If you opt for the latter, here’s everything you need to know, from the benefits of foot-peel masks to how they work and a step-by-step guide on how to use them. So, what are the benefits? For one, foot-peel masks might be safer than old-school callus-removal methods. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, using a foot file or foot razor to remove dead skin and calluses can lead to permanent damage and infection. The results of a foot-peel mask may also last longer and cause less physical discomfort. Foot peel masks are also a convenient at-home option and typically pretty inexpensive. “They’re an affordable and easy alternative for patients who want smooth, soft feet and can’t get to the salon for a pedicure,” says Lisa Airan, M.D., a dermatologist specializing in natural, high-tech skin care. “You wear foot masks for 20 minutes [and up to an hour] to achieve soft skin with no downtime.” While most foot-peel masks promote the fruit extracts and oils in their advertising, the real workhorses in these products are the alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), like glycolic acid. Other common exfoliating acids include salicylic acid and lactic acid. AHAs work by penetrating the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin, consisting mostly of dead skin cells) and breaking it into smaller sections so it peels away. It’s important to remember that this process would happen naturally without the AHAs—they simply speed up the process. As for how AHAs manage to break down layers of dead skin, the current leading theory is that they trigger an influx of calcium into the corneocytes (the cells that make up the stratum corneum), which then burst, leading to exfoliation.
