People can use pumice stones, exfoliators, and foot soaks to remove dry skin from their feet at home. Regularly applying moisturizer and removing dead skin will help keep the feet healthy and hydrated. Certain medical conditions, such as eczema, hypothyroidism, and diabetes, can cause very dry skin on the feet.
Vinegar, while typically used as a cooking ingredient, is very useful in remedying dry and cracked heels. One part of white vinegar, when mixed with two parts of warm water, can be used as a soak for the feet. A pumice stone can be used to scrub the dead skin after soaking for 20-25 minutes.
Gentle Exfoliation: Exfoliating hard skin is a crucial step in foot care. A pumice stone is a natural, abrasive stone that can be used to gently rub away the dead skin cells on hard areas.
Dissolve a half-cup of Epsom salt into a tub or bowl of warm water. Soak your feet for 10 to 20 minutes once a week. What are the health benefits of Epsom salt? Epsom salt can help soften your skin and leave it less prone to bacteria overgrowth.
“The best practice is to avoid over-scrubbing because you want to maintain a healthy and intact skin barrier,” Dr. Khalifian notes. Going too hard can leave your skin red and irritated. Use it after cleansing, and always follow with moisturizer to lock in hydration.
In warm water (preferably 38°), pour the juice of half a lemon, add 125 ml of milk and two tablespoons of olive oil. Mix it all up and lower your feet in the mixture. This bath will relieve tired feet thanks to the action of the three kitchen staples combined.
Dry skin and calluses come right off. There's a method to the madness: "Both Listerine and vinegar contain gentle acids that exfoliate skin," says cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson. (Benzoic acid, the ingredient in Listerine, isn't in all mouthwashes.)
Afterwards, the podiatrist removes the skin by using special podiatrist tools; these typically include a scalpel and an electric file.
Lack of B vitamins, particularly B3 or niacin, and B7 orbiotin, can lead to dry, flaky skin, contributing to heel fissures. To combat cracked heels, it is beneficial to eat a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are all abundant in vitamins and nutrients.
Wetting the stone helps it glide more easily over your skin. Never use a dry pumice stone as it can cause abrasions on your skin. Either run the stone under warm water or let it soak along with your feet in the bucket or tub.
The best way to get rid of a blister or dead skin on your toes is to soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and then use a pumice stone or foot file to gently remove it. You can also apply a moisturiser to the area to help soften the skin and prevent further irritation.
Coconut and salt – This scrub is great for exfoliating your feet and moisturizing dry and cracked skin. Mix three tablespoons of coconut oil, half a cup of salt, and some drops of fragrance if you desire.
Add one cup of Epsom salts to the water. Mix with either a large spoon or your hand until the salts are dissolved. Mix in one tablespoon of baking soda (per quart of water). This will not only help relieve dry skin, but it can also eliminate foot odor.
Honey is an inexpensive moist dressing with antibacterial and tissue-healing properties that has shown promise in the medical literature. Many clinicians are unfamiliar with its use, but patients with diabetic foot ulcers may wish to try honey therapy or discuss it with their physicians.
A New York Times article suggests that garlic cloves that are finely crushed and steeped in water can offer a solution as an antifungal treatment. Throughout history, garlic has been recognized for its antimicrobial properties. Recent studies have focused on a compound found in garlic known as ajoene.
DIY Scrubs
For a simple, basic foot scrub recipe, mix together a tablespoon of any type of sugar or coarse salt with a tablespoon of baking soda. Combine until well incorporated and then add in a tablespoon of olive oil.
Try adding 3–4 tablespoons of baking soda added to a basin full of warm water. Use 2 parts water and 1-part vinegar for a foot soak. The vinegar helps kill bacteria which reduces foot odor. It may also slow the growth of bacteria.
Soak your toe in a warm foot bath with unscented Epsom salt.
Always dry your foot completely after soaking. Soaking your ingrown or infected toe will help relieve the pain and pressure of an infection. It can also help to draw out pus from your toe. Keep your feet dry, unless you're soaking them for treatment.
Once your feet start shedding, just let them do their thing. No touching! “Don't try to speed up the process by using a pumice stone or anything,” Dr. Khetarpal says, “and you shouldn't be scrubbing or manually peeling.”
Irregular or improper cleansing can prolong the presence of dead skin cells by leaving oils and cosmetics on the skin. Exfoliating only needs to be done either once or twice a week, not daily. Exfoliation speeds up the shedding process, allowing for the emergence of new skin cells.
The grey stuff that comes off after rubbing your skin is a mixture of dead skin cells and dirt. The body sheds around 500 million particles of skin every day as the epidermis produces a new layer.