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day0110
New Member
 
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 8
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Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:37 pm  |
Hi everyone, I'm new but have been lurking for awhile 
I have a few questions about dry feet and cotton socks, as the topic title suggests.
Firstly, why are cotton socks recommended to be worn after moisturising the feet? I've read on countless podiatry and foot care websites that cotton socks absorb moisture and stay wet. But if you moisturised just before putting on socks, wouldn't the socks soak up that cream/lotion? I know it's a good idea to wait for the cream/lotion to sink in but what if you can't wait or use a greasy moisturiser like vaseline? Or are cotton socks recommended because they stay wet and moisturise the foot like that? Or do they help moisturise by making the foot sweat (which is a natural moisturiser)? I just can't get my head around it!
Also, just like the skin on the rest of the body, it is recommended to keep the skin on feet moisturised, but then there are foot conditions which are made worse by excess moisture, like Athlete's foot and tinea. So are you supposed to balance it out, like moisturise for a week then let the foot "go naked" for a day or two?
And one last question, a lot of pedicures involve soaking the feet, but I've also read it isn't good to soak the feet as it makes them drier. Is this true? Or only if you soak them for too long? If this is true, then why do people get good results from wrapping their feet in cling wrap for a length of time/overnight? Is water more drying than sweat?
I realise this is a long and rather odd query but I've tried every product and tool on the list when it comes to dry and callused feet and can't seem to find a solution, which leads me to think I must be doing something wrong (or I'm just weird  )
Any thoughts would be most appreciated  |
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Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:14 pm |
| Have you had your feet checked by a doctor? My mom had chronic dry cracked feet and it turned out she had a type of fungal infection and with medication it cleared right up! |
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Combination - dehyrdated, acne, sensitive, late 20's. |
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day0110
New Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 8
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Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:20 pm |
| Quote: |
| Have you had your feet checked by a doctor? My mom had chronic dry cracked feet and it turned out she had a type of fungal infection and with medication it cleared right up! |
Thanks for the tip lianne. No I haven't but have thought about doing so if it doesn't clear up soon. I'm also generally interested in people's thoughts and experiences with the topics of my query. |
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:33 am |
I don't know the science behind the use of cotton socks/cotton gloves for overnight moisturisation, but I do know that it works.
If I had to guess, I'd say that it's a way of keeping the moisturiser on your skin without it smearing on your bedsheets or pillows overnight. Also, cotton is a breathable fabric, so it's less likely to make your feet sweat and help cause fungal infections. If you wore nylon or man-made fibre socks, then you would have a problem with that.
Have you tried filing away the dry, calloused skin? Because otherwise, the moisturisation is just going into that hard layer of dead, dry skin and not actually doing anything. If you use something like a Diamancel (there are cheaper versions available, I believe) foot file to gently file away the dry skin once or twice a week, and moisturise your feet with a really good product (I swear by Scholl's Intensive Moisturier), you should see a big difference. I know I certainly did! My feet are lovely, smooth and soft now. |
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:48 am |
Have to agree with majorb.
I think alot of people overlook exfoliation with dry skin. My body skin is dried out from eczema, and i find that if i don't exfoliate, moisturizer does nuts. It will just sit on top of the dead and crusty skin and doesn't ever sink in. |
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Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:15 am |
| I think they are socks made especially for this purpose which are not your usual cotton socks (The Body Shop makes one iirc). I usually wear cotton socks to lock in the moisturizer on my feet but the socks do absorb a lot of the moisturizer! But it doesn't really bother me that much so I live with my cotton socks. |
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:12 am |
the use of cotton socks/cotton gloves for overnight moisture does not work for me  , I'm still seeking the way suitable for me. |
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:37 pm |
This is my take on using cotton gloves/socks for moisturizing. The recommendation of using socks/gloves overnight with moisturizer has been around for a long time, and predates man-made fibers. In the 1800s, for example, the choices of material for gloves were cotton, leather, wool, silk, linen and so on, and the cheapest of these would be cotton. White/undyed would show dirt so you wouldn't transfer it into bed with you, and wouldn't bleed other colors onto your bedding.
The gloves I use are brown cotton that I buy for $1 for three pairs at hardware/big box stores. They work for me.
I think any fabric that will not make your feet sweat and allow your feet to breath would work.
The recommendation to see someone to rule out fungal infection is good. If using a moisturizer on your feet increases the cracking or causes redness or itching, definitely have a fungal or other infection ruled out. |
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:30 pm |
What has worked for me (I didn't have a fungal infection, just dry, cracked heels):
1. 2 x per week PedEgg (or equivalent) to file away dead skin(it's very gentle and won't cut);
2. shower (if in the a.m.) or soak feet for 5 - 10 minutes (in p.m.);
3. apply Kerasol (available in the foot section of most grocery and drug stores in the U.S.. It is a moisturizing ointment & very greasy;
4. put on cotton footies or socks. Mostly to protect the floor from my greasy heels. I try to avoid doing this near bedtime, because I don't like to sleep with something on my feet.
You should see results after doing this twice at most. HTH
ETA: if your feet are just dry all over but not callused, you can eliminate the filing and just follow a soak with a thin application of Kerasol all over your foot, and then something over it to protect the floor/furniture, etc. |
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50+, fair brown/brown, Obagi, L2K, AALS; battling: pigmentation, crepeyness, sag |
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Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:43 pm |
Just one thing to add if you can get a sugar scrub to use in tub or shower before all recommended above that helps soften the skin for filing ect. Make sure it is sugar in oil not salt since your feet are already sore! I find it really helps, be cautious not to slip!! Towel off and massage the oil in to your feet then proceed.
