As we walk through life, our feet can take a bit of a beating. One of the most uncomfortable things we have to deal with is the development of hard, thick, dead, and dry skin on the heels and sides of our feet.
While this is a natural occurrence due to the everyday stresses we make our feet endure, it’s not exactly the nicest thing in the world.
Thankfully, there are simple ways to minimize this tough skin and get your dry feet back to being as soft as they were the day you were born. Let’s dive in.
Why do our feet get a build-up of dead skin?
Before we examine the solutions, we need to identify the cause of the problem. Most people put their feet under a lot of stress and pressure on a daily basis. From commuting to work, and to wearing tight socks and shoes for extended periods of time, our feet can really take quite the pummelling.
Over time, these daily battles cause the skin on our feet to lose moisture and make it difficult for them to retain vital water and hydration. This creates an environment where the skin becomes dry, hard, and in some cases, cracked.
Strangely enough, the growth of thick dead skin is actually a natural bodily reaction in an attempt to exfoliate unneeded skin cells, but due to the bombardment our feet take, those cells tend to become entrenched and difficult to remove.
Methods of removing dead skin
There are several simple methods that can be used to try and remove or minimize large amounts of thick dead skin on your feet.
While everyone is different, each of these suggestions has merit and could be a big help. Give some of them a try and see which ones work best for you.
Foot scrub
A foot scrub acts the same way as a face or body scrub, or an exfoliator. It is a creamy product that contains thousands of tiny rock-like granules, that are used to literally scrape away the dry and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.
Ideally, through repeated use, the scrub will successfully dislodge the stubborn cells and rejuvenate the skin underneath. It can help stimulate the production of collagen and improve blood circulation, which can both help prevent the build-up of this issue in the future.
Foot brush
If you want to use some heavy-duty tools to try and relieve your feet from dead skin, you can always use a dedicated foot brush to do so.
There’s nothing much to elaborate on here, a brush is a brush, after all. Make sure you soak your feet in warm water first to loosen up the skin, as this will make it easier for the brush to scrape it off.
Soak in vinegar
It may sound a bit weird, but soaking your feet in vinegar might be a great help in getting rid of that tough dead skin.
Any type of vinegar can be used, but we prefer either white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar as they are common and easy to find. Fill a bowl with cool water and make sure 1/3rd is your vinegar of choice. Submerge each foot for 5-10 minutes, then follow up by using an exfoliator, a foot brush, or both, to get the best results.
Doing this a few times a week can have a big impact and get your skin looking and feeling smooth.
Conclusion
By implementing the 3 simple methods listed above on a regular basis, you can treat your feet and substantially minimize the amount of hard, dry, dead skin that accumulates over time.
Caring for your feet is something we all need to do a lot more of, as neglecting them can result in unpleasant cracking and irritation.
