What are the best ways to remove rough skin on feet? Our guide outlines several effective methods and some tips you may not know.
Rough skin on the feet not only looks ugly. It can also become a problem. We’ll show you which home remedies you can use to get rid of them. We find it unattractive and annoying, although it also has positive functions because the rough skin can protect our feet from friction and pressure.
Almost everyone knows the problem of the rough skin and wants to get rid of the dead skin cells that have accumulated on the feet in a hard layer as quickly as possible.
You do not need any expensive equipment for this and usually you do not need a specialist. With the home remedies that we present below, you can achieve healthier and more beautiful feet in just a few simple steps. We will also tell you how the rough skin is formed and which preventive measures can be taken.
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How does the rough skin develop?
Rough skin can form on feet and hands. The feet are particularly affected. There the rough skin appears to be concentrated in the area of the heel and ball of the foot. Rough skin on hands and feet is normal. Because we need these firm layers of skin in order to be protected against friction and pressure on sensitive skin areas.
If there is an increased formation of rough skins, this does not only look unattractive. Especially when we wear light footwear or go barefoot in summer, cracks can form and inflammation can occur.
Tip: Rough skin always occurs when too much pressure is exerted on the hands or feet.
Which factors favor the formation of rough skins?
There are various causes that can lead to increased rough skin formation. If the hands are strained or strained unilaterally, for example if we carry them over a long period of time or operate unfamiliar equipment, the hands may also develop calluses. However, this is comparatively rare and usually easy to fix, so we focus on fighting the rough skin on the feet.
In the first place, wrong footwear can be mentioned as a possible factor. If the shoe is too tight and we still squeeze into it, pressure is exerted that is permanently exerted on the skin and stimulates it to form more rough skins.
❖ Wrong footwear
When buying shoes, it is therefore important to ensure an optimal fit. People who are on their feet a lot every day should give preference to practical aspects of footwear. A tight and tapered heel shoe may be visually appealing, but unfortunately it is not made for the health of our feet.
❖ Overweight and incorrect stress on the feet
One reason that too much pressure is exerted on the foot can also be your own weight. Those who are overweight can be affected as well as people who move incorrectly and load their feet unevenly. This will be clearly recognizable from the uneven distribution of the rough skin. If the rough skin is concentrated on one foot, you should work on your gait and try to compensate for misalignments or deformities of the feet using orthopedic insoles or other therapeutic measures.
❖ Dry feet
Another cause for the formation of rough skin can be the drying out of the feet. The underside of the foot does not have sebum glands and is therefore not regularly supplied with moisture. If the feet lack moisture, the rough skin forms, which can tear particularly quickly and lead to injuries and inflammation.
The causes of rough skin formation at a glance:
- wrong footwear
- overweight
- wrong weight distribution when walking
- dry feet
Remove rough skin on feet – but correctly
Are you looking for ways to get rid of calluses on your feet? There are different methods for this. First, it depends on how far the rough skin has progressed. For a rather thin layer, it is usually sufficient to go over it with a foot file. The rough side of the file is rasped off the rough skin and smoothed out with the fine side.
It becomes more difficult when a thick layer of rough skin has already formed. With the foot file you usually get no further here. Rough skinl planes are an alternative. However, these are particularly sharp and there is a risk of injury if used improperly. It is therefore advisable to use the gentle methods of rough skinl removal described below.
The best home remedies to remove rough skin on feet
✢ pumice stone
A pumice stone should not be missing in any bathroom to remove rough skin on feet. Before you start removing the rough skin, however, the skin should be soaked in a foot bath. Then it is easier to sand the rough skin with the pumice stone.
Tip: Add apple cider vinegar or a few sprinkles of tea tree oil to the foot bath.
Pumice stone is a very old method of rough skinl removal. You can buy pumice stones as a natural product or as a synthetic variant. The pumice stone is very suitable for removing lighter rough skins.
Tip: Diabetics should use synthetic pumice stones. The application is more hygienic since natural stones can easily become clogged by skin particles.
✢ Chamomile
Chamomile is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. The chamomile packet is therefore a good choice for rough skinl removal. For this, chamomile flowers are placed on a linen cloth. Wrap the flowers with the linen and make a small packet of chamomiles. The package is now poured with boiling water and should be completely soaked with water. Now the pack of chamomiles is placed on the area affected by the rough skin for about half an hour. The skin is then wonderfully soft and can usually be removed with the pumice stone.
