Gymnast Gabby Douglas Has A Foot-Care Routine—And It Smooths Calluses, Fights Dryness, And Leaves Skin Super-Soft

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If you think pounding the pavement on your way to work or running on the treadmill at the gym is tough on your feet, imagine being Gabby Douglas.

To say the world-class gymnast, who's hopes for a much-anticipated comeback at the 2024 summer Olympics were dashed when she pulled out of competition in May due to an ankle injury, puts her feet through a lot would be an understatement. "I deal with bruising, swelling, sores, cracking, and dryness, so I'm usually looking to add moisture and hydration into my routine," Douglas tells Women's Health.

So, it makes sense that the athlete would partner with Dr. Scholl's on a foot-centric beauty routine that alleviates some of these issues. "I grind and pound my feet so much, and I use a lot of drying chalk, so I'm grateful to have products that take care of issues like this," Douglas says.

What does that routine look like? While many people use a face mask at night to tackle issues like acne or restore hydration, Douglas uses a foot mask. "At night, I'll use the Dry, Cracked Skin Ultra-Hydrating Foot Mask and a hydrating foot balm before putting socks on to lock in the moisture." Douglas raves that the Severe Cracked Heel Repair Restoring Balm is "literally like a lip balm for my heels," with moisture-locking ingredients like shea and cocoa butters and Epsom salt to address inflammation.

Douglas is also a big fan of the brand's Callus Remover Electronic Foot File. "Gymnasts deal with a lot of rough material—the floor is rough, the beam is rough, and the vault runways are rough, creating calluses," she says. "I use this to get the bottom of my feet extra-smooth."

But sometimes, a product isn't enough. And just as many people supplement their at-home skincare routine with in-office treatments like Botox and filler or fancy facials using galvanic energy or microcurrent, sometimes Douglas has to treat her feet with next-level therapeutic measures. "I do a lot of icing, ice bucketing, and isolated cryotherapy," she adds. "That's actually helped with the inflammation as well."

It's all an effort to help her feet look better, yes, but having a dedicated routine also aids in her performance, too. "It sounds weird, but when my feet are very dry and cracked, I deal with a lot more inflammation and bruising," she says. "But if I'm practicing proper foot care, when I land on my feet, I don't experience the same level of bruising and swelling."

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