Soothe your tired soles!

Hi everyone! My name is Aly Walansky and I’m so excited to be a part of PrettybyNature.com! I write about a half dozen beauty and style related blogs, but natural beauty has always been a passion of mine. I’m so excited to learn more, together with you!

As the holiday season winds down, just about all us are feeling the pains of wearing way too much festive attire. Those strappy heels may be gorgeous…but they leave our feet feeling anything but!

Many foot conditions can be easily treated by using Epsom Salt, a naturally occurring mineral available for purchase at supermarket or drug stores. Epsom Salt offers an affordable, back to basics approach to treat your feet. Try these tips to improve your foot hygiene
routine.

Soak Away Pain and Swelling
Suffering from tired, aching feet? Let Epsom Salt come to the rescue! Dissolve a half cup of the mineral into two quarts of warm water. Pour the water into a container and soak your bare feet for fifteen to twenty minutes, once or twice a day. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for
a refreshing scent. Then, rinse your feet off with clean tap water and dry them thoroughly.

Exfoliate Dry Skin and Calluses
Did you know the skin at the sole of the foot is denser than any other skin on the human body? Use this treatment to soften and remove excess dry skin. Mix two cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches. Massage the entire foot concentrating on the heels and ankles to remove any dry, rough spots.

Remove Splinters
Splinters can cause pain, swelling and possible infection if they’re not removed promptly. Here’s how to safely remove it. Clean a needle, a pair of tweezers and a small pair of nail clippers with isopropyl alcohol and let it air-dry. Be sure to swab the pinching surfaces of the tweezers and the cutting edges of the nail clippers. Soak the area in Epsom Salt to soften the skin and help draw out the splinter.

Treat Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungal infection of the skin on the foot. Athlete’s foot is by far the most common fungal infection of the skin. Soaking the feet in Epsom Salt and warm water is helpful to relieve the burning and itching.

Get Rid of Foot Odor
Try a foot soak made of plain water and a half cup of Epsom Salt for a relaxing foot treatment that also helps deal with unwanted foot aroma. Epsom Salt will help to absorb foot odors.

Treat Toenail Fungus
Soak your affected toes in hot water mixed with a palm full of Epsom salt three times a day.

Image: Epsom Salt Industry Council