Removing Dead Skin From Your Feet

If you see dead or loose that starts forming on your feet, it’s just their natural way of exfoliating and shedding dead skin cells. Lack of moisture because your feet might be constantly in closed shoes or socks and friction of running and walking can be the reason why dead skin builds up. Also, it forms if you won’t regularly care, exfoliate, or scrub your feet. Dead skin on the bottom of your foot appears dry, cracked, or loose. It may not be painful at times if it’s not a result of eczema, athlete’s foot, or another type of infection. Suspecting it to be the other type of infection, ask and visit your doctor for treatment. Here are some ways to remove dead skin, removing it maybe for cosmetic reasons or just because it makes you more comfortable.

Pumice stone: It is a natural lava stone that helps in removing dead skin calluses from your feet. To use this one, dip it in warm water. Also, you can soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes just to soften them. Move the pumice stone gently in a circular or sideways motion to remove dead skin. To help promote the healthy cell turnover, focus on removing the top layer of the skin and not the entire area of dead skin. Then afterward, apply a lotion or oil to help soften your feet. Take note that you should not use pumice stone on injured or sore areas ever. 

Paraffin wax: Nail salons offer this as an add-on for a pedicure treatment.

This is just a soft wax that can melt at medium temperature around 51°C. Paraffin wax should not be hot enough as it may burn or irritate your skin. You can also use this treatment at home by using at-home paraffin wax bath, melt it in a sauce pan and move it to a bowl to dip your feet. While doing this treatment, dip your feet in the wax for several times. After applying layers of the wax, wrap them with a plastic. If the wax hardens, remove it. Dead skin is removed along with the wax. It feels soft afterward. But, you should not use paraffin wax if you have a rash or open sore on your feet, have poor blood circulation or lost the feeling in your feet like from diabetic neuropathy. If you will use this treatment at home, be careful and you should monitor its temperature using  a candy thermometer.

Foot scrub: Most drugstores and pharmacies offer different foot scrubs. You should find one with granules that help to scrub away dead skin. You can make your own also by diluting two tablespoons of sea salt into equal amounts of baby oil and lemon juice.

If you want to use foot scrub, apply it directly to your foot and use your hand to rub them gently or you can use foot scrub brush or brush in removing the dead skin. After that, rinse scrub completely with warm water. 

Oatmeal scrub: To remove dead skin, use oatmeal to make an at-home exfoliator. To make it, mix equal parts oatmeal with milk or rose water to make a paste. Then, apply it to your feet and let it that way for 20 to 30 minutes and use foot brush again to exfoliate your feet. Use cold water to rinse it and dry your feet. Lastly, apply a foot cream. To get the best result of this treatment, perform it every other day. 

Epsom salt soak or scrub: A crystal form of magnesium sulfate(a mineral compound). You can soak your feet in water with dissolved epsom salt. A big help to exfoliate and smooth dry and cracked feet. In return, it may help in removing dead skin. Here is how to use it:

• To create an epsom salt salt, pour ½ cup of salt into a footbath. It’s a full cup if you are going to use it in a bathtub full of warm water. 
• Soak and relax for 20 minutes.
• Things you can use to remove dry skin is pumice stone or foot brush.

Want to create epsom salt scrub for your feet in the shower or bath? Then, mix a handful of epsom salt along with a tablespoon of bath or olive oil in your hand. Gently rub it over the wet skin to soften, exfoliate, and remove dead skin, rinse it off with water after. 

Vinegar soak: Helps in softening the feet and allows removing dead, dry, or cracked skin. Any type of vinegar will do, but the most popular is apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, this might be present in your kitchen already. Use 1 parts vinegar to 2 parts cold water as a general guideline, soak your feet for 5 to 10 minutes. If you want, use pumice stone after to remove dry or loose skin. Apply moisturizer and wear socks to seal in the moisture. Do this treatment only few time a week 

Baby foot peel: This is one of popular at-home treatments in removing dead skin and smoothen your feet. All you need to do is to follow the instructions on its package. Set the plastic booties provided there in your feet for one hour, it contains a gel solution of fruit acid and other moisturizes that might help you shed dead skin from your feet. There’s no scientific studies that proves its effectiveness but this is very popular to those loyal online users.

Other treatments that should be use with caution

Your other options can be baking soda and lemon water soak. It helps in their own different ways. But this can sometimes be irritating as it may disrupt  the natural pH balance of your skin. Search and learn more of the things you should avoid after you decide on either of these treatments. Always remember to check it first with your doctor or podiatrist before trying out new kinds of treatment. 

There are more ways to prevent dry skin on your feet. Some of those is to moisturize your feet always, ask your podiatrist for their recommended therapeutic oils, ointments, or creams that can help skin from drying out, soaking your feet few times a week, and to avoid hot showers or baths. Dead skin is something you should not worry about as there were a lot of ways to remove them. Visit your podiatrist or doctor if any of these treatments doesn’t help you with your problem.