Hard calluses on your feet can be quite uncomfortable. If they bother you, what can you do to get rid of them? These thick layers of skin form because the skin aims to protect itself from friction or pressure. Calluses typically look like raised, hard bumps of skin that are flaky, dry, or even waxy. 

If you play instruments, you can easily develop calluses on your fingertips. You can develop calluses on your hands if you do a lot of manual labor or if you lift weights. Calluses on your feet, especially your heels, result from wearing tight shoes, avoiding socks, or walking barefoot. The hardened skin actually protects that area from further damage, friction, or pressure, according to foot and ankle surgeons. 

You may go your entire life without experiencing a painful callus. In fact, you should ignore them if they don’t bother you. If they start to hurt, or you simply don’t like how they make your feet look, the following tips can help you remove them. 

File Away With A Pumice Stone

The rough, abrasive texture of a pumice stone can help shave away hardened skin. Most people agree that it is the most effective at-home callus remover. There are electric callus removers that essentially shave off dead skin, but a pumice stone is incredibly effective. Continue reading for a guide on how to use a pumice stone:

• Soak the affected area in warm water for about 10 minutes to help soften the skin. This step will make the callus removal process much easier. 
• Using gentle, circular or sideways motions, rub the pumice stone on the callus until you remove the dead skin. Stop as soon as you reach a layer of skin that is soft and healthy. If you continue to file, you may end up irritating healthy skin.
• After filing away your callus, make sure to rinse and dry the area before applying a gentle moisturizer. This step will help keep your skin soft and supple. 

Use An Over-the-Counter Moisturizer Or Callus Dissolver

If you prefer a gentler approach to filing with a pumice stone, use daily moisturizers to help soften callused skin. This may take a lot longer, but applying a daily moisturizer with smoothing ingredients like salicylic acid, ammonium lactate, or urea can help remove a callus over time. Urea creams can be great because they usually contain exfoliating ingredients, in addition to other moisturizing ingredients that soften irritated skin. 

Should You See A Podiatrist?

A podiatrist, foot doctor, can use a scalpel or surgical blade to trim away the callus if you have difficulty removing the skin at home. This usually is not necessary, but this will depend on the severity and thickness of your callus. Have a podiatrist tend to your calluses if you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow. A minor cut can become infected very quickly! A doctor can remove the callus without damaging healthy skin, which ultimately helps you avoid other complications. If you notice that your callus is red, inflamed, or pus-filled, see a podiatrist immediately because your callus may be infected. 

If you want to prevent calluses on your feet, there are things you can do once you remove your callus. You can wear a protective covering if you have a spot on your foot that is prone to friction. Felt pads, non-medicated corn pads, or even bandages can protect the area. Keep your toenails trimmed because long nails can push your toes up against your shoe, creating a potential callus over time. Lastly, wear comfortable shoes with socks, and consider getting shoes with a wide toe box so you can comfortably wiggle your toes. You may need custom orthotics from your podiatrist if shoes are an issue in general.

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Cracked heels are extremely common and you don’t have to feel self-conscious about them. In fact, you can easily remedy them with a variety of natural ingredients, like the ones in the foot scrub in this article. Containing Epsom salt, coconut oil, and tea tree oil, this wonderful foot scrub will have you wearing flip-flops with confidence in no time.

What Causes Cracked Heels?

Open-toed shoes and dry air are not solely responsible for cracked heels. More often than not, cracked heels stem from other skin conditions or health problems, including vitamin deficiency, thyroid problems, and weight management issues. But…the dry or cracked nature of your heels is not permanent. Using the foot scrub in this article can help, but you may want to consider a diet rich in zinc, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E to maintain healthy skin.

Epsom Salt For Cracked Heels

Some people like to soak their feet in an Epsom salt foot bath, and others like to exfoliate with Epsom salt. If you have dry or cracked heels, exfoliate with Epsom salt by gently massaging it onto your feet. The great thing about Epsom salt is that it is readily available, inexpensive, and it isn’t too abrasive for your skin.

Coconut Oil For Cracked Heels

Many people experience cracked or dry heels because they lack moisture. Often times, you can attribute this to being in a mild state of dehydration. You need to drink more water to hydrate the body, but you can apply coconut oil to your heels for optimal hydration. Coconut oil is a natural balm that helps to strengthen the tissues within the cracks, and it helps your skin retain moisture. You can always apply coconut oil to your heels before bed, put socks on, and let the moisturizing happen throughout the night.

