Beauty fix: It’s time to get the feet out in public again and mine are a mess. Why do they get so awful over winter and how do I fix them?

The poor feet are so easy to forget in the colder months, when they’re encased in shoes and socks. Most of us have an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude to them, until warmer weather arrives again and foot exposure is imminent.

“Feet tend to worsen over winter due to a combination of environmental and behavioural factors,” says Nathan Moore, a brand expert with Cowshed, the spa-born UK range of holistic products and treatments. “Cold air and indoor heating dry out the skin, while heavy footwear increases friction and traps moisture, leading to irritation.

“Reduced circulation in colder weather slows down natural skin renewal, and because feet are often overlooked in daily skincare, dryness and damage can quickly build up.”

Also, because feet have fewer oil glands than the rest of our body, the skin gets very dry very quickly. Going barefoot or sock-free in summer exfoliates some of that dry skin, but in winter it just builds up and hardens.

​What is the first step in getting the feet summer-presentable?

Exfoliation is the answer and this can be mechanical, which means scrubbing or filing, or chemical, which uses acids and other ingredients to soften and/or remove those hard layers.

Before exfoliating, try soaking the feet first, so the skin is softened and less resistant. You are also less likely to cut the skin if it is softened. Use a handful of bath salts to first gently scrub the feet and then add it to the warm — not hot! — water to reduce inflammation and make it a more spa-like experience.

​I’ve been told that foot files do more harm than good, is this true?

The problem with foot files is that it’s very easy to overuse them. Metal files, in particular, are often compared to taking a cheese-grater to your feet and while the process might not hurt while it’s happening, over-filed skin can be very sore later and can easily become infected.

“Look for a ceramic or fine-grit file rather than a metal rasp,” says Moore, “which can cause microtears or over-thinning. Always file on dry skin to avoid removing too much. Less is more — the goal is to smooth, not strip. Follow with a rich, nourishing foot cream to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.”

​What about those at-home peels that make your skin peel off like a snake for weeks?

These peels, often a pair of socks in which you soak your feet for about an hour before rinsing, contain a high level of exfoliating acids that don’t work immediately, but take time to basically eat through the layers of skin, causing it to slough off. The drawn-out peeling is, according to your level of queasiness, either stomach-turning or extremely satisfying.

Great for hard or dry skin, but best avoided by anyone with psoriasis, eczema, athlete’s foot or other skin sensitivities.

​Urea features in a lot of foot creams I’ve seen. What does it do and what other ingredients can help?

“Urea is both a humectant (hydrator) and a keratolytic (exfoliator),” says Moore, “and how it acts on the skin will be determined by percentage. At low levels of 5-10pc, it hydrates; at mid-levels of 15-20pc it hydrates and gently exfoliates, and at higher levels of 25-40pc, it more thoroughly exfoliates thick, callused skin. For most people, 15-25pc is the sweet spot for results without irritation.”

​How do I maintain my feet once they’re sorted?

Consistency. Isn’t that always the answer? As feet have a natural tendency to dryness, even the greatest peel or even salon pedicure has to be maintained.

“Keep it simple,” Moore concludes. “Use a nourishing cream every day to hydrate and support the skin barrier, and consider exfoliating once or twice a week to reduce hardened skin before it builds up again.”

And maybe keep it up over winter, too, instead of the out-of-sight attitude.

Cowshed Revive Foot Scrub, €28, cowshed.com; lookfantastic.ie

This scrub makes a nice alternative to filing your feet, with a decent exfoliating action thanks to gritty black volcanic sand, pumice and peach-kernel powder. In addition, it has moisturising wheatgerm and avocado oils, as well as a lively herbal scent.

CeraVe SA Renewing Foot Cream, €10.50, available nationwide

This non-greasy cream absorbs quickly — a particularly welcome feature when it comes to feet — even though it contains deeply moisturising ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid. The contained salicylic acid will gently exfoliate skin at a surface level, softening very hard, dry skin.

Patchology PoshPeel Pedi Cure, €12.50, Brown Thomas Arnotts; Avoca; selected pharmacies nationwide

This pack comes with a pair of plastic socks that contain a liquid formulation of exfoliating glycolic, salicylic, lactic and citric acids that you leave on pre-soaked feet for a maximum of 90 minutes before washing off. Exfoliation starts after a few days and can go on for more than a week for impressively soft and smooth feet.