How to Care for Rough Heels
Rough heels may be softened by sloughing away the callused, dead skin and by moisturizing the feet. If the feet are so callused that a file or pumice stone seems not to have an impact, the callus might need to be removed by a doctor, in which case you shouldn’t attempt to take care of them yourself. Likewise, if the skin becomes raw or cracks, consult a doctor. Otherwise, the skin is likely just not moisturized or exfoliated enough and can be improved using relatively cheap and simple home remedies. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Plastic container
- Epsom salt, 1/2 cup
- File
- Towel
- Pumice stone
- Oil-based moisturizer
- Plastic wrap
- Cotton socks
Instructions
-
-
1
Pour warm water into a broad plastic container until the container is roughly half full. Mix in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt. Soak your feet in the container for five minutes. Keep your feet in the water, and file away some of the dead skin at your heels. Repeat until the dead skin is sloughed away.
-
2
Dry your feet using a towel. Rub your heels with a pumice stone until they feel soft.
-
-
3
Slather oil-based moisturizer onto your feet, and massage extra moisturizer into your heels. Coat your feet with the moisturizer until your skin won’t absorb any more and your feet feel greasy.
-
4
Wrap plastic around your feet until they are entirely covered. Pull cotton socks over the plastic wrap. Remove the socks and plastic wrap in the morning before you bathe.
-
5
Repeat for the following two nights, or until your heels are satisfactorily soft.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Arid air, a continual lack of lotion application, or standing for long periods of time can lead to dry, cracked heels. However, persistently rough heels may also stem from less innocuous causes such as thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney disease or a vitamin deficiency.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
