How to Get Rid of Dry, Cracked Heels

It's time for flip flops and sandals! I know my feet could use some attention after the long winter, how about yours? Dry, cracked heels aren't just unattractive--they can also let bacteria in to the body. Although not usually a medical concern, you'll feel better knowing that your feet are in top shape for summer. Here's not to safely and effectively remove dead skin and moisturize your feet.

You might need to do this once a week until your feet are looking good. After that, moisturize daily. Dry winter air is what causes dry, cracked heels, but wearing sandals and open back shoes in the summer can also cause your skin to get cracked.

The links used in this post may be affiliate links. By shopping from these links, you help support my blog. Thanks for your continued support.

Exfoliate

To find the healthy skin on your heels, you need to get rid of the dead skin. If you haven't taken care of your feet in a while, you might need to do this twice a few days apart.

First soak your feet in warm water. Add baking soda to deodorize and soften your skin. Let your feet soak until the water is cool and dry off your feet.

Next, use a foot file to slough off dead skin cells. Be careful not to push too hard and take off good skin. If your feet have a lot of calluses, you won't be able to get all of the dead skin off the first time. Just get what you can and do it again in a week.

Next, it's time to scrub. Make your own scrub like this avocado foot scrub or use 1/4 cup white sugar and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Scrub your heels, feet, and even in between your toes. Wash your feet with soapy water and pat dry.

Moisturize

After you've taken the dead skin off, it's time to moisturize. You could skip the foot file and scrub, but the lotion won't be as effective. You want to use a thick, creamy lotion with aloe vera, lanolin, or shea butter.

If you want to make your own lotion, try this Peppermint Foot Lotion recipe. I really love this Foot Repair Lotion from Sally Henson. It has tea tree oil it, so it kills bacteria and fungi that can cause odors.

Put the lotion on at night and wear an old pair of socks to bed. This will help trap the lotion against your skin, which will give you better results.

I use a lotion every day for maintenance. Once your feet are soft and your dry, cracked heels are gone, you can use just about any lotion. If you notice that your skin is getting tough, just exfoliate and use a creamy moisturizer like the ones I mentioned above.

Enjoy your summer now that you have great looking feet!

Photo via tiverlylucky / freedigitalphotos.net