Dry, cracked ft are extra than simply an eyesore—they’re painful! As soon as you end up battling a cracked heel, you possibly can really feel it with each step (belief me; I do know). Fortunately, there are many cracked heel treatments that work wonders in restoring the softness and smoothness of your treasured soles—even in a single day.
I got here up with this recipe as a result of I all the time get heel cracks after a visit to the seaside—every week of salty dryness plus the damage and tear of strolling barefoot on sizzling sand takes a toll! Once I get residence my ft are in severe want of TLC, however after a couple of nights soaking, scrubbing, and making use of this mega moisturizing healing balm they’re again to feeling child delicate!
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Components
Shea butter — Shea butter is wealthy in fatty acids, together with oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids, which assist moisturize and nourish dry pores and skin. When utilized to cracked heels, it helps to hydrate the pores and skin, enhancing its elasticity and selling therapeutic.
Coconut oil — In the case of cracked heels, coconut oil is a godsend. Because of its excessive fats content material, coconut oil helps replenish misplaced moisture, soften the pores and skin, and enhance the pores and skin’s elasticity [source]. Repeatedly massaging coconut oil onto the heels can depart the pores and skin feeling smoother, extra hydrated, and fewer vulnerable to cracking.
Olive oil — With its wealthy, emollient properties and nourishing nutritional vitamins and minerals, olive oil makes an amazing cracked ft therapy. It is a pure anti-inflammatory that deeply moisturizes the pores and skin and softens tough patches [source].
Vitamin E oil — Vitamin E oil is a potent antioxidant that helps nourish and restore the pores and skin [source]. Making use of vitamin E oil to cracked heels can present deep hydration, promote therapeutic, and enhance the general situation of the pores and skin.
Lavender important oil— Lavender is well-known for its antibacterial and antifungal results [source]. Lavender important oil will help alleviate irritation, moisturize the pores and skin, and promote therapeutic, making it an excellent alternative for soothing and revitalizing cracked ft.
Tea tree important oil — Famend for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties [source]. It additionally has a refreshing and cooling impact, offering aid from discomfort and aiding within the therapeutic course of.
Peppermint important oil — The cooling sensation offers rapid aid to dry, cracked ft. It helps soothe irritation, moisturize the pores and skin, and enhance circulation [source], making it an invigorating alternative for revitalizing drained, cracked ft.
See recipe card for portions.
Directions
The three tenets of wholesome pores and skin are: soften, exfoliate, and moisturize. In case you’re seeking to give your cracked heels some further care and a spotlight, you are able to do this straightforward 3-step pedicure at residence for cracked heels a few times every week.
Make your heel balm – In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, soften the shea butter and coconut oil utterly.
Take away from the warmth and let the combination cool for a couple of minutes earlier than including the candy almond and important oils. Stir properly to mix.
Switch the combination to a clear, hermetic container or jar, and permit it to chill utterly.
Soften with a foot soak – Repeatedly soaking your feet in heat water helps to melt the pores and skin, making it much less vulnerable to cracking within the first place.
Fill a basin with heat water and add ½ cup Epsom salt, ½ cup entire milk, and 10 drops of important oil. Soak your ft for 15–20 minutes.
Exfoliate with a foot scrub — Exfoliating the feet, both with a salt scrub or a pumice stone, sloughs away lifeless pores and skin cells and tough patches on robust soles, leaving your ft smoother and extra receptive to the nourishing advantages of a moisturizing balm.
Mix 2 tablespoons sea salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Gently therapeutic massage the scrub onto your ft then rinse with heat water and pat dry.
Moisturize with cracked heel balm — Apply 1 teaspoon of this heavy-duty moisturizer that is wealthy in emollients and humectants to every foot to seal in moisture, soften tough pores and skin, and stop the formation of cracks.
Trace: For finest outcomes, apply the foot cream earlier than mattress, and put on a pair of fresh cotton socks in a single day to lock within the moisture. Repeat every day to assist heal and stop dry, cracked heels.
Substitutions
This foot cream recipe will be custom-made by making an attempt totally different service oils or important oils identified for his or her skin-nourishing properties. Simply be certain that to keep up the identical ingredient ratios when making replacements.
- Neem oil — Neem oil is derived from the neem tree and has antimicrobial and moisturizing properties [source]. Apply a couple of drops of the oil on to your cracked ft and therapeutic massage it into the pores and skin. Depart it on in a single day and rinse off within the morning for its therapeutic and hydrating results.
- Sesame oil — Sesame oil is deeply moisturizing, and turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory properties [source] that may assist to heal cracked ft.
