Ever felt self-conscious or ashamed bearing your feet before others because you had dry and rough feet?
If your answer is yes, I want to inform you that the reason for your suffering is dead skin on your feet. And, today we will be discussing about how to remove dead skin from feet. [1]
Healthy, smooth and clean feet are signs of good health and indicate that you take good care of yourself.
Read on to learn more:
- Reasons behind dead skin cells on feet.
- How to naturally get rid of dead skin from feet?
- Tips for moisturized and smooth feet.
What are The Reasons Behind Dead Skin Cells on Feet
On an average day, a healthy person covers a fair amount of distance by foot. Your feet are in charge of bearing the whole weight of your body. That is a great deal of load on rather small body parts. Multiple reasons that can cause the skin cells on your feet dying:
Lack of Moisturize
Our feet do not contain any oil glands like other body parts. So, they do not produce moisture naturally. Therefore, if you do not moisturize your feet externally on a regular basis, they lack moisture. Lack of humidity is one of the main reasons that trigger dead skin on your feet. [1]
Related: 10 Nourishing Home Remedies for Dry Skin (& How to Use Them)
Wrong Sized Footwear
Wrong sized and hard footwear can trigger dead skin cells. If you frequently wear the same pair of shoes or wear shoes which leave a lot of the skin exposure, you can notice roughness and dry skin on your feet. [2]
Harsh Cleanser
You might think that you need not be careful about the cleanser on your feet. But you are wrong. Using rough products leave your feet without moisture.
Extra Strain on Your Feet
You can also notice harshness on your feet, after a long day of standing. The reason is the pressure of your whole body on your legs over an extended period and the rub of the footwear against your skin.
Obesity
In case you are a bit overweight, your feet will have more chance of storing up dead skin cells on your feet. So, in that case, your feet are going to need extra attention and care.
Certain Medical Conditions
There are some other more obvious reasons apart from all these. If you suffer from conditions like Athlete’s foot, Psoriasis, Diabetes even cancer.
Related: 19 Home Remedies for Foot Fungus, Nail Fungus & Athlete’s Foot
17 Ways to Remove Dead Skin from Feet
There are a lot of traditional treatments for removing dead skin cells and having smooth, soft, healthy looking feet. But as we all know; natural methods are the best ways to deal with any health issues.
Most of the times, the ingredients are cheap, and you can get these easily. In fact, there are a lot of simple methods that can help you get rid of these problems without any side effects.
1. Warm Water
The good, old warm water! The most basic of the treatments. When I say warm water, I mean warm, not hot, not boiling. The warm water softens up the harsh skin cells on your feet. You should fill a bucket or a basin with warm water. Soak your feet for 20 minutes in it. Give them a gentle scrub with a loofa, a piece of soft, cotton cloth or directly your hands.
As soon as you pull out your feet, you can feel a difference. Your feet will feel softer and smoother like never before. So, you should not rub your feet too harsh with a towel. Pat the towel gently against your feet.
Now that your feet are all soft and delicate, you need to lock some moisture in. To do that, apply body oil or lotion on your feet and put on a pair of socks to bed. On that note, it is better to perform this in the night, before going to bed. That way your feet also get a pampered and restful night.
For better result, you should repeat this process regularly.
2. Epsom Salt
Our feet come in contact with dirt and dust throughout the day. It is vital that you have a detox in mind for your feet. Epsom salt is just the detox you want! Epsom salt is very rich in Magnesium, which can help you get rid of the dust and toxin from your feet.
At the very outset, clean your feet thoroughly using a gentle soap. Do not forget the space between the toes and toenail. [3]
Now in another bucket of lukewarm water take two handfuls of the salt in it and soak your feet in it. Take your feet out after a while and scrub properly.
Repeat the process all over again. In the end, pat your feet dry and apply moisturizer. Wear a sock after this to get the best result.
You can do this procedure 3 times a week.
3. Paraffin Wax and Coconut Oil
Paraffin wax is very popular for softening the skin and retaining the moisturizer. On the other hand, coconut oil is a natural moisturizer. [4]
Take the crude wax and boil it down in a bowl. Mix coconut oil with it and stir it properly. Apply it all over your feet. While applying, it might feel a bit hot. But your feet will adjust with the temperature in a bit.
When the coating is a bit hardened-up, put on a sock and leave it on overnight.
Scrub your feet with soap in the morning and afterward apply moisturizer. Your feet are now prepared to take the stress of a busy day.
