How to Get Perfect Skin from Head to Toe

The ticket to reversing roughness and scales: "Repetitive, consistent moisturizing," says Boston podiatrist Carolyn Siegal, DPM. But not with scented, silky lotions. Use a petrolatum-based ointment or rich shea butter cream every night, then slip on cotton socks. If your feet are cracked or flaky, alternate the thick cream with an exfoliating alpha hydroxy lotion (but skip the socks). A pumice stone or foot file (best used on damp skin) is also effective, but avoid anything that resembles a cheese grater, which can wound the skin. If dryness and cracking persist or are accompanied by itching, you may need a prescription-strength exfoliator, steroid, or antifungal.