DRY CRACKED FEET, AND HOW TO FIX THEM

Sandal season is starting, and so many of us have dry, cracked, itchy feet that we are often embarrassed by putting our feet on display. In any major store you will find dozens of products promising to heal your heels, but how do you know which ones work? Why do your feet do this?

Your feet do not produce natural oils, they rely on sweat glands to moisturize them and keep them soft. There are several things that can keep your body from doing this itself, this includes diabetes, thyroid trouble, any chronic illness that affects your skin, edema, and aging. It can also be caused by bacteria, vitamin deficiencies, overexposure to water, shoes that don’t fit properly, and lack of air circulation around the feet.

There are some easy at home remedies to try, and some good common sense rules of thumb to use. If your moisturizer or foot lotion lists its first ingredient as water, it’s not going to solve the problem. Water dries you back out. There are things probably in your fridge and kitchen cupboards right now that can put your feet on the path to smoothness.

• 1 cup of white vinegar to 2 gallons warm water, soak for 30-45 minutes once a week, rinse, dry, apply moisturizer and socks

• 1/2 cup baking soda to 1 gallon warm water, stir until dissolved, soak 30-45 minutes, rinse, dry, apply moisturizer and socks

• 1-2 gallons warm water, few drops tea tree oil, soak, rinse, dry, moisturize, apply socks – this works great if it’s from bacteria or fungus

• 1-2 gallons warm water, 2-3 Tablespoons lemon juice, soak, rinse, dry, etc.

Instead of lotion try some olive oil, coconut oil, vaseline, or any kitchen oil, you can add a drop or 2 of an essential oil to make it smell good if you like, make sure it is an essential oil and not a fragrance oil, most fragrance oils have an additive that makes them unsafe for skin application. One great mix is one Tablespoon olive oil and a few drops lemon juice, mix it up and rub it on. Always use clean cotton socks after, cotton will allow air to circulate while your feet soak up the moisture.

Enjoy your soft and smooth feet, and your comfortable summer shoes!