Related: 9 Reasons to Use Coconut Oil for Nails Immediately
4. Lemon
Lemon contains Citric Acid. Citric acid softens up the dead skin cells on your feet and makes your feet soft and smooth. [5]
In some tepid water, add some lemon juice and soak your feet in it. Scrub your feet with a stone or foot brush. After 10-15 minutes of scrubbing, pat your feet dry.
Or, you can add some vinegar with lemon juice and apply on your feet after washing them. Leave this mask on your feet overnight. Wearing a sock will help your bed sheets from stains.
Scrub your feet in the morning and apply moisturizer. There, you have your happy feet!
You should not use this if you have any cuts or wounds1 on your feet.
Also Read: Lemon Juice for Acne: 8 Simple Home Remedies
5. Glycerin
Almost all of us have this colorless, odorless, viscous liquid at home. Glycerin contains vegetable oil and whitens and soften your skin. [6]
Add twice the amount of lemon juice with some glycerin. Apply on your feet and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse your feet with water.
You can also add rose water, sea salt and lemon with glycerin and mix these properly. Apply those on your feet and scrub thoroughly. Rinse your feet with cold water. Using this will get rid of the suntan from your skin and give gentler skin.
6. Mentholated Rub
When you have a stuffy nose or a severe headache, menthol rub on your nose of the forehead can give you a heavenly relief. But it can help you get rid of your dry feet problems as well. [7]
Menthol contains some essential oils and using it will remove the dead skin, soften the skin and fight off the fungus off your feet.
Wash your feet properly. Pat your feet dry and apply mentholated rub on it. Leave the ointment overnight. Wash your feet with water in the morning. Apply this regularly to get gentle feet free of dead skin.
7. Oatmeal
I am not discussing low carb breakfast as a way of removing dead skin. Aside from being a healthy breakfast ingredient, oatmeal can be used as a good scrub as well. [8]
Mix 3-4 spoonful of oatmeal with 15-20 drops of jojoba oil. You are going to get a thick paste which is rich in protein and Vitamin E.
Exfoliate your feet with 3-5 minutes with it and leave the paste for 30 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.
You can apply this 3 days a week to get the best result.
You might also mix oatmeal and rosewater or milk and apply this on your feet. Afterwards, wash your feet with water. You can use this 2-3 times a day.
You can use ground oatmeal with cocoa powder and crushed almond as well. Apply the mixture of this three on your feet and wait for it to dry. Wear a sock and leave it overnight. Wash it off with cold water the next morning. You do not have to apply any moisturizer, as cocoa butter has done it for you while you slept.
8. Vinegar
Vinegar is our common kitchen element. But did you know you can use it topically to get healthy white, shiny and soft skin? [7]
Mix a cup of vinegar with around 8 gallons of water and stir properly. Soak your feet 45 minutes in it. Then, remove your feet from the water and pat it dry.
Exfoliate your feet and rinse it with water. Apply petroleum jelly or your favorite moisturizer on your dry feet afterward.
You can also use 1 cup antiseptic mouthwash with and follow the same procedure.
You can use both of these regularly.
9. Ripe Banana
I have good news for you. Sometimes the bananas get riper than we can stomach. From now on, you do not have to throw it away. Ripe banana is a perfect natural moisturizer and skin softener. [9,10]
Crush a ripe banana properly and apply on your feet. Leave it on your feet for 10-15 minutes and then, rinse them with water. You can also use honey with it for a better result. And if you use honey, you do not need to use moisturizer afterward.
Again, you can blend a ripe banana with avocado and apply on your feet. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wash the pack off your feet with water and use moisturizer afterward.
10. Listerine
We all love Listerine as a cleanser. Cleaning floors, mirror and kitchen sink with Listerine, leave it spotless and with a faint aroma. Listerine has a very high amount of Thymol. The anti-bacterial property of thymol helps you get rid of the fungus and bacteria on your feet.
Take enough water to soak your feet entirely in it. Then add Listerine and vinegar to it. Keep your feet in the solution for 20 minutes.
Get your feet out of the bowl and pat it dry. You can use this solution daily.
11. Baking Soda
It just does not matter whether you are into baking stuff or not. Baking soda is one of the most common ingredients in any kitchen. Did you know that they are an excellent scrub? [11]
Mix some baking soda with rose water. Rub this ointment on your feet for 15 minutes. Leave it for 30 minutes. Then rinse your leg with water. Pat your leg dry and apply any moisturizer. You can use milk as well. Take enough milk for both of your feet. Then boil the milk until it is lukewarm. Soak your feet in the warm meet for 5 minutes. Then take your feet out of the bowl.
