Even though we are going into winter, which means socks, boots and snuggled up feet, that does not give you a free pass to let those pedicured feet of yours go to ruins just because no one will see them. YOU will see them and your opinion is all that matters. Plus, if you keep them lathered up and crack-free during winter, by the time it comes to painting them in your bikini pink for summer, they will be perfect!
So, here are some DIY foot remedies. I’m going to get quite nitty gritty here, so hold onto your toes:
DRY/CRACKED HEALS:
This is an oldie but a goodie. Slop on some aqueous cream and a pair of comfy old socks. Sleep with this on two or three times a week and you will notice a huge difference with the softness of your feet. If your heals are very cracked, it is a wise idea to try use a pumice stone, but stay away from those stainless steal “grater” looking things. They will just scrape away your skin, where as a pumice stone softly removes the dead skin.
REMEMBER: If your feet have very deep cracks, you will need to do this in stages as you may hurt yourself if you scrub away at the skin too much.
ATHLETES FOOT/PEELING FEET:
More people have this than you would think. Some people suffer so severely that their feet can burn, bleed and itch. Athlete’s foot is contagious and it is a fungus. That is why it is encouraged to wear rubber slops when using public swimming pools/gym showers.
Some people’s feet peel in-between their toes. This can be from not drying your toes properly or from being moist in socks. If you have the beginning signs of this try to do the following:
Soak your feet two or three times a day for 10-15mins in:
• 4 TBS Vinegar
• 2 Cups Warm Water
Pat dry and then massage the affected area with:
• 1 TBS tea tree oil
• 4 TBS olive oil
REMEMBER: If your feet are very sore, it is best to see a Doctor before trying anything at home as you could cause more damage.
FUNGUS:
Once again, more people suffer from this than you think. If you just look around, you will notice there are many people where the ‘white’ of their nail has gone further into the nail bed. This is a very common fungus (see picture below). The sad thing is that so many people just leave it and ignore it, but it will just get worse and spread.
Fungus can be caused from poor hygiene, sharing nail utensils as well as a traumatic nail injury. Good news is that it is very easily cured with the right drops or some home remedies:
Apple Cider Vinegar or Tea Tree Oil: Apply a few drops of either on an ear bud as many times a day as possible to the affected area.
Turmeric and Olive Oil: Combine 1tsp of Turmeric powder with 1tsp of Olive Oil. Make a paste and cover the affected area. Leave it on overnight. Make sure to cover it with gauze or an old sock as turmeric stains.
Garlic: Crush 2 to 3 cloves of garlic. Apply to the affected area and leave it on overnight.
IN-GROWN TOES NAILS:
This can be such an uncomfortable thing to have and is caused by cutting nails too short or cutting down the sides. To get rid of these are a slow process as your nail needs to grow out. Here are two helpful tips to relieve the pressure and pain:
1) Cut a tiny ‘V’ in the middle of your nail. This will force your nail to repair itself by growing together.
2) Place a tiny ball of cotton wool under the nail. This will relieve some pressure. Make sure to change this ball weekly as it will get dirty and smelly.
There you go ladies! Here’s to HAPPY FEET! 🙂
Article by: Cara Glaser http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/soaring-designs-ct