Feet lined in dry pores and skin? Doctor reveals why moisturiser is USELESS – and the 2 shocking merchandise that can banish it eternally
A dermatologist has revealed two surprising products that will banish dry skin on the feet — and why even the thickest moisturiser might not help you.
Dr Abigail Waldman told her 264,000 followers on Instagram that the thick cosmetic creams are in fact useless for treating dry and scaly skin.
That’s because scaly feet is likely not to be due to dry skin at all, but instead a common fungal infection.
The assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard University recommended those afflicted with the unsightly problem should bathe their feet in athlete’s foot cream and antidandruff shampoo.
She explained that the foot fungus tinea pedis — also known as athlete’s foot — is very common and often mistaken for dry skin.
Also known as athletes foot, the fungus is best known for causing itchy, white patches of 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 mistaken for dry skin.
‘Moisturiser won’t help and instead treat with an athletes foot cream like clotrimazole or Lamisil, or wash with antidandruff shampoo like Selsun blue.’
These over-the-counter creams can help to destroy the fungus and antidandruff shampoo contains chemicals such as zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide that prevents skin flaking.
Athletes foot can be caught by walking barefoot in places where someone else has athlete’s foot, like changing rooms and showers, the NHS explains.
Having wet or sweaty feet or having cuts on the skin can make someone more susceptible to catching it.
Studies suggest the fungal infection affects around 15 per cent of people each year globally.
Fungus thrives in warm, damp, moist areas — meaning feet provide the perfect environment, as they have around 250,000 sweat glands, providing an ideal breeding ground.
Fungal infections are highly contagious and can spread to anywhere on your skin, including your scalp, hands and even your groin.
This is especially likely if you use the same towel for your feet as for the rest of your body.
Athlete’s foot is unlikely to get better on its own and antifungal medicines, including creams, sprays and powders, can be bought from a pharmacy.
Dry and cracked heels can also be caused by a lack of moisture on the skin.
The NHS recommends filing the hard skin using a pumice foot stone, using moisturiser on the skin after washing and continuing to apply cream to prevent reoccurrence.