Put some baking soda in the milk and stir it properly with your feet.
Apply the paste on your feet with your hands. Give attention to the places those tend becoming dry. Leave it on for 5 minutes. Then rinse your legs with cold water. You can follow this procedure regularly.
12. Sea Salt
Nowadays most of the gourmet cooks prefer and refer sea salt. If you have some sea salt handy, you can use it to pamper your feet at home. Sea salt is very harsh and so, works as a good scrub. [12]
Essentials oils are an excellent moisturizing agent for your skin. The harshness of this salt helps you to exfoliate your legs.
Mix some sea salt with essential oil and give your feet a good scrub. Rinse it with water after a few minutes and pat your feet dry.
Again, you can use sea salt with sugar and raw milk. The crystal texture of sugar makes it a good, natural exfoliator. Mix all three of these, and you will get a scrub.
But unlike sea salt, sugar is a gentle scrub. So, keep your feet in lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes before using the scrub. Scrub for 5 minutes and wash your feet properly.
13. Brown Sugar
If you are lucky, you will find one or two bottles of brown sugar in your kitchen. Bring the bottle out to treat your feet to a gentle scrub.
Mix the juice of 1/2 a lemon, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and brown sugar. Massage your feet with it for 15-20 minutes and then rinse your feet with water. Pat your feet dry and apply moisturizer.
14. Honey
I do not think it is possible to find someone who does not have honey at their home. Apart from being a healthy substitute for sugar, honey is an excellent skin softener and moisturizer. [13]
You can use honey with only hot water. Mix some warm water with raw honey and put your feet in it and gently scrub. Using this will make your skin soft and moist. [14]
You can also use it with apple cider vinegar, rice flour, and olive oil. Rice flour gives this pack the texture of a scrub. Vinegar and olive oil will moisturize your feet nicely. Leave the pack for 20 minutes and Wash your feet with water.
Also Read: The Benefits of Honey and Cinnamon for Weight Loss
15. Coffee
Who knew that your morning habit could be used to treat your feet too? Ground coffee is one of the most excellent and gentle scrubs out there. [15]
Mix coffee grounds with almond oil or olive oil, sea salt or Epsom salt and ground oatmeal or cornmeal and lavender oil. These make a perfect combination of scrub and moisturizer.
16. Sandpaper
What are you thinking? A little bit too harsh? Nah. If you use correctly, this everyday tool can be a perfect scrub for your feet.
Rub the skin of your feet in a circular with the coarse side of sandpaper. Focus on the parts where the skin is dry and rough. You will see dead; white cells are falling off your feet. Do not change the direction of rub.
After scrubbing for a while wash your feet with a mild cleanser and rinse it with warm water. Pat them dry and do not forget to moisturize afterward. Because this rub is a bit harsh and will leave your skin soft and a bit exposed.
17. Hydrogen Peroxide
We mostly use this chemical to treat small cuts and wounds. But you can efficiently use it as a component of your feet care routine. [16]
Mix 3% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide with a bucket of water and soak your feet in it for 15 minutes. Scrub your feet with a pumice stone. Wash your feet with cold water afterward and apply moisturizer. You should not use this procedure very often.
Things to Remember to Keep Your Feet Moisturized and Smooth
• Try and use shoes that fit you well. Over and undersized footwears create discomfort for your feet.
• Avoid wearing the same shoes for a long time or very frequently. If you do so, the frequent rub might irritate your feet.
• Wash your feet regularly with a mild cleanser and use a moisturizer afterward. You should do this at least once a week, even if you never had dry skin. It is necessary for the general care of your feet.
• Try to use the scrubs at night and wear socks before going to bed. This way, you can lock in all the moisture.
• Even after trying these methods, you cannot get rid of your dry feet problem, consult a dermatologist.
Bottom Line
Everybody wants healthy and smooth feet. General psychology suggests people notice your feet first when you enter any room and judge you by it. In any case, rough and dry feet are not desirable.
If you want to give the proper care your feet need, do not forget to clean it properly at the end of the day. Pamper your feet with your favorite moisturizer. In case you are wearing shoes that expose your skin, use sunscreen to protect them against the UV ray of the sun.
Next time you notice the dry and rough skin on your feet, do not shy away from using the methods I mentioned.
Read next: 12 Ways to Get Rid of Dark Skin On Neck Naturally
