Foot Soaks For Dry Skin, Discomfort, And Relaxation

Foot Soaks For Dry Skin, Discomfort, And Relaxation

Foot Soaks For Dry Skin, Discomfort, And Relaxation

Updated on 3/27/2024
Mai DelacruzBy Mai Delacruz
Personal Fitness Trainer & Health Coach
Learn More about Mai Delacruz

People who wish to provide comfort for their feet at home without breaking the bank can do it with the assistance of a low-cost foot soak they manufacture. All you need is some warm water, Epsom salt, essential oils, and the extra advantage of aiding in the creation of relaxation. A foot soaks may also be used as a good therapy for hurting muscles and dry skin. One of the many benefits you may gain from using a foot soak. Because of the adaptability of the foot soak, today, you can perform something like this. Previously, this was not possible.

This article analyses the potential benefits of feet and how to prepare them at home and offers six recipes for decreasing symptoms like discomfort, dryness, and other issues.

Even though some studies suggest that essential oils may have some beneficial effects on one's health, it is necessary to keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not monitor or control the purity or quality of essential oils. That is something that you need to keep in mind at all times. Despite this, it is crucial to remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not control essential oils. You must make sure that this is something that is constantly at the back of your mind as a significant factor. Before beginning to use essential oils, a person should consult with a trained medical practitioner. 

foot soaks

foot soaks

They should also make it a point to investigate the quality of the goods offered by any brand they are considering purchasing. In addition, a person should consult a trained medical practitioner before using essential oils. In addition, before commencing the use of essential oils, a person should discuss their plans with an experienced physician skilled in the field. Obtaining as much information as possible before using essential oils is imperative. That is because essential oils can potentially have various effects on the body. A person must carry out a patch test before putting a new essential oil through its paces on their skin. This step should always come first. That is a requirement that you cannot waive.

Benefits Of A Foot Soak

Because the various benefits of using a foot soak are significantly influenced by the components that produce it, it is vital to pay close attention to what goes into preparing it. It's possible that soaking your feet in warm water might be beneficial for a variety of different reasons, including the following:

  • A massage is the best way to relieve sore muscles, and it also has the potential to help release tension throughout the body.
  • Moisturize dry skin
  • Develop an attitude that is relaxed and unruffled at all times.
foot soaks

foot soaks

Not only are foot soaks inexpensive and easy to make, but they are also handy since most people already have the necessary equipment in their homes. That makes foot soaks an attractive option for those looking for a quick and easy remedy for foot pain. Because of foot pain, foot soaks are a win-win treatment option. Foot soaks are not only inexpensive and straightforward to use, but they also provide a significant amount of convenience for their users.

Preparation

The reader can do any of the foot soaks in this article utilizing the same resources (i.e., supplies and equipment) accessible to them. Before a person can get started, they are going to need to ensure that they have the following things in their possession:

  • A basin or foot bath that is roomy enough for both of your feet to fit inside at the same time
  • Heated water between 33 and 37.7 degrees Celsius (92 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Paper hand towels that are pristine and fresh new when purchased in bulk

Place the basin or tub on a surface that will not allow it to move about, and then fill it with sufficient water to cover both feet to a depth just above the ankle. That will ensure that the feet remain submerged during the process. The foot soak will begin with this position as the starting point. After you finish this initial step, you will go on to the next phase: start your foot soak. After that, you need to prepare any more components that you will require at this point.

Foot Soak For Dry Skin

foot soaks

foot soaks

All of the participants in the research that you carried out in 2017 had skin that was only very moderately dry before participating in the study. You showed the usage of bath oil to increase the skin barrier function of the individuals' skin. All the people who participated in the study had skin that was somewhat more dry than usual. Those who suffer from dry skin on their feet may find that adding oil to their foot soak is good, as it may help reduce some of the feelings they encounter. That may be the case for those who have found that adding oil to their foot soak has been beneficial.

People who suffer from eczema and sensitive skin may find that this uncomplicated treatment can alleviate their symptoms and provide a permanent solution to their ailments.

