Is it a good idea to use a pumice stone before moisturizing your feet?

Dry, flaky feet are the worst. If you're unsure, ask your partner, but be ready for an earful about the restless, scratchy movements of your ghastly feet. If you don't have a partner, just slip your bare feet into flip-flops and watch how fast people recoil from the sight of them.

Your feet endure a lot of friction by design. After all, you walk on them, don't you? As a child, you stuffed them into Buster Browns, and as an adult, you've probably squeezed them into Dr. Martens or high heels. All this constant pressure results in corns and calluses—your body's way of toughening them up for even more friction. Clearly, you don't want to sand off the bottom of your feet, but neither do you want them to look frightening.

Thankfully, we have the option to smooth and moisturize our feet after putting them through all kinds of stress. If your corns and calluses aren't inflamed, soak your feet in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to soften the hardened skin. Then, take a pumice stone or foot file to gently exfoliate, but don't overdo it—after all, you still need to walk on those feet.

If you'd rather avoid using a rough stone on your feet, a Ped Egg could be a good alternative. Just a heads-up: disposing of the skin shavings might make you second-guess asking for freshly grated parmesan at your favorite Italian restaurant.

At this point, it's definitely a good idea to apply some moisturizing lotion to your feet. This helps keep the skin flexible and prevents cracking and painful fissures. However, if your calluses are discolored, painful, or bleeding, it's best to have them checked by a doctor. A podiatrist can also use advanced methods to treat or remove particularly stubborn corns and calluses.

For most of us, a simple skincare routine can keep our feet in good shape and spare our bedmates from the unsettling sound of scratching feet in the middle of the night.