Tea Tree Oil For Cracked Heels

The cracks in your heels make you more susceptible to bacterial infection. In order to keep bacteria at bay, start using tea tree oil, which has antiseptic properties. Tea Tree oil contains beneficial fatty acids, anti-inflammatory properties, and antiseptic properties that work to keep your heels healthy. Make sure that you apply tea tree oil with some sort of carrier oil, like coconut oil, because using it by itself can be harsh for sensitive skin.

DIY Foot Scrub

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Epsom salt
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 30 drops tea tree oil

Instructions:

• Melt the coconut oil in a pan or in a medium-sized heat-safe bowl in the microwave. Once it is melted, mix in the Epsom salt.
• Once you have thoroughly mixed the coconut oil and Epsom salt, add the tea tree oil and stir to combine.
• Pour into separate jars and store in a cool dry place. Use as needed.

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Right now, at this very second, you probably have the necessary ingredients in your home to make the perfect body scrub. These ingredients may be hiding in your pantry, fridge, or cupboard, but they can’t wait to come out and exfoliate your skin.

The great thing about body scrubs is that they help exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation contributes to healthier looking skin that appears more youthful. The American Academy of Dermatology says that exfoliation stimulates collagen production, helping to keep the skin tight and glowing. Additionally, exfoliating your skin removes bacteria and dead skin cells.

The Perfect DIY Scrub Formula

A sugar scrub is simple to make, especially when you have the perfect ratio for your ingredients. All you need to do is prep for five minutes, place your scrub in a container, and use the scrub. The basic homemade body scrub recipe is as follows:

• 1 cup exfoliant
• ½ cup liquid
• 2-3 tablespoons of fun add-ins

Place the exfoliant in a bowl and slowly mix in the liquid. You don’t want a runny mixture, and you don’t want a mixture that is too firm. The consistency should be somewhat thick, kind of like a smoothie. Mix in the add-ins and then store the scrub in a cool dark place. You’ll find excellent ingredients for your DIY scrubs below.

Exfoliants

Coffee Grounds

The grounds do not dissolve in water, making them excellent for scrubbing away dead skin cells. A 2013 study found that the caffeic acid (an antioxidant) in coffee works to boost collagen levels and reduce the amount of premature aging cells. The antimicrobial properties of caffeic acid also protect the skin from bacteria.

Oats

Is your skin sensitive? If you answered “yes” to this question, then you’ll want to use oats in your DIY body scrub. While oats reason help to scrub away dead skin cells, they are gentle enough that your skin won’t get irritated. Additionally, people add oats to baths to soothe irritated or itchy skin, making it excellent for sensitive skin.

Sugar

Sugar is great for mechanical exfoliation, meaning it removes the top layer of skin cells, along with dirt, bacteria, and excess oils. In the process of removing dead skin cells, sugar helps to create a more radiant complexion. The soft small granules of sugar actually melt onto your skin during exfoliation, making it less abrasive than other harsher exfoliants.

Salt

People who have dry patches of skin should exfoliate with salt. Epsom salt, sea salt, or Kosher salt help to create a barrier on the skin that reduces skin inflammation. Many people like to soak in baths with salts because of the mineral content. Since the skin is the largest organ in the body, it can absorb these minerals and use them to benefit the whole body.

Liquids

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the most popular ingredients in homemade scrubs, primarily because of the moisturizing and exfoliating properties. It is rich in lauric acid, which works to keep the skin supple by creating a protective layer. Additionally, coconut oil can remove oily residue from the skin and unclog pores.

Olive Oil

The primary benefit of olive oil is that it moisturizes the skin by reducing water loss. It actually increases the water content in the skin, which works to improve overall appearance. Olive oil also protects against environmental damage and inflammation, which helps to reduce premature signs of aging, irritation, or redness.

Jojoba Oil

Because jojoba oil is closely matched to human sebum, the skin naturally and easily absorbs it. This means that you won’t feel greasy after applying it, which makes it great to use on your face. When your body can better absorb the oil, you have a lesser chance of your skin getting irritated. Jojoba is great if you are prone to acne.

