How to Soften and Smooth Your Feet

Co-authored by Miguel Cunha, DPM

Last Updated: August 31, 2024 Approved

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If your feet feel rough and callused, it might be time to step up your foot care routine! Luckily, there are a ton of easy remedies to make your feet smoother and softer. If you're looking for another way to treat yourself and soften your feet at home, you're in the right place. We'll show you exactly how to pamper your feet and get the soft, smooth skin you want.

1

Use a foot scraper or file.

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Foot files or scrapers remove dry, tough skin. They are metal products that look sort of like cheese graters. Sometimes, they are also made of clay. You can use them to grate the dry, tough skin off the bottoms of your feet. With regular use, the feet will become smooth.
- A more aggressive way to remove very thick calluses are callus shaves, which are sharp, horizontal blades that look similar to a very small cheese slicer. Don’t remove a callus entirely. If the removal becomes painful, stop. ^{[1]
  X
  Research source} You can also buy foot files in the shape of plastic eggs.
- Using the scraper or the stone, remove all the dead skin. Apply a moisturizing cream while massaging the skin when you are done.

2

Use a pumice block or stone.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Miguel Cunha, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}

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Pumice stones are great for buffing your feet and removing dead skin cells. They can be found in most beauty stores, and they are an alternative to a scraper, which is often made of metal.
- The pumice stone will scrape the top layer of dead skin cells off your feet, dramatically improving their smoothness. Remove skin when it is dry to avoid injury. Rub the pumice block directly onto calluses and rough patches to rub off dead and useless skin.
- Don’t rub too hard or long as you can easily irritate or injure your feet. Use soft back and forth motions and apply little pressure.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Miguel Cunha, DPM
  Board Certified Podiatrist
  
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
- You could also regularly use an exfoliating soap that you buy at the supermarket. You won’t have as much work to do with the pumice stone then!

3

Moisturize your feet daily.

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You can apply lotion, cream, or Vaseline to lock in moisture and soften your feet. Just avoid moisturizing between your toes, as it's important to keep that area dry to prevent infection.
- During the night, put Petroleum jelly all over your feet and either wear socks or put a towel underneath so the jelly doesn’t get all over your bed sheets. Do this right before going to bed. ^{[4]
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- You could also take 2 plastic bags the size for your feet, apply Vitamin E oil to your feet, secure the bags, put socks over the bags, and then fall asleep. By morning your feet should be a lot smoother.
- Buy heel cream. Especially during the summer, feet often get rough and hard, due to calluses from walking with flip-flops or no shoes. The heels need special attention. At nice departments stores, you can find cream specially developed to soften heels, which often are the roughest part of the feet.
- Coconut oil or olive oil are also great natural ways to soften the feet.

4

Make a homemade scrub

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You can make homemade foot scrubs out of common household ingredients. These scrubs, if regularly applied, will result in smoother and softer feet.
- Concoct a sugar scrub using brown sugar (1/2 cup), honey (a spoonful), olive oil (or any oil of your choice, also ½ cup), and lemon juice (squirt). Brown sugar is less harsh than regular sugar. It will help your skin retain moisture after the scrub. Honey will also help soften and moisturize the feet. Lemon juice brightens and evens out the skin on the feet.
- However, many people warn strongly against using sugar or lemon on your skin, as they can cause lacerations and chemical burns respectively. If you use this scrub commonly, you may cause accelerated aging of the skin, along with other issues. If you have concerns about this, follow the recipe, but replace brown sugar with salt and don't add lemon. Salt is very good for the skin, and won't cause lacerations like sugar, while still exfoliating. The lemon does very little (besides burn you) in the first place, so replacing it isn't really necessary.
- Sit on the edge of a bathtub. Soak your feet in very warm water for about 10-15 minutes to soften the skin on your feet and prepare the skin for the scrub. Then, taking small amounts of the scrub, start gently massaging your feet, focusing on specific areas like the heel and the ball of the foot (especially if you have callouses).
- Massage the scrub into your feet for as long as you feel necessary. Leave the scrub on your feet for a minute or so, and then rinse off the scrub with warm water. After rinsing the feet, apply a generous amount of moisturizer to the feet, followed by a fair of fitted socks to ensure the moisturizer will remain on the feet, and penetrate the skin deeply.

5

Soak your feet.

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Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes before you go to bed. You need to do this several days a week. If you don’t regularly take care of your feet, calluses and toughness will start to build up, especially on your heels.
- Add a few drops of liquid soap and some baking soda (1 tablespoon for 5 liters of water) into the water (or try Epsom salts or bath salts).
- Baking soda helps to soften the dead skin and will ease its removal. You could also soak your feet in a foot spa. You can buy these spas at many stores. They often plug in, generating spa-like movement in the water, which is relaxing.

