Can you use hand cream on your feet?

Which hand cream should you use?

Choose a thick cream rather than a light lotion if your feet are very dry. Creams and ointments hold more moisture in the skin than lotions. An ointment is another option if a cream is not enough. For dry skin, choose products without fragrance, alcohol or dyes; a moisturiser containing ceramides is also an option. These are general dry skin choices, not a reason to buy a product specifically labelled for feet.45

How to apply hand cream to your feet

1. 1Wash your feet daily in warm, not hot, water with a mild cleanser. Avoid long soaking, which can dry or damage the skin.
2. 2Gently towel dry your feet, taking particular care to dry thoroughly between your toes. Avoid rubbing hard enough to split the skin.
3. 3Rub the cream into dry areas, including your heels, after your bath or shower. Moisturisers work best on slightly damp skin, but the spaces between your toes should stay dry and free of cream.
4. 4Repeat every day. For very dry feet, apply morning and night. General dry skin care can include moisturising two to three times a day, or as often as needed.

What if your heels are rough or cracked?

Dry, cracked heels generally lack moisture, and open backed shoes can make the problem worse. Use a thick hand or foot cream daily after washing, and keep applying it once the skin improves to help prevent the dryness returning. A heel balm is another option for dry, cracked heels. Socks or closed shoes can help if sandals make the dryness or cracking worse.12

For ordinary hard skin, gently use a foot file on dry skin before bathing, once or twice weekly, then apply a thick moisturiser afterwards. Corns and calluses come from pressure and friction, so well fitting shoes matter too; cream cannot renegotiate the fit of a shoe. Do not cut hard skin with blades, pick at it, or use acid corn plasters or pastes. A podiatrist can treat corns and calluses and advise on preventing them.126

Why should you avoid cream between your toes?

The skin between your toes does not need extra moisture. Warm, damp conditions suit athlete's foot, a fungal infection often found there. Itching, redness, flaking or blisters need a different approach from simply adding hand cream. Ask a pharmacist about an antifungal treatment and follow its packet directions. Dry carefully between your toes and let shoes dry before wearing them again. If symptoms persist, see your doctor or a registered podiatrist.126

When should you get help?

With effective home care, dry skin tends to improve within two weeks. See a doctor if dryness persists or worsens, itching disrupts sleep, or scratching leaves open cuts or sores. Persistent dryness can have causes other than dry air, including medicines or a skin condition.45

If you have diabetes, daily moisturising is still part of foot care, avoiding the spaces between your toes. Check your feet daily for blisters, broken skin, pain, swelling, heat or redness. Leave hard skin treatment to your podiatrist's advice, and contact your podiatry team or GP immediately if you develop a foot problem.7