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Treatments for Preventing and Healing Dry, Cracked Feet & Heels
It?s the end of your day and as you remove your shoes you are
once again met with dry cracked feet. They not only feel scaly
and painful, but they also look like you?ve been walking on
razor blades! No matter how rough and callous your feet
currently are, this does not have to be the fate of your feet
forever. There are five steps you can follow to learn how to
heal your dry cracked feet and prevent them from drying out in
the future.
Treatment for Dry Cracked Feet
The first step for at-home treatment is to wash or soak your
feet everyday in lukewarm water and a mild soap. You can add a
soothing foot product to help condition your feet if you
choose. Dr. Scholl?s and Burt?s Bees offer great medicated
moisturizing products. However, if you?d rather use items from
the kitchen, mixing one cup of honey with a gallon of water
and soaking ten to fifteen minutes can drastically improve the
moisture in the skin. Honey is also a natural antiseptic and is
a safe cure for cracked or bleeding skin. Be careful not to use
the pumice stone too vigorously on your cracked feet as it may
make them worse. Second, you?ll need to dry your feet well. Pay
close attention to the skin in between the toes. If this area
is not dried properly it can create a breeding ground for
bacteria and lead to infection. Pat the feet and do not rub
harshly or you can cause more damage!
Next, apply a foot cream, lotion or foot ointment. There are
many lotions available offering moisturizers such as Vitamin E,
shea butter, aloe and more. These are often helpful for dry,
but not severely dry skin. Podiatrists and diabetic specialists
often recommend a foot cream such as O?Keeffe?s working feet
cream. This cream is not greasy, hypoallergenic, has no odor
and contains no oil or alcohol. It helps replenish the skin
with glycerin and protect the skin with paraffin. These
ingredients help to sooth, hydrate and repair the skin tissue
of the feet.
Try a Home Remedy
There are also home remedies available which are said to
soothe. For instance, mixing baby lotion with spearmint and
eucalyptus oil is a known remedy. It is said to create a
?super lotion? which sooths, heals and smells fresh. Other
natural remedy moisturizers include almond oil, avocado oil,
jojoba oil and coconut milk. You can try the moisturizer of
your choice to see which works best for you. The fourth step
requires you to put on clean, white cotton socks. The cotton
helps to whisk away moisture while the colorless material
prevents any dyes from irritating the skin. Many people choose
to put their socks on at bedtime and wear them overnight for
enhanced moisturizing. When you wake up your feet will feel as
if you got a spa pedicure overnight!
Finally, be sure to check your feet everyday. Look for cuts or
blisters and treat them promptly. Keeping your feet clean and
applying moisturizer is an excellent way to care for your feet.
You can also insure foot health by eating a diet rich in
Vitamin A, which promotes skin health. Foods such as carrots,
sweet potatoes, kale, spinach and pumpkin are all excellent
sources.
In addition to the foods you eat, the amount of water you
drink is important as well. Drinking six to eight glasses of
water can help to keep your skin, soft and subtle naturally.
The main causes for severe dry skin or xerosis (as it is
known medically) is often dehydration, Vitamin A deficiency
or diabetes. You do not have to suffer from dry cracked feet
or feet fissures! Simply follow the steps above and you?ll be
kicking up your heels with happiness.
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