Sole Protector: How to treat chapped feet?
updated the 14 July 2015 à 18:30Do your feet itch? Are they dry, flaky and cracked? Here are some home remedies and preventive measures to softer, beautiful soles.
We apply numerous creams and skincare on our face, lather our body in lotion, but it’s very rare we find ourselves reaching out to take care of our feet. Out of sight, out of mind… until the dryness turns to unsightly cracks and discomfort.
So here’s how you can treat your chapped feet, or better yet, prevent it:
Home remedies
Needless to say, moisturizing is crucial. Don’t forget to moisturize the feet after showering and before hitting the sack. For better results, slip into some socks after applying foot creams.
Besides that, if you have some epsom salt, olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, mix either with warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes. Then scrub them with a pumice stone, but do avoid deep cracks or cuts and of course, the last step is to moisturize!
The magnesium in Epsom Salt promotes healing while the sulphate rids toxins. Similarly, lemon juice also helps shed dry skin cells all the while hydrating the feet. Meanwhile, vinegar contains acetic acid, which softens the skin to ease the exfoliation and it’s no secret how olive oil works wonders on our skin.
Moreover, if you can, get your hands on some paraffins (petroleum-based wax) for high-performance moisturizing effect. Apply the thick paste and cover your feet with socks for 10 to 15 minutes.
Prevention
To avoid all these hassle, it’s much simpler to prevent chapped feet. It could start with as easy as switching your body wash for softer, non-fragrant ones, but other than that, the secret to healthy feet lies in temperature. That means no more hot showers, hot baths, and extremely cold AC blasting in the room. For the sake of your feet, saunas and steam baths are better avoided.
When you’re out in town, opt for shoes that let your feet breathe, especially since Singapore is super hot.
Now if your feet don’t show signs of healing, it’s always safer to talk to your doctor for special medication tailored to your condition. Otherwise, follow our tips and you’ll be walking on sunshine!
Natasha Gan
