Who doesn’t love getting a pair of soft, smooth, beautiful feet? But instead of properly caring for our legs, many suffer from dry, peeling feet irrespective of the year’s season. The reasons underlying the condition may vary from person to person, but the solution is to get rid of the dead skin cells accumulated on the feet. Here are some highly effective natural remedies for you to kick the problem away:
What Causes Dead Skin on Feet
Dead skin on feet is a common occurrence and can be caused by various factors, including (1) (2)
Lack of Moisture: Insufficient hydration can lead to dry skin, causing it to flake and peel. The feet, mainly, are prone to dryness due to weather, improper footwear, or inadequate moisturization.
Friction and Pressure: Continuous pressure and friction from ill-fitting shoes or excessive walking can develop calluses and dead skin on the feet as a protective response.
Hot Showers: Excessive exposure to hot water, especially during prolonged showers, can strip the skin of its natural oils, contributing to dryness and the formation of dead skin.
Skin Conditions: Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or athlete’s foot can cause the skin on the feet to become dry, flaky, and prone to peeling.
Aging: As individuals age, the skin loses moisture and elasticity, leading to drier and potentially flaky skin, including on the feet.
Improper Footwear: Wearing shoes that do not provide proper support or fit incorrectly can contribute to calluses, corns, and dead skin on the feet.
Poor Foot Hygiene: Inadequate cleaning of the feet, especially between the toes, can accumulate dead skin cells and create an environment conducive to skin issues.
Medical Conditions: Certain conditions, such as diabetes, can affect blood circulation and contribute to skin problems on the feet, including the accumulation of dead skin.
Addressing these factors through proper foot care, moisturization, wearing comfortable shoes, and seeking medical attention for underlying conditions can help prevent and manage dead skin on the feet.
Home Remedies for Dead Skin on Feet
Banana and Avocado
An overripe banana and a mature avocado can make an excellent foot mask and give you dead, skin-free, beautiful feet. Mash the banana and the avocado with your hands and blend to form a pulp mixture. Apply it generously to the dead skin cells on your feet, just like a nourishing foot mask. After 15 to 20 minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water, followed by cold water.
Honey, Olive Oil, Rice Flour and ACD
Raw honey can do wonders for your super dry feet with tons of dead cells. You can make a foot mask by mixing one tablespoon of olive oil, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (ACD), and one tablespoon of rice flour with 1 to 2 tablespoons of pure raw (and organic, if possible) honey. Combine the ingredients well and apply the paste all over your feet. Wait for 15 minutes and then wash off with tepid water.
Liquid Soap, Tepid Water, and Pumice Stone
Pour some liquid soap into a tub of tepid water and soak your feet in it for 15 to 20 minutes before bed. Once the dead skin on your feet gets softened, scrub it off gently by using a pumice stone in back-and-forth motions. Rinse off the dissipated skin cells with cold water and pat it dry with a soft towel. Apply a good foot cream or moisturizer liberally. Then, wear a pair of pure cotton socks and go to bed.
Also Read – DIY Homemade Face Scrub Recipes for Acne, Oily Skin
Lemon Juice and Lukewarm Water
The natural acidic properties of lemon juice can help you remove dry skin on your feet. Take a tub full of lukewarm water and add fresh juice of 2 lemons to it. Soak your feet in this mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water and then scrub with a soft yet effective foot brush. Be gentle so you do not get hurt while removing the dead cells. Wash off with plain water once again and apply a moisturizer.
Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, and Sea Salt / Brown Sugar
The acidic nature of lemon and the exfoliating property of sea salt or brown sugar form a perfect combination for removing dead skin from the feet. At the same time, olive oil keeps it soft and moisturized. To prepare this highly efficient foot scrub, take one tablespoon of olive oil and add five tablespoons of sea salt or brown sugar. Now, squeeze the juice of a lemon into the mixture and exfoliate your dry feet with this paste thoroughly. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with tepid water.
Oatmeal and Jojoba Oil
You can frequently remove dead skin on your feet using an oatmeal foot scrub. All you need to do is take 2 to 3 tablespoons of coarsely ground oatmeal and add 15 to 20 drops of essential jojoba oil. Exfoliate your feet with the thick, heavy paste for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, wait for 30 minutes and wash off with cold water. This process can be done three days a week to get the best results.
Lemon Juice and Petroleum Jelly
Take one teaspoon of your favorite petroleum jelly and mix the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. Massage your dry, cracked feet with this paste for 5 to 10 minutes, and allow it to sit for 10 more minutes. Finally, wash off with lukewarm water to reveal soft, dead skin-free feet.
Glycerin, Rose Water, Lemon Juice, and Sea Salt
Glycerin is well-known for its humectant properties, which make it an excellent moisturizing agent for dry feet. You can prepare a mixture by combining one tablespoon of glycerin, one tablespoon of lemon juice, one teaspoon of rose water, and three tablespoons of sea salt. Apply it on the dead skin cells of your feet and exfoliate for the first three to five minutes. Then, leave it for the next 2 to 25 minutes. After that, rinse away with plain cold water.
Paraffin Wax and Coconut Oil
Paraffin wax, when used to remove dead skin on feet, can serve the purpose of an emollient. Just melt some paraffin wax in a microwave oven and pour more or less equal amounts of coconut oil into it. Mix well to form a thick paste, and apply it to your feet evenly. Do it at bedtime and sleep by wearing a pair of cotton socks. In the morning, scrub with a soft foot brush and rinse off with lukewarm water.
Summary
Achieving soft, beautiful feet is easily attainable with these natural remedies. A blend of overripe banana and mature avocado forms a nourishing foot mask. At the same time, a mixture of honey, olive oil, rice flour, and apple cider vinegar is a powerful remedy for dry, peeling feet. Soaking in liquid soap-infused tepid water and using a pumice stone aids in gentle exfoliation, and a lemon juice soak effectively removes dry skin. Additionally, a scrub made of olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, brown sugar, and an oatmeal and jojoba oil foot scrub proves beneficial. These treatments, including petroleum jelly and lemon juice massage, glycerin, rose water, lemon juice, sea salt mix, and a paraffin wax and coconut oil application, offer diverse solutions for revealing soft, dead skin-free feet.