✢ Sage against sweaty feet
Not only dry feet can promote the formation of rough skins. Even when the foot sweats, a milieu is created that encourages the appearance of calluses, cracks and inflammation. A foot bath made from sage leaves helps against sweaty feet. For this purpose, about 50 grams of fresh sage leaves are poured over with a scant liter of boiling water. The brew should now take about a quarter of an hour. Then you can fill up so much water that you are about ankle-high in the water. The feet are then bathed in it for about 15 minutes, then dried and applied well.
✢ salt
If you have a particularly thick rough skin, salt can help soften the rough skinl layer. You can use table salt or Dead Sea salt. The salt should be diluted 1:10 with water. Ensure a comfortable bathing temperature and bathe your feet in it for at least 20 minutes. Then the rough skin will be much easier to remove with the pumice stone.
✢ lemon
Lemon with its acidity can ensure that dead skin cells dissolve better. Furthermore, the citrus fruit has protective and nourishing properties. The juice or the zest of the lemon can be used to remove the rough skin.
It will take some patience to get rid of rough skins. In the evening, a piece of lemon peel should be placed directly on the rough skin. To prevent the bowl from slipping, fix it with a cloth or bandage. The lemon now acts on the rough skin overnight. The next morning the bowl can be removed and disposed of. In order to provide the skin with moisture, it is advisable to massage coconut oil into the foot.
Tip: If this application is repeated daily for a longer period of time, it can make the rough skin disappear.
Instead of the lemon peel, a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice can also be used. The procedure remains as just described.
✢ Apple cider vinegar
The acidity of apple cider vinegar can also promote rough skinl softening. Dead skin flakes are removed, inflammation is counteracted and the pH of the skin is regulated.
Use the same procedure as for the lemon. A cotton ball soaked in apple cider vinegar is attached to the area affected by the rough skin and you let the liquid take effect overnight. In the morning the skin is softened enough to be easily worked on with a pumice stone. This application should also be repeated until the rough skin has disappeared.
✢ onion
The onion can also be used for rough skinl removal with its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This application protects against skin infections and helps very well against the appearance of calluses.
An onion slice is soaked in lemon juice and sprinkled with salt. The onion is then fixed on the rough skin and the active ingredients should also soak in overnight.
Tip: For easier rough skinl removal, this application should be repeated daily for about a week.
✢ Mouthwash for the feet
This little trick is particularly effective and is also a recommendation if the rough skin is heavier. Prepare a foot bath by mixing water equally with vinegar and mouthwash. In this solution, bathe your feet for about a quarter of an hour. The rough skin dissolves and only needs to be rubbed off with a towel.
Tip: This application dries out the skin. It is therefore better to apply cream several times a day.
✢ Soda peeling for delicate feet
A peeling made of baking soda ensures particularly delicate feet. You can easily make the peeling yourself by mixing two tablespoons of baking soda with liquid soap. For a pleasant fragrance, add essential oil of your choice, orange, lemon or lavender oil are available.
Before the peeling, one of the foot baths described is recommended. Then rub the feet with the baking soda. After rubbing, the feet are cleaned and applied well.
✢ Peeling with sea salt and olive oil
This peeling is also quickly made and can make your feet wonderfully soft. Sea salt and olive oil are mixed in equal parts. This paste is generously distributed on the feet and massaged in well. The peeling can take effect for about ten minutes and is then rinsed off. For a lasting effect, the application can be carried out several times a week.
✢ Don’t forget your foot cream!
We have already mentioned in some applications that cream should not be forgotten after treating the feet. Moisturizing your feet is particularly important because, as already mentioned, they have no sebaceous glands and can dry out quickly.
The cream should contain a lot of moisture. The urea urea protects against inflammation. Aloe vera, lavender or mountain pine extract are also common ingredients in foot creams. For particularly dry feet, it is advisable to apply a rich foot cream or foot butter thickly on the foot overnight. Cotton socks are worn over it. In the morning you can massage the remains of the cream into the skin and the feet are optimally hydrated.
How can the formation of rough skin be prevented?
If you pay attention to your feet regularly, you can prevent the formation of rough skins. With the help of these measures you ensure healthy and tender feet and the formation of rough skin is reduced to a minimum.