Add-Ins

Essential Oils

It can be difficult to decide on the right essential oil to use, especially since there are so many. Do not skimp on quality when it comes to essential oils. Many brands produce essential oils that are not 100% pure, and they contain other oils or ingredients. Only get pure essential oils! Additionally, make sure to do patch tests of the scrubs that contain essential oils because some people are very sensitive to them. Great essential oils to use include peppermint, tea tree, vanilla, lavender, grapefruit, geranium, and eucalyptus.

Fruit

If you feel like eating half of a papaya and using the other half in a scrub, you can do that! Different fruits contain powerful antioxidants that encourage healthy skin cell production. For instance, mangos are rich in vitamin A, which works to remove dead skin cells and promotes the growth of new, healthy skin cells. The vitamin C in lemons and pineapple works to clear up the skin and promote collagen production.

Herbs & Spice

Herbs and spices can do no wrong. They add depth of flavor to your meals, but they also benefit internal and external bodily health. Many civilizations have used herbs and spices for skin and beauty needs. Many herbs have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, all of which are great for boosting the health of your skin.

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Most people don’t know this, but the skin is the largest organ in the body. That means that it absorbs airborne toxins or chemicals from beauty products, which make their way inside the body. Some people buy cleansers or other beauty products to get glowing, beautiful skin, but are they doing more harm than good?

When you have healthy skin, you feel more confident and sexier. Your skin, much like your overall health, shouldn’t be neglected. Giving your skin natural ingredients that work to soothe it and promote a youthful appearance is better than having it temporarily look good, while slowly contaminating it with chemicals. That’s why we recommend using an all-natural coffee sugar scrub.

Coffee is more than a drink that gives you a caffeine boost in the morning. Those grounds can do wonders for your skin, for example, helping to reduce inflammation or get rid of cellulite. Coffee grounds work to exfoliate the skin, helping to remove dead skin cells. This results in a smoother, cleaner, more hydrated face, but you can exfoliate other areas of the body too.

This coffee scrub includes cocoa butter, which is a great natural moisturizer. If you don’t want to use cocoa butter, you can also use shea butter, but cocoa butter helps the scrub hold together. You can make this for yourself, or make it in bulk and gift it to your friends and family.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 ounces virgin coconut oil
• 2 ounces avocado oil (or sweet almond oil)
• 25 ounces cocoa butter
• 1 tablespoon coffee grounds
• seeds from 1 vanilla bean (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 275º Fahrenheit. If you don’t want to use an oven, you can use a saucepan on your stove. Place the coconut oil and cocoa butter in an ovenproof loaf pan and place in the oven, or use the saucepan over low-medium flame on the stove. The melting process only takes a couple minutes.
• Once those two are melted, remove from oven or heat. Fill a large bowl with ice and rest the saucepan/loaf pan with the coconut oil mixture in the ice. Add the avocado oil and mix to combine.
• While the oil mixture is still in liquid form, slowly mix in the sugar. Stir in the coffee grounds and add the vanilla seeds if you are using them. Mix until you get a thick scrub.
• Place the mixture in a glass jar and seal. Use once daily to improve skin health.

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Your feet can take a beating, but they rarely get the love they deserve. Whether you are standing on them all day in tight shoes or running barefoot on the sand, your feet can always use some extra TLC. That’s why we are excited about this coconut lime foot scrub!

One of the best things about this foot scrub is that it contains lime essential oil, which contains antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, disinfectant, and restorative properties. Similar to lemon, lime is filled to the brim with antioxidants! It can help fight off infections (both viral and bacterial), reduce fevers, and even works to stop the pain of toothaches, which can be attributed to the astringent properties.

The Foot Scrub Also Contains…

Epsom Salt

Being a natural exfoliant, Epsom salt helps to reduce inflammation and scrub away dry skin. It has also been known to relieve sore muscles and help remedy small wounds.

Baking Soda

Baking soda works to balance the skin’s pH level and it contains antibacterial properties that help to remove skin-damaging microbes.

Coconut Oil

This hydrating oil is great for the skin because it contains antimicrobial properties, which help to nourish the skin and establish a youthful glow.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• ½ cup Epsom salt
• 3 drops lime essential oil
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon lime zest

Instructions:

• Melt the coconut oil in a medium glass bowl and then stir in the Epsom salt. If you want the scrub to be more oily, use less Epsom salt.
• Add the lime essential oil, baking soda, and lime zest and mix well. It will be very aromatic and you’ll want to use it right away.
• Pour this into a glass jar and store in a cool, dry place. Massage a small amount on your feet before soaking your feet in hot water.

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