The most common client foot complaint is dry skin. In order to recommend the right Footlogix® hydrating treatment, foot care professionals must know the ins and outs of hydration—from the causes of dry skin to effective ingredients and treatments.
The skin of the feet is unlike any other skin on the human body. The epidermis is not only thicker, but the soles of the feet have an extra skin layer called the stratum lucidum. This translucent “blanket” of thin, densely packed skin cells provides an additional water barrier and further protects the skin from damage due to friction. The skin of the feet also lacks sebaceous glands which help to lubricate the skin on the rest of the body.
With the feet’s unique anatomy and frequent use (the average person will walk 115,000 miles in a lifetime!) it’s no surprise that professional pedicurists are seeing more skin and nail problems than ever before. And fixing these issues are as much about health as beautification. When the skin on the feet is overly dry and compromised, the feet are not only unsightly and uncomfortable, but are vulnerable to damage and infection.
Do you know how to properly assess your client’s dry skin issues and recommend the right Footlogix® hydrating products to achieve transformational results? Read on to learn the primary causes of dry feet, what makes an effective dry skin treatment and the Footlogix® product line up designed to provide targeted and effective hydration.
What Causes Dry Feet?
The causes of dry feet are many and varied. Today’s lifestyles are a major culprit for most clients. Rigorous exercise, poor fitting shoes or even constant standing, especially if overweight, all put pressure on the feet and may lead to the formation of dry, hard calluses. Even bathing can trigger dryness as hot water and harsh soaps strip the skin of moisture. The environment is another factor—any time of year. Prolonged summer sun exposure and dry indoor heating during the winter months both contribute to skin dryness.
Some causes of dry feet are outside of the client’s control. Genetics, aging and even pregnancy can lead to dry skin on the feet. Also, medical conditions that limit circulation, such as diabetes, as well as other conditions like psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections and even vitamin deficiency (and the medications used to treat them) often result in extreme dryness. In these cases, treatment is paramount because untreated dry skin can lead to micro lesions that can potentially cause bacterial, fungal or viral infections, which in turn, may result in severe consequences—especially for the immunocompromised.
What makes a hydrating foot treatment effective?
In order to be truly hydrating, a foot moisturizing treatment requires state-of-the-art, scientifically proven ingredients and a mechanism to deliver those ingredients deeply into the layers of the skin.
Moisturizing Ingredients
Unfortunately, many foot hydrating products on the market provide only temporary results. These products are oil-based. And while these products initially deliver a supple, hydrated appearance, the moisturized feeling is often temporary and the greasy layer can actually occlude or block the skin from performing its natural functions. For instance, occlusive products can prevent transpiration—the body eliminating waste products from the pores.
Instead, dry feet require humectants and added moisture, not oils. A humectant found in effective foot treatments is urea. It is a natural end product of metabolism and an important component of the body’s natural moisturization factor (NMF). As a hygroscopic, urea can attract, absorb and retain moisture. It also has excellent water binding and exfoliating properties and is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Anti-microbial ingredients can also be helpful as some clients’ dryness may actually be the result of a fungal infection. Footlogix® has developed a proprietary ingredient called Spiraleen®. This bio active micro algae extract is specifically designed to deliver optimal levels of cell protection, regeneration and collagen synthesis to the skin and nails on the feet. Spiraleen® works by inhibiting harmful germs with its highly efficacious anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties resulting in a stronger skin barrier for healthier, happier feet, without disrupting the skin’s natural flora.
Other beneficial ingredients include Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which increases elastin and collagen production, evening primrose oil to improve skin structure and aloe to heal the skin.
Effective Delivery
Even proven hydrating ingredients are ineffective if they aren’t delivered deeply into the skin where they’re needed most. Footlogix® products are formulated with proprietary Dermal Infusion Technology®. This delivery system carries active ingredients past the stratum corneum into the layers of the epidermis, helping to restore the health of the skin. This technology ensures that Footlogix® active ingredients penetrate into the layers of the epidermis and reach the targeted areas. With no greasy outer layer to occlude it, the skin is hydrated and retains its ability to function normally, resulting in healthy feet.
Footlogix® Hydrating Solutions
Footlogix® has a complete line up of hydrating treatments that specifically address clients’ dry feet issues. Each contains proven ingredients formulated with Dermal Infusion Technology® in a unique and cost-effective mousse-based formula. In order to recommend the right treatment for you client, physically assess the client’s feet and ask questions during the client consultation to determine the primary root causes of the client’s dry skin. Then select the appropriate professional Footlogix® hydrating solution for the pedicure service and offer retail treatments for continued maintenance at home.
Footlogix hydrating professional treatments include:
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Footlogix® DD Cream Mousse: This formula offers double defense foot care protection. In addition to providing moisturizing and anti-microbial benefits through delivery of urea and Spiraleen®, DD Cream Mousse also offers anti-aging and rejuvenating effects. This product is recommended for clients with minor skin irritations and is best used at night.
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Footlogix® Daily Maintenance Formula: Designed for normal to dry skin, this product contains urea to lock in moisture and is an excellent maintenance product for clients who want to maintain hydrated feet and toes between pedicure appointments.
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Footlogix® Very Dry Skin Formula: Developed for the care, protection and moisture of extremely dry skin, this formula contains a higher concentration of urea to target advanced dryness. This formula is recommended for diabetics and mature clients.
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Footlogix® Cracked Heel Formula: Formulated to treat severely cracked heels, fissures and rhagades, in addition to urea, this treatment also contains evening primrose oil which heals skin and improves its structure.