
-Thyroid dysfunction
-Sjogrens syndrome
-Poor circulation
-Palmoplantar keratoderma
-Hormonal imbalance
-Vitamin/mineral deficiency
Solution: If you’re struggling with dry feet that don’t improve with the use of routine moisturizer, consult with your doctor for an evaluation of the problem. Your doctor may be able to diagnose the underlying condition, and provide treatment options.
Factor: Fungal infection
Fungi that infect the skin and nails are microorganisms that use the protein keratin for growth. Although they are invisible, they usually present as flakey scaling which can itch and appear similar to dry skin on the bottom of the feet.
Solution: If you have dry skin that won’t respond to moisturizers or emollients, then see a podiatrist to rule out a fungal infection.
Factor: Aging
The decreased activity of sebaceous and sweat glands in the elderly is one of the main contributing factors causing dryness. Also with age, the ability of the skin to retain water decreases resulting in skin dehydration and lack of elasticity Skin can become more fragile, dry, and more likely to crack in the elderly.
Solution: Mild soaps and bath oils can be used when showering to preserve the natural oils of the skin. The Intensive Hydration Crème by footwRx was designed to rejuvenate skin by rehydration, and can be used on all ages.
Factor: Medications
Certain medications and medical treatment therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation can cause dryness of the feet.
Solution: If you’ve noticed increased dryness of your feet after starting a new medication or treatment therapy; consult with your doctor or podiatrist regarding treatment options.
Factor: Hygiene
If you love a long, hot, steaming shower, you are subjecting your feet to moisture loss by stripping away natural oils.
Solution: Take shorter showers. Soaps can also strip away natural oil production, so make sure you are using a mild soap that is not irritating your skin.