Make over my feet!

July 25, 2005 8:11 AM

Somewhere underneath the sweaty cracked calluses and ragged toenails are cute, soft, dry feet. My eyes are also about to crack from the countless products and incredible secret formulas available on Google. What can I do to get foot-model feet without breaking the bank? I'm a bit wary of just smearing random condiments on my feet (mayonaise, vinegar, etc) and hoping for the best. Any home or all-natural treatments worked for anyone? My SO thanks you in advance for your advice.
posted by pants to Health & Fitness (27 answers total)

Wool socks, good fitting shoes/boots and a few months of walking around. Some of the softest feet around are to be found a worksites across the country.
posted by Mitheral at 9:16 AM on July 25, 2005

All you really need is a pumice stone and a good moisturizer. You're going to have to do some serious scraping on those pups. Soak your feet for a goodlong time and then get to work with that pumice stone. (Shaving the dead skin off with a razor works surprisingly well too, but you have to be very cautious.) After you have finished and have nast grey water, slather up with some all natural lotion and put on a pair of socks. I was always vehemently against sleeping in socks, but my honey has the softest feet in the world and he almost always wears socks. Locks in the moisture. Oh, and don't take too many showers.
posted by crapulent at 9:20 AM on July 25, 2005

Um, never mind. This says that you shouldn't mess with your calluses. (But, I always give mine the pumice treatment and I've never had any problems.) I guess it depends upon the size and severity of your calluses. Of course, prevention would be ideal. Are you wearing properly fitting shoes?
posted by crapulent at 9:34 AM on July 25, 2005

I have horrible problems with dry, cracked feet. My feet get so cracked, it is as ugly as it is painful. I tried everything, pumice stones, moisturizers, special moisturizer socks, you name it. One day, on a whim, I decided to buy Nexcare Skin Crack Care. The Skin Crack Care did nothing to help the problem but it came with a sample of Advanced Skin Cream. That stuff is a miracle. Believe it or not, I noticed a difference the next day. I highly recommend it.
posted by necessitas at 9:35 AM on July 25, 2005 [1 favorite]

Get recommendations from people you know for a good nail salon in your area and get thee a pedicure. They will often do a lot of what crapulent recommends - and usually for a very modest fee. Then you just need to do the follow up - and moisturizer and socks is good. If things are really that bad - there is a prescription my mom uses - not exactly natural but it works - called CARMOL 40. It made her heel badness just disappear.
posted by Wolfie at 9:46 AM on July 25, 2005

That site that recommends not removing calluses is selling orthotics.
posted by craniac at 10:01 AM on July 25, 2005

I use this product which has done wonders for the skin all over my body, including my feet. No oil, just the natural moisturizing chemical your skin loses as it ages. I literally love this so much I would be a spokesperson. The years of oily moisturizers, "beauty secrets", and folk remedies are gone now!
posted by Dantien at 10:02 AM on July 25, 2005

Peppermint Foot Lotion from The Body Shop. That shit is gold.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:03 AM on July 25, 2005

I use sweet almond oil (available at my local drug store for about $3 a bottle) on my feet to make them super soft, especially after I use the pumice. It has no odour and lasts for a long time. Just remember that a little goes a long way.
I've tried various foot creams and find that this is the best. Non-greasey (believe it or not) and the lack of smell is a plus. If you want smell you can add a couple drops of your favourite essential oil. I think peppermint would be great for feet! Anyways, hope this is useful!
posted by LunaticFringe at 10:03 AM on July 25, 2005

I second going to a professional.

There is this stuff that some places use for pedicures, a mild acid/enzyme solution that they pour on your calluses, leave it there for a minute or so, and then use something like a small cheese grater and grate the dead skin off. It was amazing. I saw this when they were working on my boyfriend's feet once, and then we went to a different place and they didn't do this or the paraffin wax.* So, I would suggest getting good reccommendations or doing research on spas that have thorough pedicures. After that you can do basic upkeep yourself, then go back every couple of months if it's getting beyond your control.

*If anyone knows good places in NYC that do what I'm describing, please feel free to email me.
posted by scazza at 10:17 AM on July 25, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for all the responses... I will try the OTC remedies before looking into a professional intervention - if it helps I wear flip-flops/sandals almost exclusively during the summer months - could this be exacerbating my problems because I never wear socks in the summer?
posted by pants at 11:17 AM on July 25, 2005

Second the pedicure. When they ask if it's okay to use the shaver, say yes.

Follow up: Use lotion daily. Occasional lotion + socks treatment. Scrub calluses with a pumice a few times a week.
posted by desuetude at 11:17 AM on July 25, 2005

If you "do the sock thing", make sure they are COTTON socks. You can get good effects from slathering your feet with your preferred moisturizer before bed and then putting on cotton socks overnight.

(This works for hands as well, but it is harder for me to keep gloves/socks on my hands while I'm sleeping...)
posted by jeanmari at 11:33 AM on July 25, 2005

I use Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme with plain old cotton socks, which really makes a difference. Do it at night, while you sleep. I'm also one of these people who can't stand to have "dry feeling" feet, so I also use Aveeno lotion in the mornings -- all over, but I make sure to get my feet. Just make sure to wear socks while you're getting ready (or slippers). Be sure not to do the morning lotion application "last thing" because then you will have slimey feet, which is no good at all.

