DIY Moisturizing Foot Soaks

Many people love figuring out how to “do it yourself.” They enjoy making their own decorations, pulling together their own costumes, and any number of other crafts and projects to save money and create something with their own hands. Trying to “do it yourself” doesn’t always work for health care, but when it comes to dry skin on your feet, it might just be the answer you need. You can easily pull together moisturizing foot soaks in your own home.

Dry feet can be uncomfortably itchy and increase your risk for infections. They dry out for many reasons, but when they do, your skin becomes flaky, less flexible, and irritated. Moisturizing foot soaks help your skin re-absorb moisture and eliminate the flaking, cracked patches. Here are a few simple ones you can make in your home with easy-to-acquire ingredients:

• Apple cider soak – Mix a 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in a tub of lukewarm water. Soak your feet for 10 minutes. Only try this recipe three times a week or less.
• Epsom bath – Mix one cup of Epsom salts into a large basin of warm (but not hot) water. You can also mix in a few drops of essential oils like peppermint, aloe vera, or chamomile. Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes.
• Lemon soak – Mix lemon juice into lukewarm water. Soak your feet for roughly ten minutes. This helps loosen dry, hardened skin.

If it’s safe for you to do so, after your foot bath, use a pumice stone or other gentle foot scrub to remove layers of dead, dry skin before applying a moisturizing ointment. People with some autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or circulation issues may have a higher risk for foot ulcers and shouldn’t use these things without a podiatrist’s ok first.