The skin forms the outer protective layer of the human body. It is made of many layers which help to insulate the body from heat and cold. The many layers of the skin also help to insulate the body from infections and diseases which are present around the body of the individual. This is the first line of defense for the human body. Different parts of the body have unique functions which mean that the skin needs to be uniquely suited to function in these parts. The skin on the palms of the hand is softer than the back of the hand because the palm is used for plenty of touching. The fingerprints are also designed to help improve an individual’s ability to grip things. These unique features apply to the feet as well. The skin on the sole of the feet is harder and thicker than other parts of the body. The skin is designed to be used over rough ground and is resistant to punctures compared to other parts of the skin. It should be noted that in modern circumstances, individuals usually use footwear to protect the soles of their feet. This makes the feet softer and less tough than normal as it does not need to be rough to do its job. The skin on the base of the foot is also an effective cushion to absorb some of the shock received by the body when walking, jumping, jogging and running.
Skin in the human body is made up of various types of cells. These cells need to be nourished properly so that the skin is healthy and capable of performing its functions. A healthy diet promotes good skin health as it ensures that various vitamins and minerals are available to the individual for the process of cell growth and development.
The skin on the feet is susceptible to damage due to dehydration. In most cases, the feet are under pressure from the weight of the individual. When this is coupled with dehydration due to improper fluid consumption and dry weather the skin begins peeling. This peeling occurs as the top layer of skin dries up and cracks. An individual may experience peeling skin on the feet with no itching or pain. This is because the skin is thick and tough and is not easily irritated.
It is possible that cracked skin on the feet will become infected. This worsens the condition and causes further damage to the skin. An individual experiencing skin peeling on the feet must take remedial actions to prevent the condition from causing extensive damage and pain to himself or herself.
Footwear is an important factor when it comes to skin peeling off the feet. Some types of footwear have a thick rear section which may not suit the shape of an individual’s foot. In many cases, the pressure of the heel against this footwear causes the skin to be damaged. This damage will be localized on the edge of the heel itself. When this is noticed, the individual has a clue as to the cause of the problem.
Dehydration is usually responsible for bottom of the feet skin peeling. If there is skin peeling elsewhere on the foot, then it may be associated with a different condition. An individual may experience feet skin peeling between the toes. This can be a sign of dry skin, but it can also be a sign of an infection that is affecting the skin. The toes are particularly susceptible to infection because they are usually poorly ventilated. Another factor that can cause skin on feet peeling is the condition in which the foot is kept. If the foot is kept in restricted footwear for the whole day, it may sweat and be damp and moist. When this skin is exposed to the outside air, it will dry up. This continuous daily cycle of dampness and dryness may cause the skin to crack and start peeling off. This problem may be a physical problem of the skin on the feet and may have nothing to do with bacterial or fungal infections.
One may wonder how to remove dead skin from the feet. This removal can be done using scraping devices. It is better to gradually scrape off dead skin than to try and remove it by cutting or slicing the dead skin off. Dead skin accumulation on the feet is a problem that is caused by skin dying but not having any way of being removed. If the individual has comfortable footwear, this may not provide the abrasion required to peel off dead skin. There are skin care products that allow the removal of skin by scraping. This allows a gradual layer of skin to be removed without pain. When the individual experiences scratching from this device, he or she should know that the device has reached the layer of live skin.
Peeling skin on the feet and toes can be treated using therapeutic solutions. Skin care products are used to improve the condition of the skin. There are several moisturizing products that can be tried for dry skin on the feet. These products are all available easily and can be used without any consultation from the doctor. It is, however, important to understand the cause for peeling skin. If it is obvious that the condition is associated with improper hydration of the skin, then the individual can make the necessary adjustments to diet and hydration. The use of moisturizing products helps in this case. However, if the individual experiences skin problems associated with a disease or infection, a visit to the doctor is mandatory. If the skin peels off spontaneously even though it appears and feels hydrated, then it might indicate some problem with the health of the individual. Conditions like scarlet fever cause this problem to occur.
Other than these medical and physical conditions, skin peeling is also associated with the dietary habits of an individual. The skin needs various vitamins and minerals for its maintenance. If these are missing, then the individual will experience poor quality health and poor quality skin. Radiant, healthy skin is a sign of good physical health.
Peeling skin from the bottom of your feet sometimes occurs as a natural consequence of weather change. This is especially rampant during dry months of the year when the body becomes dehydrated and the skin shrinks. This can happen if your feet are constantly exposed and you do not wear closed shoes.
Another factor that is at work is the natural ejection of dead skin. The peeling that you see is exactly this – dead skin. To fix this problem, all you have to do is properly hydrate your skin and remove the dead skin.
Skin forms in layers that indicate the age of cells as well. This is because as cells are formed in the basal layer of the epidermis from stem cells they gradually age and shrink as they rise to the top. Stem cells are cells that are a preliminary stage of cell birth and these stem cells have the ability to change into any variety of cells on order. Incidentally, this is the same process that occurs when embryos are formed. As the cells of the skin are created, they must also die and as they age, they are pushed up to the surface or epithelial layer of the skin. Once they have reached the top most layers, friction usually does the rest of the work and the cells are sloughed off. When skin gets dehydrated during particularly dry months and if your water intake is deficient, then the skin shrinks. However, the dead skin layer that is at the outer most part cannot shrink and therefore you end up with a scaly type of formation of skin or bubbles that sometimes have to be peeled off. Hydrate your body well during these months by drastically increasing the amount of water you take and also by using skin creams and moisturizers. Moisturizers will ensure that your water loss is contained.
For the next step, you need to practice some basic foot skin care. First, get some salicylic acid as a wash and soak your feet in this solution. It might be a good idea to add a few drops of lemon juice to this as well for added effect. Let your feet soak in this solution well. After about five minutes, dry your feet with a towel and use a pumice stone to rub of the layers of the dead skin. This is one of the most effective techniques to remove dead skin and is called exfoliation. A preventative tip to remember is to wear socks and closed heeled shoes whenever the humidity levels start to drop and to make sure that you moisturize your feet well before going to bed.