Here in the Northeast, we still have a little time until bathing suit season, but sandal season kicks off any second now. Are you ready? If not, soak up these pedicure tips from NYC-based dermatologist and hand/foot/nail expert Dana Stern, M.D.
The foot issue: dryness and cracking
The fix: "First remove superficial dead skin cells, then apply an extra-rich moisturizer to seal in moisture and act as a protective barrier," Dr. Stern advises. She prefers doing the exfoliation part with a refillable gritty file. "I'm not a fan of pumices. They can harbor all sorts of bacteria and molds once they become wet, due to their porosity," she explains. As for the moisturizer, her go-to is L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream. "I'm a huge fan of shea as a moisturizer for the feet as it acts as a barrier for the skin and really helps to seal in moisture," she says. "This particular formula also contains lavender oil, making it a calming and relaxing before bed treat for you and your feet." Moisturize before sleep and top with socks to help hydrate and heal cracks faster.
The foot issue: rough toenails
The fix: If you mostly ignored your toes all winter, they might be looking less than pretty come spring. "When our feet are hidden in socks, tights, and boots, we tend to neglect our foot care because nobody is looking," Dr. Stern says. "Toenail polish is often left on for way too long, creating keratin granulations on the nail." These white surface irregularities can be treated by very gently massaging the nail with a super-fine-grit buffer and by moisturizing the nail with your favorite cuticle oil. "Taking a nail polish holiday for several weeks will also help keratin granulations resolve," Dr. Stern says.
The foot issue: calluses
