There are numerous causes for dry peeling feet. It could be the harsh winters, aging, medical conditions etc. The human feet are the driest area of the body. They have no oil glands and hence need moisturizing agents to ensure that they have no fissures or cracks. Once the feet are dry they become itchy and scratchy. This increases its dryness and can cause pain too. Dryness can vary from the temporary phase too long duration of time. We will discuss here how to fix dry feet using effective home remedies.
Some of The Common Causes for Dryness of Feet
- Having a hot water bath. This generally dries the overall body especially the feet.
- Being exposed to harsh sunlight for long periods of time could be another cause for dryness of the feet.
- Using chemical based soaps which don’t have any moisturizing agent in them.
- Living in an environment which has low humidity level could be another cause. This is true if you are using room heaters or sometimes the air around you itself has less humidity.
- Medical conditions like abnormal thyroid levels, diabetes and skin ailments.
- As we age, the moisture content in our bodies reduces. Hence dryness of feet and skin is seen in old people.
- Extreme cold weather could also cause dryness of skin and feet.
Though starting off mildly dry, if the feet are left unattended they could develop complications. It could be Psoriasis or Dermatitis. There could be the pain in the feet too which would make it difficult to walk. There could be burning of feet. Treatment implies keeping the feet hydrated. Moisturizing agents like oils, cream and ointment aid in this process. Since a lot of off the shelf solutions have alcohol in them they are not ideal remedies. The better option would be to adopt home-based remedies. So, How to fix dry feet?
Consider an option from the list given below. They are simple methods to how to get rid of dry cracked feet.
How to Fix Dry Feet?
1. Use Brown Sugar Scrub
Brown sugar granules act as an effective scrub to remove dead skin from dry cracked feet. This makes the skin of the feet supple. Brown sugar consists of glycolic acid which fights bacterial infections and brings in a growth of new cells. It is a humectant which locks moisture in your feet and keeps it soft most of the time.
Ingredients-
- ½ a bucket of warm water
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of
- olive oil
Method-
Take the brown sugar, honey, lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl. Mix it up well. It will form a sticky paste-like substance. Take a foot basin and pour the warm water in it. Soak your feet in it for 10 minutes. Pat dry your feet. Next take some of the sugar scrubs and apply on one foot. Massage your foot in circular fashion till all the sugar melts away. Do the same with the other foot too. Now wash your feet in the warm water. Repeat this procedure 2 to 3 times a week after which you could do it once a week.
2. Petroleum Jelly and Lemon Juice Mixture
We are all familiar with Vaseline which is an ointment used for dry skin on feet. It contains petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is a by-product of the petroleum process. Since the jelly is oily in nature, it is a natural water repellent. Thus when applied on the feet it gets into nooks and crevices of the skin cells and helps in hydration. The lemon juice contains acetic acid. This helps in exfoliation and removal of dead skin from the cracked feet. Once dead skin falls it paves way for growth of new soft skin. So you don’t need to worry about how to fix dry feet!
Ingredients-
- 1 teaspoon of petroleum jelly
- Juice from one lemon
- ½ a bucket of warm water
Method-
Mix the lemon juice and petroleum jelly together to make a paste. This procedure is best done before going to sleep. Pour the warm water into a foot basin and wash both your feet. Dry them with a towel. Next, apply the jelly paste on both your feet. Apply abundantly on the cracks and in between the cracks too. Leave it overnight. Wash your feet with warm water next morning. You could wear socks on your feet to ensure that you don’t soil the bed with your feet.
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3. Blend of Turmeric Powder, Basil, Aloe Vera  and Camphor
Turmeric is supposed to contain a number of medicinal properties. It acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. This is because of curcuminoids present in them. If the feet are infected then this is a good solution to tackle them.
Ingredients-
- 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder
- 10 to 12 basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons of camphor
- 2 teaspoons of aloe Vera gel
Method-
Take fresh basil leaves and wash them. Make a paste of them. Add the turmeric powder to it. Powder the camphor and add it to the mixture. Mix it all up and finally add aloe Vera gel to it and make a paste out of it. Apply this mixture to both your feet covering all the cracked areas. Leave it for 20 minutes. Wash your feet with warm water and a mild soap. Repeat this every day till the cracks in the feet vanish.
4. How to Fix Dry Feet Sesame Oil Solution?
Sesame oil has both moisturizing and emollient properties which make it very effective for treatment of cracked feet. This is because of its very composition. It contains vitamin E, linoleic acids, stearic acids and palmitic acids. This helps in the fighting off bacterial infections too. Old skin cells are replaced with new ones providing for soft and supple feet.
Ingredients-
- 2 teaspoons of sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons of castor or almond oil
Method-
Pour the two oils in a bowl and mix well. This procedure is best done before going to bed. Wash your legs in the warm water and dry them with a towel. Apply the blended oil mixture on both feet and cover all the cracks. Leave it overnight. Wash your feet with warm water in the morning. This can be done on a continuous basis till you see results. The almond oil helps to reduce the strong smell of sesame oil.
5. Honey, Orange and Milk Blend Mixture
Honey has a number of medicinal properties. It acts as a humectant and retains moisture on the feet. While milk contains vitamin A which is beneficial for the skin. Orange juice contains vitamin C and helps in the production of new skin cells.
Ingredients-
- 1 cup of honey,
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- Juice from 1 orange
- Pumice stone
Method-
First, we need to make the foot cream which can be stored in a jar for a month. For this take the honey in a bowl. Add the milk to it and mix it up well. Next, add the concentrated juice and blend it all. Before using this cream wash both your feet with warm water and dry it with a towel. Using a pumice stone remove all the dead skin from the feet. Apply the cream to both the feet and leave it for 45 minutes. You could also leave it for a longer time by applying it before going to bed. Wash the feet with warm water. You could apply this multiple times in a day to see good results.
6. How to Fix Dry Feet The Apple Cider Vinegar Solution?
In addition to cooking, using apple cider vinegar for dry feet is one of the good options. Apple cider vinegar has an antibacterial property which helps in fighting infections of the foot. This is true in the case of Athlete’s foot, fungal infections, scaly skin and itchiness of feet.
Ingredients-
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
- ½ bucket of warm water
Method-
Pour the warm water into a foot basin. Add the apple cider vinegar solution to it and stir well. Place your feet in this solution for around 30 minutes. Once done remove your feet and rinse with cold water. Pat dry them. You could use a brush and remove any dead skin from the feet. This helps in removing any toenail fungal infections too. This could be done daily till the feet are cured.
7. How to Fix Dry Feet Essential Oils Combination?
By using a combination of essential oils for dry feet, you can get your feet moisturized easily and make them soft. Since they have antifungal and anti-bacterial properties they are very good for infected cracked feet. The essential oils for dry feet could consist of four types of oils.
Ingredients-
- 3 drops of Lemon oil
- 3 drops of Peppermint oil
- 3 drops of Eucalyptus oil
- 3 drops of Tea tree oil
- ½ bucket of warm water
Method-
Pour the warm water into a foot basin. Allow it to cool till it becomes lukewarm. Add the four different oils to the water. Stir the water solution. Keep your feet in this solution for 45 minutes. Once done pat dry them. You could do this every day before going to bed. In addition to curing the infection in your feet, it would give you a good night’s sleep.
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Conclusion
Having dry peeling feet can get you into embarrassing situations. How to fix dry feet? Using one of home remedies for dry feet mentioned above long term will heal cracked feet. Home remedies are cheap and easy to use. Also since they do not contain any chemicals they are safe to use.