When your feet, especially your heels, get dried out, uncomfortable cracks can develop in the skin. These can be more than just unsightly. If the cracks are deep enough, they can make it painful to walk. Bleeding and vulnerability to infection can ensue. Giving your feet a home spa treatment can help prevent these problems and make you feel pampered at the same time.
Symptoms
The ePodiatry website lists several symptoms signaling that your feet could use some extra care. In addition to the obvious dryness of the skin and visible cracks, you might experience thick callused areas, especially along the inside border of the heel, which appear more yellow or darker than the rest of your skin. You may experience pain while your heels are bearing your weight.
Contributing Conditions
If you have naturally dry skin, skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, or medical conditions that reduce sweating, you may be more susceptible to cracked heels. Prolonged standing, especially on hard floors, increases the pressure that causes cracks to occur. So does obesity. Wearing open-backed shoes allows the pressure to expand that part of the foot under the heel and crack even more. If you habitually take long, hot soaks in the tub, your skin will actually be more susceptible to drying out and cracking. To prevent dry heel problems, keep showers and baths short and dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes.
Softening the Skin
Despite the risk factor of hot soaks for dry feet, a hot foot bath remains a good way to soften the thick, cracked skin and make your feet more receptive to scrubs and moisturizers. Use the hottest temperature you find comfortable, and add 2 to 3 tbsp. of Epsom salts or other favorite bath salt. Soak your feet for about 15 minutes. You can make your own bath salts at home. A simple recipe from Tipnut.com consists of one part Epsom salts to one part baking soda. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils and store the salts in an airtight container.
Reducing Skin Thickness
After soaking your feet, you'll find the thickened skin around your heel to be soft and easy to exfoliate. Reducing the thickness of the skin helps allow cracks to heal. One way to do this is to gently rub a pumice stone over your heels. Don't rub it back and forth, as this can tear the skin. Instead, rub it in one direction only. Another way to gently remove layers of dead skin is to use a foot scrub paste. You can buy foot scrubs or make your own from household ingredients. A foot scrub typically contains an exfoliating agent such as sugar, salt or oatmeal; this works to remove dead skin the way sandpaper removes rough edges. It should also have a soothing ingredient such as honey, aloe vera or olive oil. Massage the foot scrub paste into your skin using a circular motion. After using a pumice stone or foot scrub, rinse off the dead skin in warm water and pat your feet dry with a soft towel.
Moisturizer
Right after soaking and exfoliating your feet is a good time to apply an oil-based moisturizing cream or body butter. The moisturizer will penetrate more deeply thanks to the softening and debriding you've just done. The ePodiatry website recommends applying moisturizer twice daily to prevent against further drying and cracking. For overnight healing power, try putting on an extra thick layer of moisturizer just before bed and sticking your greasy feet in a pair of soft cotton socks.
Caution
The American Podiatric Medical Association warns against attempting to remove corns and calluses, which are protective layers of compacted skin that form where excessive friction or pressure happen. Try padding the area where the callus rubs painfully against your shoe, and never try to cut them off with any sharp instrument. Consult a podiatrist before applying any home remedies.
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