How to soften dry and cracked feet is a question I had been asking myself for a really long time. I wondered why a lot of the people around me had nice soft heels and skin that didn’t need to be hidden away. Not only were my heels rough and cracked, but my skin was also dry and extremely uncomfortable.
For as long as I can remember, the bottoms of my feet have always been super dry, rough, tough, and tough. This, I am sure, is because I mostly walked around bare feet on the scorching, dusty ground. That and the fact that I did not have a proper moisturizer – those days I mainly used petroleum jelly.
I hated having such dry, rough, and cracked feet. For some reason, it made me feel very self-conscious, not just about my feet, but about me as a person. Those days, I didn’t run short of people to compare myself to; everyone had way better skin and feet than me.
Fast forward a decade and my feet have finally gotten to that place I always saw them. Wearing high heels is something I’ve always loved wearing so having nice soft feet is definitely a major morale-booster.
Anything we want to change in life always must begin with a firm decision. Making a firm decision means that you are dedicated to doing what it takes to see the results. I wanted to have nice soft feet but it was not until I made the decision that everything changed. When you make a decision, it means you’re taking action and sticking with it, otherwise, it’s just wishful thinking.
Dry, hardened, and cracked heels need a little extra help. Exfoliating foot creams contain skin-softening ingredients which gradually break down the hardened skin so that it becomes easier to remove.
Additionally, the moisturizers keep the skin moist and protected so that the cycle of dryness doesn’t repeat itself. It is when the skin gets too dry that it hardens and cracks.
How you use the moisturizers also determines the results. The more often you use them, the faster the results. When the skin is exposed to the exfoliating factors in the foot creams, the faster and easier the hardened skin breaks down.
Try to use the foot cream twice a day but if that is not possible use it once right before bed. This will give your feet the opportunity to stay well moisturized as you sleep since the lotion or cream will not be rubbed off.
It’s extremely important that you wash your feet daily with a good soap. Why? you ask. It is because there are all sorts of built-up stuff such as dead skin, oils, dirt, and hairs. When using an exfoliating foot cream, washing is especially important since it allows the lotion to go on a nice clean “canvas” so to speak. The cream needs to make contact with fresh clean skin without any hindrance.
Besides, washing your feet daily promotes good hygiene. You will feel good about yourself when your skin feels and smells great.
While it may be true that foot soaking is time-consuming, I would argue that the benefits far outweigh the cost. Similar to the effect cloth-soaking has on stains, soaking your feet at least once a week will dramatically speed up the exfoliation process.
The above statement is especially true if you’ve been using a leave-on foot cream such as A Mermaid’s Grace Cracked Heels Foot Cream. The combined softening and exfoliating power of the cream makes allows the skin to easily soften when you soak. Hence you don’t have to soak your feet for too long; 20 minutes is all you’ll need.
It is important, however, that you apply a moisturizer right after a foot soak. This will prevent moisture which could lead to even drier skin.
It’s true that the foot cream exfoliates the hardened skin but you also need to manually remove the softened skin. You can do this once a week with a pumice stone, a rag, brush or a loofah. Personally I prefer a pumice stone; the kind with bigger pores.
To get the best results, scrub your feet after washing your feet thoroughly with a good exfoliating soap or body wash. This will create friction as all the oils will have been removed. Always be gentle when exfoliating. If the hardened skin is not coming off, don’t force it; it may need just a little more time.
Softening your feet is a process that will require patience and time. However, I promise, if you stick with the decision, you will undoubtedly see results.
There are so many reasons as to why feet dry up, crack, or form calluses and corns. It is, therefore, imperative that you protect your feet from these factors. If you tend to wear incorrectly fitting shoes, find a size that fits better.
Similarly, if you tend to forget to moisturize your feet, make it a routine to moisturize them every night right before you go to bed. Keeping your feet well moisturized is one key way to ensure that your feet are protected.
Avoid walking bare feet outside on hard uneven surfaces such as concrete. Likewise, avoid getting dust on your feet. If you do, make sure to wash it off as soon as possible as dust will dry up your feet.
Change takes time so you must be patient with yourself and the results you see. The steps outlined above will help you achieve the results you want for your feet but you must not give up if you don’t see complete results in a week.
If you diligently work on getting soft smooth feet, you will get there. If you’ve asked yourself this question, ” How To Soften Dry Cracked Feet”, I am confident the tips above will help you because that is exactly what I did. I understand people are different and the length for the results will vary so also keep that in mind.