When the weather is cold and dry, or when you stand for a long time, it is almost inevitable that dead skin cells accumulate on your feet. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to remove them. In most cases, a special brush or pumice stone should be massaged into the skin after softening it. Read on to find out how to prepare and use a variety of treatments aimed at eliminating dead skin cells, such as banana puree, oat and almond paste, vinegar, lemon juice, or petroleum jelly.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Apply a Paste
Step 1. Mash a banana and massage it into your feet
Make sure you use bananas that are as ripe as possible, almost inedible. Put 1 or 2 bananas in a bowl. Press them with a fork or potato masher to get a smooth paste. Apply it to your feet and leave it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse.
Make sure you don't put your feet on the floor or furniture. Try to keep them on a footrest for the entire pose time. It is also advisable to keep a basin close at hand to rinse them immediately
Step 2. Mix lemon juice, olive oil and muscovado sugar
Measure 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of lemon juice (about half of a fresh lemon), 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of muscovado sugar. Mix well until you get a paste. Massage it into your feet for 2 to 3 minutes, then leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse it off.
- Repeat the treatment once a week to keep your feet soft.
- Make sure you sit comfortably while keeping your feet elevated.
Step 3. Use an aspirin solution
Mince 5 or 6 uncoated aspirin tablets with a mortar and pestle (if possible). Alternatively, put them in an airtight bag and mash them with the back of a spoon. Pour the powder into a bowl, then add ½ teaspoon (3 ml) of water and ½ teaspoon (3 ml) of lemon juice. Mix. Apply the solution to your feet and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Rinse.
- Since the solution may run off, wrap each foot with a warm towel to prevent this from happening.
- Rinse your feet, gently smooth them with a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells.
Method 2 of 3: Take a Foot Bath
Step 1. Soak your feet in hot water and massage them
The foot bath is one of the simplest methods ever to soften dead cells and then remove them with a pumice stone or a special brush. Fill a footbath or basin with enough water to cover the surface of your feet and let them soak for 20 minutes. Gently massage them to remove dead skin cells.
Proceed gently to avoid inflaming the skin or causing painful sensations. Gradually exfoliate your feet, repeating the procedure over several days
Step 2. Make a lemon juice foot bath
Take a plastic basin and pour enough lemon juice into it to cover the soles of your feet. If you don't have enough, you can dilute it with an equal dose of warm water. Let your feet soak for 10 minutes, then rinse and dry them.
- Undiluted lemon juice is more effective.
- Make sure you don't have any cuts or open wounds on your feet, otherwise they will burn on contact with the acid of the lemon juice.
Step 3. Prepare an Epsom salt foot bath
Take a foot bath or plastic basin and fill it halfway with lukewarm or slightly warm water. Add ½ cup of Epsom salts. Soak your feet for 10 minutes. Gently massage with a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells that have been softened by the water.
To prevent the skin from drying out again, it is recommended to repeat the treatment every 2 or 3 days. You may need to run it several times before you can see results
Step 4. Take advantage of the properties of vinegar
Being acidic, white or apple vinegar is effective for removing dead skin cells. In a foot bath or plastic basin, mix equal parts of vinegar and warm water. For best results, let your feet soak for about 45 minutes and then massage them gently with a pumice stone.
Alternatively, make a vinegar and water solution, then let your feet soak for about 5 minutes. Then, soak them in pure apple cider vinegar for another 15 minutes. This treatment is more effective than the previous one, as the vinegar is more concentrated
Method 3 of 3: Do a Night Treatment
Step 1. Coat your feet with paraffin
This ingredient is often incorporated into various beauty products for the purpose of moisturizing the skin. Heat it in a microwave-safe bowl, then carefully pour it into a bowl of appropriate size for each foot. Place them one at a time in their respective container. Let the wax harden and put on a pair of socks. Leave it on overnight and remove it the next morning.
- The exact amount to use varies depending on the size of the feet. Try ½ cup (120ml) initially. If that's not enough, use more next time.
- The next morning, throw it away after you peel it off. Try not to drop it on floors or carpets.
- If you don't want to leave any wax residue on your socks, designate a specific pair for this type of treatment.
Step 2. Massage your feet using petroleum jelly and lime juice
In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of petroleum jelly and 2 to 3 drops of lime juice. Gently massage the solution into your feet before going to bed and put on a pair of socks to prevent it from getting on the sheets.
- If you intend to repeat the treatment, choose 1 or 2 pairs of socks to use exclusively for this purpose.
- Alternatively, you can use lemon juice - it also contains acidic substances that help remove dead skin cells.
Step 3. Soothe your feet using oats and almonds
Measure 60 g of oats and blend until you get an impalpable powder. Repeat the process with 60 g of almonds. Pour both ingredients into a bowl, then add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of honey and 3 tablespoons of edible cocoa butter. Mix well until you get a sticky solution. Apply it to your feet and put on a pair of socks before going to bed. Rinse it off the next morning.
- This treatment can be done once a week or a couple of times a week to gradually remove dead skin cells and soften the feet.
- If you don't have a blender, you could grind oats and almonds by placing them in an airtight bag and tapping them with a mallet. You can also try another method - the main thing is to get a fine powder.
Advice
- It is not certain that you will be able to completely eliminate dead cells in one go. If you have particularly problematic feet, it will be necessary to repeat the treatments 2 or 3 times to remove them completely.
- It is also advisable to remove them gradually to avoid inflammation of the skin and sore feet.