DM |
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I'LL SEE YOU ON THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON.... |
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Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:05 pm |
| I like Bliss foot glove...really nice! |
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Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:03 am |
| kikiw wrote: |
| the use of cotton socks/cotton gloves for overnight moisture does not work for me , I'm still seeking the way suitable for me. |
well ,should say ,it works just for a few hours after took off the socks and it gonna dry again. |
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Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:34 am |
Well, socks don't work if you're menopausal.  I can go to sleep with socks on and in the morning, they're on the floor beside the bed and I don't ever remember taking them off.  |
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Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:55 pm |
| Skippie wrote: |
| Well, socks don't work if you're menopausal. I can go to sleep with socks on and in the morning, they're on the floor beside the bed and I don't ever remember taking them off. |
Sometimes this also happened to me  , I think maybe this's the reason that this method does not work for me |
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Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:31 pm |
| Cotton is the best alternative because cotton absorbs. Anything cotton absorbs and is more comfortable to wear. Myself I don't even like the idea of wearing socks to bed. You can get around it bu doing the heavy duty moisturizing of feet in the day time. |
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day0110
New Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 8
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Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:19 am |
majorb and circus, thanks for replying. Yes, I exfoliate often and I have a few different foot files including a Ped Egg type thing and a rasp-type file, to name a few. I live in Australia so the Diamancel ones aren't available here as far as I know.
frozenstrawberrypie I have seen those Body Shop ones! Maybe I should get some. I wonder what they're made of?
How long have you used this method for kikiw? I did it for weeks and just like you, they would dry out later on.
So it's better if your feet breathe septemberamethyst? My husband wears mostly pure cotton socks but his get all scratchy after awhile - eew!
I love Kerasal tessera!!! The problem is, you can't get it here in Australia. Only off ebay and then I don't know if it has expired. Has anyone ordered Kerasal off ebay? I got a tube while I was in America. If only I had known how good it was, I would have stocked up!
I find oil makes my skin drier darkmoon! Am I just the freak of nature around here???
saisai, what's the Bliss foot glove?
Agree tinali0202! And that's funny skippie!
I used to hate wearing socks to bed susieq but then my feet got cold I do like cotton when I'm working out. |
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havana8
Moderator
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 3451
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:54 am |
Can only give you theories for two of your questions:
1. I believe its because the cotton helps the feet to absorb the moisturizer without suffocating them. Cotton will absorb some, but not all of the cream, but it helps the skin to retain moisture.
The best example I have been given which I can share is that if you drop some water on to paper, only a few drops, it drys pretty quickly. But if you drop some onto a tissue and apply the tissue to the paper and leave it there, the paper absorbs the liquid from the tissue moreso without drying out and so you get a better moisturizing effect.
3. I think the feet are soaked for several reasons, but mostly for the nail and cuticle work on the toes, but to soften the hard skin for their removal, but my understanding from the beauty therapists is that its fine to soak the feet, but you must dry them properly after soaking so the feet skin is not wet still, and then apply your moisturising lotion.
Just sharing what I've been told - and it may not be true (and if you know different please say so) but it made sense to me.
Sean
| day0110 wrote: |
Hi everyone, I'm new but have been lurking for awhile
I have a few questions about dry feet and cotton socks, as the topic title suggests.
Firstly, why are cotton socks recommended to be worn after moisturising the feet? I've read on countless podiatry and foot care websites that cotton socks absorb moisture and stay wet. But if you moisturised just before putting on socks, wouldn't the socks soak up that cream/lotion? I know it's a good idea to wait for the cream/lotion to sink in but what if you can't wait or use a greasy moisturiser like vaseline? Or are cotton socks recommended because they stay wet and moisturise the foot like that? Or do they help moisturise by making the foot sweat (which is a natural moisturiser)? I just can't get my head around it!
Also, just like the skin on the rest of the body, it is recommended to keep the skin on feet moisturised, but then there are foot conditions which are made worse by excess moisture, like Athlete's foot and tinea. So are you supposed to balance it out, like moisturise for a week then let the foot "go naked" for a day or two?
And one last question, a lot of pedicures involve soaking the feet, but I've also read it isn't good to soak the feet as it makes them drier. Is this true? Or only if you soak them for too long? If this is true, then why do people get good results from wrapping their feet in cling wrap for a length of time/overnight? Is water more drying than sweat?
I realise this is a long and rather odd query but I've tried every product and tool on the list when it comes to dry and callused feet and can't seem to find a solution, which leads me to think I must be doing something wrong (or I'm just weird )
Any thoughts would be most appreciated |
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_________________
FlexEffect Trainer |
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Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:31 am |
| Skippie wrote: |
| Well, socks don't work if you're menopausal. I can go to sleep with socks on and in the morning, they're on the floor beside the bed and I don't ever remember taking them off. |
Happens to me too, and I'm not menopausal!  |
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RLMS56
New Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 5
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Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:46 pm |
| Good old fashion vaseline works great on feet! |
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Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:06 pm |
| I am sure I received this as a bonus from EDS - Smith's Rosebud Salve. In a flat blue/white tin. (Feels like Vaseline, but is pink) I found that this worked GREAT on my dry feet. Slather a big glob over heels and put socks on. (I always find that I can peel my socks off during the night and enough has absorbed during the first couple of hours so my sheets/floors don't get wrecked - I hate wearing socks to bed too.) |
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Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:48 am |
| i would use argan oil. this is indeed a magic oil for me |
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