If you’ve been asking yourself, “Why are my feet peeling!?” and want to figure out how to get rid of the flaky, peeling skin on your feet as fast as possible, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re experiencing skin peeling on the bottom of your feet and in between your toes or an annoying itch that just won't seem to go away, we’ve got all the information you need to regain healthy feet once again! By the end of this article, you'll understand the potential causes of your peeling skin, affordable DIY treatments that you can do from the comfort of your home, and preventative steps that you can take to stop the skin on your feet and toes from peeling in the first place.

 

 Let's start with the most pressing question you may have...

Why Is the Skin On My Feet Peeling?

From environmental factors, such as hot showers and sunburns, to allergic reactions, infections, and medical conditions, there are many reasons why the skin on your feet and between the toes can become flaky and start to peel. If you're feeling perplexed at what might be causing your peeling skin issues, check out the list of causes below!

Environmental Factors

Hot Showers

• Leave your skin feeling dry and itchy because hot water pulls moisture and oils from your skin
• Can also break down the skin's outermost layer of tissue, causing dryness by allowing water to escape more easily from your skin
• Dissolved minerals in hard water, like magnesium and calcium, can also dry out your skin, because they strip your skin of natural oils that would otherwise keep your skin healthy and moisturized

Sunburns

If you spend a little too long baking in the sun trying to get your summer bronze going and/or didn't apply enough sunscreen, then you may sunburn your skin. During the healing process, your skin will become dry, itchy, and peel off.

 

Fungal infections

If the peeling, itchy skin is occurring on your foot or between your toes, then there's a chance that you may have athlete's foot. This contagious fungal infection is caused by dermatophytes, a type of mold-like fungus that grows on the skin, hair, and nails. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments, and your risk of getting athlete's foot increases if you:

• Wear closed shoes, especially if they are plastic-lined
• Keep your feet wet for long periods
• Sweat a lot
• Walk around barefoot in warm, wet places like locker rooms or public pools
• Share towels, sheets, clothing, or shoes with someone who has athlete's foot
• Wear flip-flops or sandals in public places such as pools, gyms, and communal showers 

 

Allergies

Allergic contact dermatitis is a skin condition that causes an itchy rash or inflammation when the skin's had direct contact with an allergen. If the rash or dry skin is occurring in your feet, it may be due to the material that your shoes are made out of, most commonly leather, rubber, and adhesives.

Other potential allergens that may be causing the skin on your feet to flare up or become dry and flaky are:

• Poison ivy
• Preservatives in personal care products
• Fragrances
• Dyes (in your socks or footwear)

 

Medical Conditions

• Hypothyroidism, which is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. When the thyroid isn't working properly, dead skin takes longer to shed, which leads to dry, flaky skin on the feet.

• Diabetes, a metabolic disease that occurs when the body is no longer able to produce or use insulin properly, causes elevated blood sugar levels, which can damage the small blood vessels that supply nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Over time, the lack of essential nutrients reaching the nerves causes diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage. This nerve damage disrupts proper signaling to sweat glands in the feet, contributing to skin dryness.

• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies — specifically, a lack of vitamins A, C, and E can lead to dry, flaky, and fragile skin that's prone to cracking. Ensuring adequate intake of these vitamins helps maintain skin strength, elasticity, and moisture balance. Foods that are high in these vitamins include, but are not limited to, carrots, orange, and grapefruit.
• Eczema, which is a skin condition that results in inflammation, itchiness, and dry, scaly skin, including on the skin your feet.
• Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune skin condition that causes inflamed, red, raised areas of skin to develop into silvery scales, can also occur on your feet
• Hyperhidrosis, a medical condition that causes people to sweat excessively and unpredictably, may contribute to athlete's foot, by helping to create a warm, moist environment that facilitates the growth of the fungus

 

Now that we’ve covered some of the most common potential causes for why your feet are flaky, dry, and/or itchy, let’s get into the real meat and bones of why you’re here — the DIY at home treatments that you can do to get rid of the skin that’s peeling from the bottom of your feet and between your toes!

 

8 Affordable DIY At Home Treatments for Flaky, Peeling, and Itchy Feet

From the types of soaks you can do at home with ingredients that are probably already stocked in your kitchen to simple skincare routines, by trying these treatments you’ll be able to get rid of the peeling skin on your feet and toes in no time!

1. Vinegar Soak

1. Create a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts cool water

2. Soak your feet in the mixture for 5-10 minutes — The acidic properties of vinegar help loosen dead skin through a chemical exfoliation process. Not only that, but vinegar also has antimicrobial properties that can help get rid of bacteria and fungus!

• The science of it: The acetic acid in vinegar lowers the pH of the skin, which breaks down the proteins (i.e. keratin) and desmosomes, which are the adhesive structures that hold skin cells together, in the skin. This "softening" of the skin helps dead skin cells become less rigid and and easier to exfoliate manually

3. After soaking, you can use an exfoliating sponge or scrub to gently remove the loose dead skin cells from your feet

4. After rinsing off and patting dry, you can apply moisturizer and then put on a pair of moisturizing socks to lock in the moisture

Pro Tip: You can try this treatment up to a few times a week, but be careful not to overdo it, as vinegar can dry out your skin, especially if your feet are too raw or sensitive to begin with.