Ingredients

  • 1-2 teaspoons of oil; you may use jojoba, coconut, or olive oil; however, jojoba or coconut oil is preferable because of their higher smoke points.
  • colloidal oatmeal, optional

Instructions

  • You will need to combine the dry ingredients with the liquid ones, beginning with the water, which will be the first step in the process.
  • You should spend ten to fifteen minutes soaking the feet in the solution. During this time, the feet should be kept in the solution.
  • You should give it one last quick wipe with the towel before you put it away, and after that, you should put it away.
foot soaks

foot soaks

After carrying out this method, the next thing a person should do is apply a moisturizer to their skin that contains oil. That should be done as the final step. Patients are strongly encouraged to use moisturizers that the American Academy has approved for Dermatology. These moisturizers may be identified by the fact that they do not include any additional fragrances and that they do contain components such as the following:

  • Jojoba oil
  • glycerin
  • lactic acid
  • hyaluronic acid
  • lanolin
  • Shea butter is a form of butter made from the nuts of the shea tree. The shea tree is native to Africa.

Cotton socks will make it simpler for the moisturizing components in the product to accomplish their work, which is to seal in moisture. As a consequence, you will be able to experience better results from using the product if you wear a pair of cotton socks while using it.

Foot Soak For Achy Feet 

foot soaks

foot soaks

A simple soak in some warm water likely is all that's required to alleviate the pain and suffering that your achy, aching feet are causing you. Should this be the case, you should give it a shot. If you subscribe to the idea that using Epsom salt in your bath may help decrease muscle aches and pains, you might want to give it a go. Another school of thought argues that using Epsom salt in your bath can help reduce muscle aches and pains. Epsom salts include a significant amount of magnesium, an essential element for maintaining strong muscles, and may be found in high quantities in Epsom salts. Epsom salts are a rich supply of magnesium. One of the unpleasant symptoms associated with not getting enough magnesium is having your muscles cramp up.

Research that you conducted in 2017 concluded that there is not currently adequate evidence to support the idea that magnesium from taking a bath is absorbed through the skin at significant levels. You presented these findings at a conference in 2018. The researchers that carried out the study realized this due to their results. 2017 was the year that you carried out the investigation and research. Epsom salt foot soaks, on the other hand, have been demonstrated to enable the skin to absorb trace quantities of the material in several trials; hence, the use of these soaks is likely to result in the provision of some health advantages. Based on this research, it appears that utilizing these soaks could be of some use. This discovery lends credence to the concept that using these soaks may produce favorable effects.

Ingredients

foot soaks

foot soaks

  • It would be best if you had a half cup of Epsom salt available.
  • If you so choose, you are free to put anywhere from three to six drops of the essential oil into that area.
  • You will need one tablespoon of carrier oil if you intend to use essential oils.

Instructions

  • Before you can utilize the foot bath, you must first add Epsom salt to the water, and then the water and salt must be mixed entirely so that the salt may dissolve.
  • If you use essential oils, you need to perform the following step in a different bowl: mix the essential oil with the carrier oil you will be utilizing.
  • Mix the essential oil with the water in a separate container while stirring until everything is incorporated.
  • After allowing the feet to soak in the warm water for twenty minutes, the feet are then taken from the water.
  • If you want to get the surface completely dry, you can use a towel.

If a person finds it comfortable to massage their feet while immersing them in warm water, they may also find it enjoyable to massage their feet in other ways. It's possible to take care of this and the other matters simultaneously. When the feet are dry, they have two options: either they can perform a massage on the feet by hand with oil while applying gentle pressure from marbles placed at the bottom of the basin, or they can do a massage on the feet by hand with oil after the marbles have been removed. Then they can use oil to perform the massage on the feet.

Foot Soak For Itchy Feet

foot soaks

foot soaks

The National Eczema Association suggests the following bath as one of the treatments for eczema; it is a bath that is indicated as a method to calm sensitive skin by the National Eczema Association. Those who suffer from eczema or have feet prone to itching will likely discover that this helps reduce the severity of their symptoms. It is recommended that those who suffer from eczema or feet prone to itching give this a go.

