How To Remove Dead Skin From Feet: 7 Methods To Try - Healthline

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7 Ways to Remove Dead Skin from Your Feet

Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Jane Chertoff — Updated on May 27, 2025

1. Pumice stone
2. Paraffin wax
3. Foot scrub
4. Oatmeal scrub
5. Epsom salt soak or scrub
6. Vinegar soak
7. Foot peels
With caution
Takeaway

Exfoliating can help remove dead skin from your feet. You can try methods like scrubbing, soaking, or applying paraffin wax.

Dead skin on the bottom of your foot may appear dry, cracked, loose, or hanging. It’s usually not painful unless it’s caused by a condition or infection.

If you suspect that’s the case, see your doctor for treatment. Otherwise, you may want to remove dead skin for cosmetic reasons or because it’s more comfortable.

Here are some options for removing dead skin.

1. Pumice stone

A pumice stone is a natural lava stone that can help remove dead skin and calluses from your feet.

To use:

Dip the pumice stone in warm water. You can also soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes to soften them.
Gently move the stone in a circular or sideways motion around your foot to remove dead skin. Focus on removing the top layer of the skin and not the entire area of dead skin, which will help promote healthy cell turnover.
Apply lotion or oil afterward to help soften your feet.

Never use a pumice stone on injured or sore areas. Doing so could cause further inflammation, sensitivity, and skin pigmentation changes.

2. Paraffin wax

Many nail salons offer paraffin wax as an add-on for a pedicure treatment.

Paraffin wax is a soft wax that’s melted at a medium temperature of around 125°F (51°C). The wax shouldn’t be hot enough to burn or irritate your skin.

You can also do a paraffin wax treatment at home using an at-home paraffin wax bath, or you can melt the wax in a saucepan and then transfer it to a bowl for dipping your feet.

During a paraffin wax treatment, you’ll dip your feet in the wax several times. After several layers of wax are applied, wrap your feet in plastic.

After the wax hardens, you can remove it. Any dead skin on your feet will be removed along with the wax. Your feet should feel soft afterward.

Do not use paraffin wax if:

you have poor blood circulation
you have a rash or open sore on your feet
you’ve lost feeling in your feet, such as from diabetic neuropathy

If you use paraffin wax at home, be very cautious and monitor the temperature of the wax with a candy thermometer.

3. Foot scrub

Most pharmacies and drug stores sell different foot scrubs over the counter. Look for one with granules that will help scrub away dead skin.

You can even make your own by diluting 2 tablespoons of sea salt into equal amounts of baby oil and lemon juice.

To use a foot scrub, apply it directly to your foot and rub gently with your palm. You can also use a foot scrub brush or sponge to remove dead skin.

It’s important to properly dilute the lemon juice as it can change the natural pH of your acid mantle, potentially causing skin irritation, hyperpigmentation and sensitivity to the sun.

Rinse scrub thoroughly with warm water after use.

4. Oatmeal scrub

You can use oatmeal to make an at-home exfoliator to remove dead skin.

To make the scrub, mix equal parts oatmeal with rose water or milk to make a paste. To use:

Apply the scrub to your feet and let it sit for up to 20 to 30 minutes.
Use a foot brush to exfoliate your feet.
Rinse with cold water and let your feet dry.
Apply a foot cream.

Perform this treatment every other day for best results.

5. Epsom salt soak or scrub

Epsom salt is a crystal form of magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is a mineral compound.

You can soak your feet in Epsom salt that’s dissolved in water. It can help exfoliate and smooth dry, cracked feet. This, in turn, may help remove dead skin.

To use:

Create an Epsom salt soak by pouring 1/2 cup of salt into a footbath or a full cup into a bathtub full of warm water.
Relax and soak for up to 20 minutes.
You may use a pumice stone or foot brush afterward to help remove dry skin.

To create an Epsom salt scrub for your feet, in the shower or bath, mix a handful of Epsom salt with a tablespoon of bath or olive oil in your hand or on a bath sponge.

Rub gently over wet skin to exfoliate, soften, and remove dead skin before rinsing off with water.

6. Vinegar soak

Vinegar soaks may help soften feet and allow you to remove dead, dry, or cracked skin.

You can use almost any type of vinegar. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar are popular options, and you may already have them in your kitchen.

Use cool water to create the soak, as hot water may dry out the skin more. As a general guideline, use 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Soak feet for 5 to 10 minutes to start.

If desired, follow the soak by using a pumice stone to remove dry or loose skin using the guidelines above. Apply moisturizer, petroleum jelly, or coconut oil before putting on socks to seal in moisture after doing a vinegar soak.

Only do this treatment a few times a week, as it can be further drying on the skin.

7. Foot peels

Foot peels are a popular at-home treatment to remove dead skin and smooth your feet.

To use, you’ll typically apply provided plastic “booties” to your feet for up to around 1 hour. They usually contain a gel solution of fruit acid or other moisturizers that may help dead skin “shed” from your feet.

Make sure to follow all instructions for use on the package.

You’ll generally need to wet your feet daily in order for peeling to occur over the next 3 to 7 days.

While no scientific studies have supported the benefits or effectiveness of this treatment, many people use these peels to soften their feet.

Methods to use with caution

Baking soda soak

Baking soda is a popular at-home treatment for the removal of dead skin from the feet.

But some dermatologists warn that baking soda can be irritating, cause redness, and dry out the skin further. That’s because it may disrupt the skin’s natural pH balance.

Don’t use baking soda on your feet if you have any skin sensitivities or allergies. Always check with your doctor or podiatrist before trying a new treatment.

If you decide to use baking soda, only a small amount (2 to 3 tablespoons) should be used in a full footbath of warm water for 10 to 20 minutes.

After your soak, gently use a pumice stone or foot brush, using the method mentioned above, to remove dead skin. Then, apply plenty of moisturizer.

If you experience any redness or other signs of irritation while soaking your feet, immediately remove them from the solution.

Lemon water soak

The acidity in lemon may help remove dead skin cells from your feet.

However, similarly to baking soda, using lemon on your feet may interfere with the skin’s natural pH balance and lead to more dryness and dead skin.

Avoid lemon if you:

have any cuts or open sores on your foot
have sensitive skin
experience redness or other skin color changes

Check with a podiatrist or dermatologist before using lemon, or if you have any questions or concerns.

If you decide to use this method:

Prepare a footbath with warm water.
Squeeze in lemon juice from one lemon. You can also leave pieces of lemon peel in the water.
Soak your feet for up to 15 minutes.
Use a foot brush to scrub dead skin off your feet.
Wash and dry your feet completely. Apply a moisturizer or coconut oil, if desired.

Razor or scraper

Only allow a podiatrist or other trained medical professional to remove a callous or dead skin from your foot with a razor or scraper.

Do not use razors or scrapers on your feet at home. Doing so could cause damage to your foot or introduce germs into your skin.

For example, if you accidentally cut yourself, you may risk a bacterial infection.

If you’re concerned about removing dry or dead skin, see your doctor for alternative medication or at-home treatments.

Takeaway

Dead skin is usually nothing to worry about. It can often be removed at home.

Always see your doctor or podiatrist if you have an excessive amount of dead skin, calluses, cracked skin, wounds, or rashes that don’t go away on their own or with home remedies.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Cracked heels. (n.d.)https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/cracked-heels
How to care for dry, cracked heels. (2022).https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dry-heels
How to treat corns and calluses. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/corns-and-calluses
How to safely exfoliate at home. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/exfoliation

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Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Jane Chertoff — Updated on May 27, 2025

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