I would recommend using a foot file while in the bath or shower. The water makes your skin softer and easier to file away the dry skin. I would think anyway. I would also use a cream or lotion specially for this problem. Not just your everyday hand lotion. I would think that applying a bit of baby oil or somthing like that and wearing socks would help as well. I had this problem and I did all the above and it didn't solve the problem over night, but being consistant worked wonders. Good luck!

First step is the foot file. Next go to your local pharmacy and ask them to get you some AmLactin 12% cream (don't get the lotion). This is made by Upsher-Smith and will cost around $13. Apply heavily then put on socks. Do this in the morning and when you go to bed and your feet will be soft again in about two weeks.

Use a pumice stone or a foot file in conjunction with a product that is meant to remove dry skin. I personally like Sally Hansen's Thick Callous Remover and Pedicure In A Minute. I use a pumice stone with the callous remover first (for really thick and rough patches) and then follow it with the pedicure in a minute scrub. Once the thick and rough patches are gone, you can just skip to using the Pedicure In A Minute regularly to soften feet. Before bed I slather on a layer of Keresal (or similar product) and put socks on to exfoliate and soften feet overnight. This is not a lotion, it is a gel made with salicyclic acid, urea, and white petroleum jelly and it exfoliates (to remove the surface of in scales) rather than hydrate. I also use foot lotion on my feet during the day. All of these things or similar items are available at grocery, drug, or beauty supply stores.

Try using Shea butter before you go to sleep and place socks on your feet to seal in moisture. You can find Shea Butter at a local health store. You can also use Cocoa Butter or Vaseline as a substitute.

I have had this problem! I found that the foot file works best on DRY feet, and the pumice works better on wet feet! Each time you are in the tub, use the pumice stone with soap. When your feet are dry (not fresh from bath) I would begin with the foot file on hard calouses and dark-colored pads. It is all dead tissue so you want to uncover what is underneath. I bought several two-sided foot files at the dollar store and the work great. You just buff your feet with it and the dead skin comes off like talcum powder....Start with the roughest side of the tool, then buff all the rough spots until you see pinker skin -- but not too much or you will be sore. Then flip the device over. It looks like it is smooth and won't do anything, but the results are amazing....that smooth side really does smooth the skin! Then put yourself in the tub, or put your feet in a foot bath. You can use a light pumice to further clean and exfoliate each time you bathe. I agree with using lotion or shea butter or vaseline and socks for sleeping. You could be all better in just 2-3 days! Deep, sore cracks will take longer. Clean well and use triple antibiotic ointment which will kill the germs and also soften. Be careful with the filing around cracks that are raw...try to heal them first. If you are prone to this condition, drink lots of water and use pumice and soap every time you bathe, and lotion every day.

Here is an inexpesive solution, that works for me. go to dollar general store, dollar tree or everythings a dollar, and look for a product that contains oat meal, like aveeno, but the store brand. read the label for the contents. i applied twice a day and bingo, my problem was resolved. also, aloe vera works great. both products contain ingredients that your body loves. it works.

Another helpful thing is a foot razor. It costs about $3.00 at walmart and if you use it correctly and carefully, then apply lotions, it helps a lot! I get horrible deep cracked feet and went to a doctor about it. She shaved my foot and then i put lotion on it. It was fine until I stoped the lotion. I HATE shoes so that is why it happens to me! I would reccomend using the razor in the shower when your feet are soft!

Use lotion

Heel Balm by eulactol. I am a massage therapist and highly recommend this product for dry roungh and cracked heals. I also apply a hot towel - to a normal tempreture to the botom of my patients heal and then I massage olive oil, and ginger. around the bottom of the foot. and then apply heel balm again. I do this regime once a week in three weeks there heal is completly soft, and if you where high heels, you will more of a problem, in this area.

From personal experience, I can say that Sue Gee has the right ideas [foot file/DRY feet;pumice/wet feet; bathe feet; lotion or cream and...}> But, instead of donning socks, first cover the foot with plastic cling wrap, tape to keep in place,then pull on socks. The plastic cling wrap prevents the emollient from seeping into the sock and ensures that all the emollient goes into the feet. OVERNIGHT RELIEF!

I had the same problem... but my toenails were also being affected. They too were starting to look brittle. I ended up going to the Dr. who prescribed me Lamisil tablets and it not only cleared up my nail problem it also got permanently rid of my dry, flakey, cracked skin on my feet. I can now wear sandals and love it!

vaseline and socks

aloe vera lotion

lotion, everyday, dont skip any days!

Before you try to file your foot or take off calluses or apply cream, try a foot soak in some Betadine, about 1/2 cup of it in the warm water. It's cheaper to buy from a livestock or feed supply store and it's the same thing as you find from the drug store. Sock for about 1/2 hour or more. Then you can scrape the dead skin from your foot. A lot of it will come off pretty easily. Then it's time to apply shea butter or cocoa butter, just don't apply something that has a petroleum product as it's main ingredient.