Flip Flop Feet - Appalachian Spring Dermatology

Treat Your Toes!

For those readers who have four seasons, “flip flop feet” is a summer reality. Maybe it’s not even flip flops; perhaps it’s river feet or bare feet. Nonetheless, sometimes, there comes a day when we realize our feet need serious attention. Help is on the way! We have products and tips to rejuvenate the look and feel of your feet. These tips are from a girly dermatologist who never has time for a real pedicure, so at home will have to do!

Microplane Foot File – This is a must for thick calluses. It does a number on them fast, but be very careful not to overdo it! It works best when the skin is dry.

Soak – To be honest, I NEVER have time to soak my feet, but if I did, I would soak them in vinegar water. For anyone with abnormal toenails or foot fungus, I recommend vinegar soaks. Vinegar soaks are not an exact science, but here’s the recipe. Combine ½ cup vinegar with any temperature water in a foot basin and soak for 15 minutes a few times a week. After soaking, use a toothbrush to remove any debris in and around the toenails. Do not scrape or probe underneath the toenails with anything sharp.

Baby Foot – A favorite of my assistant Kaitlin, Baby Foot, contains all-natural fruit acids that come in the form of a gel inside plastic booties. You wear the booties over clean feet for an hour then wash your feet and discard the booties. For the first few days, it will seem like nothing is happening, BUT one magical day (4-7 days after treatment), your feet will begin to shed like a snake. Your dead skin comes off in sheets in, and it’s equally disgusting and addicting to peel. After all the dead skin removes itself, your feet will feel like- you guessed it: a baby’s!

Eucerin Roughness Relief Spot Treatment – This has 30% urea as an active ingredient. Urea is safe, and it circulates in our bloodstream. So, no worries about using it on your feet. When applied to the skin, it helps break down dead skin, so it sloughs more easily.

Fabula Nebulae – We often recommend this product because it is so soothing. Apply it after soaking, or any time your feet need to drink in some moisture.

Elon Nail Conditioner – A traditional favorite of dermatologists, this is designed to rub on the nail plate and the cuticle to restore and protect.

Lamisil Cream for foot fungus– scientifically known as tinea pedis, is typical throughout the year. Summertime gives plenty of extra opportunities to pick it up. I recommend treatment with Lamisil cream over the counter or products containing the same active ingredient, terbinafine. I usually recommend treating one week past when you think everything is normal, which may take longer than what the box instructions recommend.

How about you? What are your favorite products or rituals for rejuvenating your flip flop feet?

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