Moisturising dry feet properly

Use a foot cream with five to ten per cent urea, apply it in the evening after showering and keep the space between the toes dry.

The explanation

The skin under the foot is up to five times thicker than elsewhere and has no sebaceous glands. A light body lotion therefore sits on the surface and disappears with the first sock. What you need is a product that binds moisture in the horny layer.

Urea occurs naturally in the skin and attracts moisture. In a cream it keeps the callus layer soft and supple, so it is less likely to tear. Five to ten per cent is fine for most feet; for very dry skin more can help.

Apply in the evening, when the skin has absorbed moisture, and take the time to really massage it in. Put on a cotton sock afterwards. During the day it is not needed: a slippery sole inside a shoe is neither pleasant nor safe.

Patty's advice

Do not moisturise between the toes. Moisture already lingers longest there and a greasy layer makes it worse; that is exactly where athlete's foot starts.

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