- Frankincense important oil — Frankincense works wonders on the skin, so why not apply it to your ft as properly? It helps promote cell regeneration, helps the therapeutic course of [source], and enhances the general look and texture of the pores and skin on the ft.
At all times carry out a patch check earlier than making use of the heel cream to make sure you would not have any antagonistic reactions to the elements.
Variation
In case you have no time for the complete pampering pedicure, you do not have to overlook out on the therapeutic advantages of essential oils for your feet. Strive certainly one of these variations to soothe and hydrate dry skin:
- Compress — For a foot soak without the mess mix 5–10 drops of essential oil with some warm water. Then soak a clean cloth or towel in the mixture. Wring out the excess liquid and apply the warm compress to your cracked feet for soothing relief.
- Aloe vera lotion — Aloe has long been used for its soothing and hydrating properties and its benefits for healing skin [source]. Mix important oils with aloe vera gel to create your individual cracked heels lotion to alleviate dryness and scale back irritation.
- Calendula salve — DIY this pure calendula salve that is soothing and anti inflammatory [source] and apply it to your cracked heels commonly. It helps moisturize, nourish, and promote the therapeutic of broken pores and skin.
- Shea butter foot masks — Whip up a single use overnight mask with 1 tablespoon shea butter, 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil, 6 drops of frankincense essential oil. Combine the shea butter and oils in a small bowl till easy. Therapeutic massage the balm onto your ft and put on socks in a single day to permit the balm to deeply penetrate and moisturize your ft.
- Heel therapeutic massage — Even simpler, simply mix a service oil resembling coconut, almond, or jojoba oil with certainly one of beneficial important oils and luxuriate in a foot massage. The beneficial dilution ratio is usually 2–3% for adults. For instance, add 6–9 drops of important oil to each 1 ounce (30 mL) of service oil.
Storage + Tools
Use a clear, hermetic 4-ounce jar on your heel balm and retailer it in a cool, dry spot. It ought to final 6 months.
Whilst you’re pampering your ft, do not forget your hardworking fingers. Get all of the tools you need, and study one of the best methods for an at-home manicure to maintain your fingers and nails delicate and easy.
Prime tip
Cowl your ft with clear socks to boost the absorption of the oils and lock in moisture. Depart the socks on for at the very least half-hour (in a single day is even higher!) to permit the oils to work their magic. If making use of through the day, you might wish to placed on open-toed sneakers to stop extra moisture buildup.
FAQ
Some efficient pure treatments for cracked heels embody:
—Repeatedly exfoliating the heels to take away lifeless pores and skin.
—Soaking the ft in heat water with added elements like Epsom salt or apple cider vinegar.
—Making use of pure moisturizers like shea butter, coconut oil, or olive oil to maintain the pores and skin hydrated.
Important oils will help soothe cracked heels in a number of methods. Lavender oil has soothing and therapeutic properties. Tea tree oil has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Peppermint oil offers a cooling sensation and will help relieve ache and irritation.
You’ll be able to apply the do-it-yourself heel balm a few times a day, relying on the severity of your cracked heels. Apply it after washing and drying your ft to maximise absorption and moisture retention.
Sure, there are a couple of way of life adjustments that may assist forestall cracked heels:
—Moisturize your ft commonly, particularly after bathing or showering.
—Put on well-fitting, snug sneakers that present correct assist.
—Keep away from strolling barefoot on laborious surfaces.
—Drink an enough quantity of water to maintain your physique and pores and skin hydrated.
—Keep a balanced food regimen wealthy in nutritional vitamins and minerals that assist pores and skin well being.
There are numerous important oil mixtures you possibly can attempt for cracked heels.
Strive lavender and tea tree oil: Lavender helps soothe and heal the pores and skin, whereas tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties to fight infections.
Lotion recipes
Present your pores and skin some love with do-it-yourself lotion recipes:
Soothing Shea Butter Cracked Heel Balm
Directions
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In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, soften the shea butter and coconut oil utterly.
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Take away from the warmth and let the combination cool for a couple of minutes earlier than including the olive oil, vitamin E, and important oils. Stir properly to mix.
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Switch the combination to a clear, hermetic container or jar, and permit it to chill utterly.
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To make use of, take a small quantity (½ to 1 teaspoon) and gently therapeutic massage it into your cracked heels and ft, specializing in the areas that want further care.
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For finest outcomes, first soak and scrub your ft, then apply the foot cream earlier than mattress. Put on a pair of fresh cotton socks in a single day to lock within the moisture. Repeat every day to assist heal and stop dry, cracked heels.
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