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Baby Foot and other similar chemical peel treatments are having a moment right now.
And really, for good reason. Who wouldn’t want super smooth, soft feet? Especially if you find yourself wearing your fair share of open-toe shoes in the heat.
On top of that, this freakishly effective skin exfoliating treatment is a welcome dose of self-care that we can all easily do from the comforts of our own homes.
So, have you been wondering if you should jump on the bandwagon?
I’m not going to tell you what to do or anything… okay, yes I am. You absolutely need to try this out.
Those odd plastic booties actually contain a gel made with salicylic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids — like citric, glycolic, and lactic acids.
These are all chemical exfoliants, and they break down the fibers that bind desmosomes, aka dead skin cells, together. In other words, they break up the dead skin cells so it can easily peel away on the surface.
This might sound obvious, but these chemical peel treatments aren’t for babies. They’ve already got “baby feet” anyway, right?
I’ve heard that if you’re pregnant you should consider consulting with your doctor before use, just to make sure it’s okay. Same recommendation goes for folks who are diabetic, or have poor circulation.
Also, don’t slip the plastic booties on if you’ve got wounds, heel problems, open sores, or infections. Trust me when I say that it will be really painful.
Baby Foot and other similar chemical peel treatments for your feet are pretty simple to use. But before you slip into those crinkly booties, you should soak your feet first. Apparently, water helps to soften the skin, which allows maximum penetration of the gel.
After a good soak — hey, it’s a good excuse to bust out the Epsom salt and the foot spa — it’s time to break out the booties!
Cut open the boots, slip your feet in, and tape them up. In my experience, the tape isn’t really the great, so I usually supplement it with some masking tape, or you could use medical tape if you’ve got it. I also recommend putting socks or slippers over the top of them to hold them in place, and help the gel get to every inch of your feet.
From there, you just leave them on for an hour and let them work their magic.
According to Baby Foot, you’re supposed to soak your feet in water daily to help the peeling process along. After that, you’ll start to see peeling within 3 to 7 days, and the amount of time it takes to peel will vary from person to person.
I speak from personal experience when I say “yes!”
However, if you’re skeptical, a quick google search will turn up tons of reviews — just be prepared for the icky photos featuring lots of peeling feet!