Ingredients

  • lukewarm water, not hot
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • colloidal oatmeal, optional

Instructions

  • After placing the objects in the basin, you should fill it with water at a temperature equivalent to the bay's room. That will ensure that the water temperature is consistent throughout the basin.
  • Please put all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix them thoroughly until there is none of the baking soda left.
  • After 10–15 minutes have passed since the first dipping of the feet into the water, the next step of the process, which is to soak the feet, may begin.
  • It is essential to ensure that the feet' soles are dry by patting them with a fresh cloth. That will guarantee that there is no moisture remaining after the process.
  • Before removing the product, you should wait a few minutes after applying a moisturizer containing oil. That will give the oil time to be absorbed by the skin, making the product more effective.
foot soaks

foot soaks

When washing your feet, you should not scrape or massage the skin in any manner, and you should make every effort to avoid using soap or other abrasive cleaners. That is especially important if you have diabetes or other skin conditions that might irritate you. In addition, you shouldn't scrape the skin or rub it in any manner, which will only worsen the situation.

Foot Soak For Exfoliation

It's conceivable that immersing your feet in water will assist in softening the skin, making it easier to brush away dead skin cells using an exfoliating scrub, pumice stone, or foot file. If this is the case, try soaking your feet in warm water for a few minutes. That would be an advantage if you wanted to eliminate the calluses that had formed on your feet. If this is the case, you could consider exfoliating your feet before soaking them in water to remove any dead skin cells that might be present. Doing this before bathing your feet in the water would be best.

Ingredients

  • One standard cup of apple cider vinegar that has not been filtered, which is equal to 1 fluid ounce of apple cider vinegar (ACV)
  • For this recipe, you can substitute the salt called for in the title with either plain table salt, Epsom salt, or a half cup of sugar.
  • carrier oil, including jojoba oil

Instructions

foot soaks

foot soaks

  • While stirring the water, you should ensure that the apple cider vinegar is fully incorporated into the water. You can do this by giving the water a few good stirs.
  • The bowl should then be set aside for later usage once the salt and oil have been well mixed together and after waiting the necessary amount of time for the two components to be dispersed uniformly around the dish.
  • It would be helpful if you could soak the feet for between five and 10 minutes.
  • Scrub your feet with the salt combination, but if you'd rather, you may also use a pumice stone or a foot file instead. Both options are available to you, and you can choose any of these paths.
  • After giving the soles of the feet a good scrubbing with water that has not been tainted in any way, properly drying them off with a towel is the next step.

Foot Soak For Relaxation

Some individuals find that bathing their feet in warm water helps them relax, and the use of specific essential oils may magnify this sensation of peace and tranquility even further than it would be otherwise possible. A study carried out in 2015 found that geranium, roman chamomile, and lavender were all associated with the idea of relaxation.

Ingredients

foot soaks

foot soaks

  • It would be best if you had a half cup of Epsom salt available.
  • 3–6 drops of essential oil in the proportions generally used for them, such as lavender, chamomile, or geranium.
  • 1 milliliter of carrier oil, such as olive oil or jojoba oil

Instructions

  • Before you can utilize the foot bath, you must first add Epsom salt to the water, and then the water and salt must be mixed entirely so that the salt may dissolve.
  • After thoroughly combining the carrier oil and essential oils in a bowl, add the essential oils to the bowl so that they may be included.
  • After combining the essential oils in a separate basin, add them to the foot soak one at a time to prevent them from evaporating too quickly.
  • Putting warm water on the feet and allowing them to soak for a specific time is also known as foot soaking.

Antifungal Foot Soak

Homemade skin treatments often contain a wide array of antifungal compounds, which may be utilized in treating several skin disorders due to their ability to combat a wide range of fungal infections. Baking soda, for instance, was proven efficient against various fungal strains in a research study carried out in a laboratory in 2012. Scientists in the United Kingdom conducted the investigation, and the United Kingdom was where you carried out the research.

foot soaks

foot soaks

In addition, a study conducted in a laboratory in 2013 discovered that using tea tree oil effectively inhibited the growth of Trichophyton. This fungus is well-known for its role in the development of nail infections, and this fungus was found to be the cause of nail infections in the majority of the participants in the study.

The fact that these studies were carried out in a controlled environment in a laboratory, on the other hand, implies that they do not provide evidence that the components you investigated may treat or cure fungal infections in humans. That is because the study's atmosphere is conducted in laboratories and is carefully controlled and monitored. On the other hand, a person could realize that they can block the growth of fungus, which is a possibility.