 

2. Epsom Salt Soak

1. Add ½ cup of Epsom salts to a tub of warm water

2. Soak your feet for 15–20 minutes

• The science of it: Epsom salts both exfoliate and help reduce/prevent smelly feet. The salts have a coarse texture that provides a mechanical exfoliation when rubbed on the skin. Additionally, Epsom salt has mild antibacterial properties, which can help reduce the bacterial load on the skin. Since odor is often caused by bacteria breaking down sweat and other organic materials on the skin, reducing these bacteria can decrease odor.

3.  After soaking, you can use an exfoliating sponge or body scrub to remove any dead skin that's still left. As an alternative, you can also make a scrub by mixing Epsom salts with olive.

Pro Tip: Avoid exfoliating if you have open sores or wounds

 

3. Honey Soak

Honey is a natural humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin, so if your feet are dry, flaky, and peeling, try mixing one cup of honey with one gallon of warm water and soak your feet for 20-30 minutes

The benefits of a honey soak:

• Soft, moisturized skin
• Prevention of infections due to honey's natural antibacterial and antifungal properties
• Reduction of inflammation due to honey's anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin, reducing redness and swelling.
• Accelerated healing due to the enzymes and nutrients in honey that stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells

 

4. Aloe Vera Gel Overnight Foot Treatment

Aloe Vera offers numerous benefits for the skin, including moisturization, soothing, and healing properties. Apply pure aloe Vera gel, either store-bought in a bottle or extracted from an aloe Vera plant, to your feet and cover them with overnight moisturizing socks.

If you're experiencing skin peeling off the bottom of your feet or between your toes, as well as inflammation, this may just be the home remedy for you!

 

5. Coconut Oil Overnight Foot Mask

If your feet are flaking and peeling really badly, then coconut oil might be the answer for you, as it's both rich in highly moisturizing fatty acids and has antifungal properties that help prevent infections, such as athlete's foot.

Although coconut oil can penetrate the skin to a certain extent, it primarily forms a protective barrier on the surface, so if you really want an effective overnight moisturizing treatment, then we recommend you to apply a rich, soothing, and easily absorbed moisturizer before lathering on the coconut oil.

Before bed, apply a generous amount of a glycerin-rich moisturizing skin cream  to your feet massage it in until it's been fully absorbed. Then apply the coconut oil and slip on a pair of moisturizing lotion socks, both to make sure the coconut oil doesn't get all over your bed sheets, as well as to lock in the moisture overnight​.

The next day, you should wake up to feet that are softer and smoother than ever before!

 6. Avocado Foot Mask

We all know how delicious and nourishing it is to consume avocados, but did you know that they can be just as healing and beneficial for your skin? Rich in healthy fats, oils, and vitamins, it's a wonder that it's not more common that folks use avocado in their skincare routine.

Here's the recipe:

1. Mash a ripe avocado and mix it with 1-2 tablespoons of honey

2. Apply this mask to your feet and cover either with plastic wrap or thick socks

3. Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off​

Pro Tip: To really lock in the newfound moisture, after rinsing off the mask, massage in a rich skin cream and slip on a pair of moisturizing heel socks. Do this a couple times a week and you'll start to see a difference in a very short period of time.

7. Banana Foot Mask

Got a few bananas that are getting a little too ripe to eat and don't feel like making banana bread out of them? Try making this hydrating foot mask, instead:

1. Mash a ripe banana and mix it with a tablespoon of honey

2. Apply it to your feet and cover either with plastic wrap or thick socks

3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes

4. Rinse off with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizing skin cream after patting dry (our customers say that this is the best moisturizing body lotion to rehydrate severely dry skin)

While there are limited clinical studies to showcase that bananas can be hydrating for the skin (we imagine it'd be a bit tricky to write a convincing proposal for a grant on the effectiveness of bananas on feet...), based on what we know about what a banana is made of, theoretically it there is evidence to support that bananas are hydrating and healing for the skin.

Bananas are moisturizing because they contain:

• Linoleic Acid: An omega-6 fatty acid that helps maintain the skin's barrier and retain moisture
• Oleic Acid: An omega-9 fatty acid known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties
• Palmitic Acid: A saturated fatty acid that has emollient properties, helping to soften and smooth the skin

Bananas also contain natural enzymes bromelain and papain, which can gently exfoliate the skin by helping to break down the proteins of dead skin cells and promote the growth of new, healthy skin.

Lastly, the amino acids in bananas, particularly those like tryptophan, leucine, and histidine, can help to reduce inflammation and irritation.

While bananas may not be as powerful as over-the-counter creams and drugs to help accelerate the process of healing dry, peeling skin, they are certainly affordable and a great way to make use of overripe bananas!