6

Get regular pedicures.

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Most nail salon pedicures include treatments that will soften the feet. For example, they will ask you to soak your feet in warm water before painting your toenails. ^{[5]
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Research source}
- They will then use a scraper to get the dead skin off your feet, including your heels, before proceeding. To minimize risk of infection, you should ask for a morning appointment.
- Ask the salon about the different packages because sometimes deluxe packages offer more scrubs and procedures that will soften your feet (and your legs too). These pedicures can be fairly expensive, though, and need to be done at least once a month.

7

Wear shoes.

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Your feet are going to get pretty rough if you’re walking around barefoot a lot. Especially if you’re walking around outside. So wear shoes, and you’ll have less work to do in order to soften them.
- Harsh sunlight and dust also damages the feet (and the hands too). Wear socks with your tennis shoes, too.
- They might look nice, but let’s face it – high heels are absolutely brutal on your feet. So wear them sparingly – just for special occasions, perhaps.

8

Try foot exercises.

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Doing regular foot exercises can help keep your feet softer and healthier. They stimulate blood circulation, and this can make feet less dry. ^{[6]
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Research source}
- Use your hands to rotate your feet clockwise and then counter-clockwise. Do this 10 times on each side.
- Exercise your toes by stretching them outwards and then backwards. You should also do this exercise 10 times each.
- Drink a lot of water in addition to regularly exercising the feet. Hydrating the body makes the skin healthier and softer all the way around.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What can a diabetic soak their feet in?

Mark Co, DPM
Podiatrist
Dr. Mark Co is a Podiatrist who runs his own private practice in San Francisco, California. Dr. Co specializes in treatments for bunions, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, warts, plantar fasciitis and other causes of foot pain. He also offers custom orthotics for the treatment and prevention of foot and ankle issues. Dr. Co completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at New York University and an MA in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Co also completed his DPM at the California School of Podiatric Medicine and a residency and internship at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Santa Clara, California. Dr. Co was awarded San Francisco's "Top 3 Podiatrists" in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Dr. Co is also a member of the CPMA (American Podiatric Medical Association).

Mark Co, DPM

Podiatrist

Expert Answer

If your feet are feeling like they could use some love, prepare an Epsom salt foot bath. Use 3 quarts of warm water and 2-3 tablespoons of Epsom salts. Soak your feet for 15 minutes before taking them out. Just be sure you talk to your primary care doctor about Epsom salts before doing this. It may not be safe for you depending on how healthy your feet are.

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Question

How do you fix rough feet fast?

Miguel Cunha, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Miguel Cunha is the founder of Gotham Footcare and is a podiatrist based in Manhattan, New York. Dr. Cunha is a foot and ankle surgeon with experience treating a wide array of foot and ankle conditions from minor problems to complex reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Cunha received his DPM from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency as the Chief Resident at the Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University where he specialized in lower extremity trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Dr. Cunha is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the New York Podiatric Medical Association, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and is board certified in Podiatric Medicine.

Miguel Cunha, DPM

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

A technique that I recommend is using urea cream and putting it in on the rough areas of your feet at night. What the urea cream will do is break down the thickness of any calluses. Wrap saran wrap around your feet and put a sock over them. In the morning when you take a shower, use a pumice stone and it will scrape off very easily.

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Question

How do you properly use a pumice stone?

Miguel Cunha, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Miguel Cunha is the founder of Gotham Footcare and is a podiatrist based in Manhattan, New York. Dr. Cunha is a foot and ankle surgeon with experience treating a wide array of foot and ankle conditions from minor problems to complex reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Cunha received his DPM from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency as the Chief Resident at the Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University where he specialized in lower extremity trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Dr. Cunha is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the New York Podiatric Medical Association, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and is board certified in Podiatric Medicine.

Miguel Cunha, DPM

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

You don't to be too aggressive. I recommend someone soak in lukewarm water and Epsom salt, maybe adding two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This will help soften up the calluses. After, scrape the calluses away as tolerated with gentle strokes. Afterwards, you can hydrate the area with foot cream.

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Tips

You need to treat your feet with the same care you give to the skin on your face.

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Stop going barefoot! Get a pair of shoes that fit you well and are comfortable.

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Feet scrubs are also great for softening the hands, so after you are done massaging your feet, rub the leftover scrub on your hands.

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Tips from our Readers

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Collagen moisturizers are great for promoting healthy skin and for keeping your feet soft and hydrated.
You can buy pumice stones that have a wooden handle to make the exfoliating process easier!

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Warnings

Don't ever use anything sharp to scrape rough feet. Even if you don't injure yourself, you can cause infections. Use a pumice stone to gently buff your calluses away.

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