Soothing & Smoothing Essential Oils for Dry Feet

You want to wear that cute pair of sandals, but you’re embarrassed to show your dry, cracked feet! Not only that, they can be painful and, if left untreated, create an opportunity for infection. The good news is that essential oils for dry feet can give you relief and prevent the problem in the future.

Here Are 3 Steps for Using Essential Oils for Dry, Cracked Feet

1. Exfoliate Your Feet

Dry skin causes feet, particularly heels and the ball of your foot to crack. Remove dead and dry skin with regular exfoliation. Baking soda makes a great natural and economical exfoliant that also works to draw impurities from your skin. Pour about two tablespoons of baking soda into your hand and add enough warm water to form a paste. Massage onto your feet in circular motions, a couple of minutes for each foot, and then rinse in cool water.

You can also use the following DIY scrub to exfoliate your feet.

e3 Dry Feet Scrub

• 1 cup dry oatmeal
• 1/4 cup coarse sea salt
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon Peppermint essential oil

This is a dry scrub, so all you need to do is to mix all the ingredients together and massage the scrub into your feet. It will help exfoliate and get rid of hard, dead skin.

2. Bathe Your Feet Regularly

Treat your feet to a foot bath about twice a week for best results. Essential oils work well for problems like athlete’s foot and conditions such as dry, cracked feet. The bath helps soften and soothe the skin, while the antiseptic qualities can help guard against infection. You may also want to add ½ cup of Epsom or Sea Salt to your bath (or ¼ cup to a foot bath) to help prevent fungal infection where cracks are already present.

e3 Foot Bath Recipe 1

• Fill up a basin with warm water and add about three or four tablespoons of oatmeal.
• Add a few drops of Lavender or Rose essential oil for added moisturizing and skin-softening benefits.
• Place the basin in a comfortable area and soak your feet for about 30 minutes.

e3 Foot Bath Recipe 2

• 2 gallons warm water
• 2 drops Patchouli essential oil (skin regenerator & deodorizer)
• 4 drops Lavender essential oil (calming, anti-inflammatory, skin regeneration)
• 4 drops Tea Tree essential oil (antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial)
• 2 drops Rose Dilute essential oil (moisturizes dry skin, helps with infections and reduces inflammation)

Add essential oils to warm water and soak your feet for 15-30 minutes.
Pat your feet dry and make sure to follow-up with step 3 below.

3. Moisturize Your Feet Daily

Moisturizing the skin is an important part of dealing with dry, cracked feet, so finding a natural way to add much-needed moisture to the skin is a step you shouldn’t skip. Some natural moisturizers include oils, such as sunflower, sesame, olive, jojojba, rosehip, tamanu, coconut, calendula oil, or all natural creams and lotions. Apply the lotion/oil after scrubbing and soaking your feet. Then put on cotton socks. Leaving the oil on overnight will help it penetrate to moisturize and heal the skin. Follow this schedule for 3-5 days or until your cracked heels are better.

Happy Feet Moisturizer

• 1 oz. All Natural lotion or cream
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E
• 10 drops Benzoin essential oil (anti-inflammatory, cicatrisant, antiseptic)
• 10 drops Lavender essential oil (cicatrisant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal)
• 5 drops Myrrh essential oil (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cicatrisant)
• 6 drops Geranium essential oil (analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal)
• 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil (antifungal, antiviral, analgesic)

Mix well. Use daily on feet/hands, especially after a bath or shower. If possible wear cotton socks after application.

Take a holistic approach to dry skin and cracked feet

Factors such as poor hydration, diet or health issues (diabetes and obesity) as well as lifestyle choices e.g. going barefoot, prolonged standing, wearing improper shoes, living in a dry climate, and exposure to cold can all contribute to skin dehydration causing the skin to thicken and form calluses; the skin then becomes resistant to moisture and thus more likely to peel and crack.

Here are a few lifestyle recommendations that can keep your feet smooth and healthy:

• Drink 2 liters of water daily – dehydration may be a factor.
• Exercise regularly to stimulate your circulation and aid your general health and skin health accordingly.
• Look at your diet. This issue is often an indication of nutritional deficiencies, especially of:
  • Essential Fatty Acids found in nuts and seeds, especially cracked/hulled linseed, sesame seeds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, oily fish, avocado and cold pressed olive oil and other rich, dark colored vegetable oils.
  • Vitamin E, which is vital for smooth pliable skin, is found in leafy green vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.
  • Vitamin A, which helps cell division and the balanced ”sloughing off” of dead skin cells to help maintain healthy skin, is found in carrots, goat’s milk, green vegetables and orange fruits.
  • Vitamin C and Zinc can also be deficient if the cracking is severe and persistent. Vitamin C can be found in fresh fruits, especially berries, and vegetables, while Zinc is found in shellfish, sardines, beef, game, offal and hard cheese.
• Take a warm or tepid showers and baths as hot water can dry out the skin.
• Use only natural bath and body products; avoid harsh, synthetic and perfumed/fragranced products.
• Remove dry/dead skin regularly with a foot file, to help prevent build up of dead skin which will crack more easily.

These lifestyle recommendations and our 3-step dry feet regimen using essential oils for dry feet should help you on your way to softer, smoother feet. Join our e3 community on Facebook for more aromatherapy tips and to share what’s working for you. Would you like some more DIY recipes? Be sure to download a free copy of Listen to Your Nose: An Introduction to Aromatherapy.