If your feet are that bad, though, get a pedicure. Go some place with the big comfy back massager chairs and just enjoy it. It's really awesome, and always makes me, as well as my feet, feel better.
posted by Medieval Maven at 11:36 AM on July 25, 2005

pure shea butter. a bit spendy, but a little goes a long way.
posted by luneray at 11:43 AM on July 25, 2005

Another vote for the Burt's Bee's coconut gunk - it's amazing. Smells very strongly though, so avoid if you are opposed to coconut.
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:58 AM on July 25, 2005

Response by poster: If I do decide to get a pedicure, what should I expect from the pedicurista and what will she expect from me? Should I try to do some preliminary foot-care at home or can I come in with nasty but clean feet? (Piggybacking my own question a bit, apologies.)

This reminds me of getting ready to go to the dentist as a child by making up for 6 months of poor oral hygiene with one afternoon of brushing my gums raw. Oh, the misguided guilt.
posted by pants at 12:09 PM on July 25, 2005

Made for livestock, but this stuff works wonders on cracked skin. I do the overnight with cotton socks once every few weeks and it's like a foot fairy came and left me new feet.
posted by jalexei at 12:35 PM on July 25, 2005

Have you thought about going shoeless as much as possible? Most likely, your shoes (and socks) are the source of the problem.

If you can, switch to sandals when you are not working. If you have a desk job, you may be able to get away with slipping them off during the day.

YMMV, especially during the winter.
posted by unixrat at 12:51 PM on July 25, 2005

Well, on the "Where to get a pedicure" front, I would ask someone you think has decent judgement and well-maintained toes. Barring that, you want clean, and by the sound of it you apparently do need to have the excess heel and callasy material shaved off, so you may want to ask if they do that part of the service. This is a picture of a callas shaver, in case you haven't seen one. I usually look for an autoclave, and some places also make you your own pedicure "kit" if you become a repeat customer, so you have your very own set of stuff that is only used on you.

Basically, cleanliness and reputation.
posted by Medieval Maven at 1:06 PM on July 25, 2005

Peppermint Foot Lotion from The Body Shop. That shit is gold.

I agree with this completely. I also wear flip-flops through most of the summer and I find that just the dirt and grit that fly over my feet can contribute to them feeling all nasty, in addition to just general dryness. I usually switch to sandals or slippers when I get home, rub my feet over with that foot lotion and put them up. I'm too fidgety for overnight socks but when the weather gets colder I'll put lotion on them before the socks go on and sleep in them.

As far as your toenails go, start off keeping them clipped short just to keep them out of your way while you deal with your other foot issues. Once you start growing them out, keep them coated in some sort of clear polish that will keep them a bit less scraggly and cleaner besides.
posted by jessamyn at 1:27 PM on July 25, 2005

For super cheap foot care:
Pick up a foot file ($1) and use it everyday in the shower,~ 30 seconds for each foot is good enough. Freeman's Bare Foot Peppermint and Plum foot lotion is a cheaper alternative to The Body Shop's version ($3.50). Slather that on your feet after your shower. Then at night, smear your feet with Vaseline ($2) and put clean cotton socks over them. Pretty feet in a few days without a lot of pain to your wallet.

All these things can be found at your local Target or Wal-martFallApart.
posted by idiotfactory at 1:44 PM on July 25, 2005

I see sexy guys getting pedicures every time I go to get mine. DO IT! Soft, clean feet make the ladies crazy. A professional pedicure is the next best thing to a happy ending massage.

Unixrat, I've read that dry/cracking heels are actually a result of sandals; that's why you see so many ladies with spreading and cracked heels as the summer goes by.
posted by pomegranate at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2005

ditto on bag balm.

a lot of people are embarassed to get a pedicure if their feet are in bad shape, but really you *are* paying them to take care of your feet (esp if you're not getting polish) and make them look pretty. and it feels amazing.

at every pedicure place i've been to, they soak your feet in a hot soapy whirlpool bath for up to ten minutes - not only will that relax you and make you stop worrying, it will soften and sanitize your feet.
posted by radioamy at 5:25 PM on July 25, 2005

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Foot Cream.
very nice.
posted by hortense at 6:36 PM on July 25, 2005

No matter how gross your feet are, they've seen much worse. Come in with clean feet and possibly murmur an abashed apology. (Which they will wave off as unnecessary.) And don't forget to tip well.

What to expect? Big chair with bubble spa for your feet. They'll soak your feet for a bit, then clip and file your toenails, trim your scruffy cuticles and scrub. The razor feels a bit odd, as they hold your foot up and gently shave, but it doesn't hurt. Then they'll loofah and slather your feet with various potions, lotions, and unguents, and perhaps massage your legs and feet.
posted by desuetude at 8:39 PM on July 25, 2005

Radical departure here. Change your diet. I went on the paleolithic diet a year and a half ago, and among the surprising benefits was that the cracked rough calluses on my feet vanished. I can't narrow down what factor had been causing the skin problems, but this is just to say that the problem could be more biochemical than mechanical.
posted by zadcat at 9:52 PM on July 25, 2005