Ingredients

  • Four drops of essential oil were extracted from tea tree leaves by distillation.
  • You extracted two drops of lemon essential oil from the rinds of lemons.
  • 1 milliliter of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil or another oil with a comparable consistency, for example
  • a quantity of baking soda equal to a quarter of a cup as a unit of measurement

Instructions

foot soaks

foot soaks

  • When you combine the essential oil with the carrier oil, the best container is a bowl because it has a lot of room.
  • The foot bath must have all of the following components:
  • You should use warm water to soak your feet for a quarter of an hour since this is the recommended amount of time.
  • When drying the feet, make sure to do so with a clean towel, and wait until the feet are dehydrated before putting on any socks or shoes.

It is not the aim of this foot soak to serve as a substitute for the therapy you would receive from a skilled medical practitioner if you had a fungal infection. If you have a fungal infection, however, you must seek treatment. If a person notices any of the signs of fungal nail infection or skin infection on their foot, they must seek the counsel of a skilled medical practitioner to receive the appropriate treatment.

Safety Tips

A person should take a few basic precautions before taking a foot bath to ensure that the soak is safe and will not exacerbate any symptoms they may already be experiencing. You can find these precautions in most foot soak instructions, and these safety measures are outlined in the directions included with the foot soak you purchased. It is to your best advantage to carry out an in-depth analysis of the following, as each component is essential in its own right:

foot soaks

foot soaks

  • People with sensitive skin may also be susceptible to particular components of foot soaks, such as essential oils, which can cause discomfort if they come into contact with the skin. Always start by doing a patch test to verify whether or not the components are safe before fully submerging the feet in the solution. That will help you determine whether or not it is safe to dip the feet in the solution. It is necessary to do this step first to ensure that the feet are thoroughly submerged in the answer later.
  • Before putting one's feet inside the basin, it is necessary to conduct a temperature test on the bay to receive an accurate reading of the water contained within the basin. That is because placing one's feet inside the basin might result in an incorrect reading of the temperature of the water. A thermometer is the only thing required to accomplish this challenge, and other than that, nothing else is needed.
  • Open wounds People with open wounds on their feet, such as cuts, scrapes, or broken skin, should seek the counsel of a medical practitioner before using foot soaks. These open wounds include cuts, bruises, and damaged skin.
  • When dealing with essential oils, you must never combine pure essential oils with water before first diluting them in a carrier oil. That is one of the most important rules when working with essential oils, and this is one of the most critical guidelines to adhere to when dealing with essential oils. If you do that, you are jeopardizing your physical and overall well-being. Essential oils in their purest form are highly concentrated; as a result, they must never be applied directly to the skin before being diluted first. If you do not follow these instructions, you risk causing severe irritation to your skin.
foot soaks

foot soaks

When you are attempting to exfoliate your feet, you should never use a razor to try to remove any dry or dead skin that may be present on your feet. That is especially important if you are trying to avoid getting ingrown toenails, and that may end up causing a lot of trouble for everyone. It is strongly discouraged that patients attempt to carry out such treatments on themselves in the comfort of their homes due to the significant risk involved. Even though certain medical professionals are qualified to carry out such treatments, it is strongly discouraged that patients attempt to carry out such treatments themselves.

If a person has an unpleasant reaction while having their feet washed, they should remove their feet from the basin and either take a shower or a bath to remove any residue of the active components that may still be there. If a person has an unpleasant reaction while having their feet washed, they should remove their feet from the basin, and this will guarantee that no residual active components are present after the process. You must get medical assistance as soon as possible if the symptoms do not resolve as expected or if they become significantly worse.

Summary

If you utilize a foot soaks that you have created and put it to good use, it may bring you several advantages, including relaxation and relief from sore muscles that you may have been experiencing. In addition to being a practical approach for taking care of the foot at home, they could also be beneficial in treating diseases such as dry skin.

foot soaks

foot soaks

It is not suggested to use homemade foot soaks as a substitute for seeking treatment from a medical practitioner licensed to practice in their field. Suppose a person notices that the skin on their feet is damaged. In that case, if they have persistent itching on their feet or exhibit any other signs of infection, they must seek the advice of an experienced medical practitioner.