Call us biased, but we truly believe that this is the best body lotion to follow up any foot mask treatment, as it's both gentle and healing to damaged skin.

 

8. Yogurt Foot Mask

Yogurt foot masks can be very beneficial for dry, flaky, and peeling feet due to the presence of various components in yogurt that help to moisturize, exfoliate, and soothe the skin.

Yogurt contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that acts as a mild exfoliant by helping to break down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. In addition, yogurt also contains fats and proteins that provide deep hydration, as well as vitamins that help soothe irritated, itchy skin.

Here's the recipe:

1. 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (preferably full fat for better moisturizing)

2. 1 tablespoon of honey

Optional: You can also add in a couple of drops of lavender of peppermint to help reduce itchiness

3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes

4. Rinse off with lukewarm water and apply a rich hydration cream after patting dry

 

Now that you've successfully raided your entire kitchen to make sure that your feet return to their normal, non-peeling state of being, this begs the question, "how do I stop the peeling skin from appearing in the first place?"

A great question, indeed, and one that we'll now take the time to answer.

 

How to Prevent Getting Dry, Itchy, and Peeling Feet

Previously, we mentioned how factors such as hot showers, sunburns, allergies, infections, and certain medical conditions could be the cause of your dry foot ailments, so now we'll talk about what you can do in relation to those causes so that you can stop the skin from peeling before it even happens!

Take Cold Showers

Cold showers don't wash away your body's natural oils like hot showers do, so by taking a cold shower (it doesn't have to be ice-cold!), you'll be preserving your skin's natural oils that keep your skin moisturized.

Avoid Harsh Soaps:

Harsh soaps can have a high alkaline pH level, which breaks down your skin's natural oil barrier. Especially if you're experiencing itchy, irritated skin on your feet, you'll want to avoid soaps that contain skin-sensitizing fragrances.

Instead, use gentle, moisturizing soaps that are fragrance-free and contain glycerin. Always be sure to follow up your showers with a rich, moisturizing skin cream.

 

Wear Proper Footwear:

If you believe that you have athlete's foot (dry, red, cracked, inflamed foot), try these following tips:

1. Wear comfortable, breathable shoes that allow your feet to breathe and avoid excessive sweating, especially if you'll be walking on ground that is wet and is a shared public space

2. Use moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry (remember, a warm, moist environment is the home of the fungus that causes athlete's foot)

 

Diet and Supplements:

When all external efforts have failed to cure dry, peeling feet, it may be best to consider resolving the problem from the inside out. Ensuring a diet rich in vitamins and minerals that support skin health, such as vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc may help your skin regain its supple health in the long term.

Here are some examples of foods you may want to include more of in your diet for softer, healthier skin:

• Swiss chard
• Avocado
• Kiwi
• Salmon, tuna, oysters, and crab
•  Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and turkey
• Chickpeas, lentils, beans

There are many more foods you can add to your diet if you'd like to take this route to improving dry, flaky feet issues, so do your research if you'd like to see what other options there are!

You may also consider supplements if you find it difficult to incorporate these foods into your current diet, but whole foods will always be more nutritionally valuable than pure supplements.

 

Avoid Prolonged Exposure to Water:

This ties into our points about hot showers and wet public spaces — limiting the time you spend in these kinds of environments will reduce the exposure your skin has to oil-removing water and potentially fungal-infected grounds.

 

Seek the Help of a Professional

Who better to get advice from on both preventative and curative measures than from someone who deals with dry, itchy, and peeling feet on a regular basis? Make an appointment with a local podiatrist to get professional foot care and advice, especially if, based on the causes listed above, you do activities or frequent places that make you more prone to having peeling or infected, itchy skin on your feet and toes.

 

By taking these preventative steps, you can effectively manage and reduce the occurrence of dry, itchy, and peeling feet. Consistent care through cold showers, gentle soaps, proper footwear, and a nutrient-rich diet can significantly improve your skin’s health. Remember, if these measures don’t alleviate your symptoms, it’s always wise to seek professional advice.

If you still have some lingering questions that you feel like we haven't answered yet, check out our FAQ below, where we've added some common questions that others just like you are asking!

 

FAQ On Dry, Itchy, Peeling Feet

What can be mistaken for athlete’s foot?

What kills athlete’s foot in showers and on my clothes?

Is my foot peeling or is it fungus?

What can I buy for itchy feet?

• Antifungal sprays or creams
• Topical anti-itch medication (i.e. steroid creams) or prescription medication (i.e. SSRIs or gabapentin)
• Over the counter creams that soothe and hydrate dry, itchy skin

Is it OK to peel dead skin off feet?

 

It's generally not recommended to peel dead skin off your feet, as tempting as it is. Picking, pulling, or scrubbing at dead skin can make the situation worse, potentially ripping away too much skin and exposing cracks that could get infected. Instead, you can try these methods to remove dead skin from your feet:

• Foot soaks and masks (try the ones we mentioned above)
• Extra-gentle exfoliation via plant-based sponges

How do I know if I should see a doctor for my feet?