Essential Oils and 12 Other Methods

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Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

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What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that causes pain in one or both heels. It happens when the plantar fascia ligaments in your feet — which act as shock absorbers — become damaged and inflamed.

If you’re finding that heel pain is getting in the way of your daily activities, try these quick tips for relief.

According to a 2015 study, lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a possible treatment for pain caused by inflammation. Try diluting a drop or two in a carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil, and massaging it into the bottoms of your feet. You can also try adding a few drops to a warm foot bath.

Try to wear shoes that provide good arch support and have a low heal, especially if you’re going to be on your feet a lot. This helps to support your plantar fascia and prevent them from becoming inflamed.

Your doctor may recommend orthotic shoe inserts or foot pads to help distribute your weight more evenly, especially if you have high arches. You can get them ready-made at most pharmacies, or your doctor can have some made custom for your feet. After a few months, you should be able to stop wearing them.

Night splints help to relieve plantar fasciitis by stretching your arches and calves overnight. These tend to work best for people who’ve had plantar fasciitis for at least six months. Most are meant to be used for one to three months and come in both hard and soft models.

If you regularly wear the same shoes to exercise, make sure to replace them regularly. Signs that you need a new pair include:

• wear on the outsoles
• stretching of the heels
• molding of the insoles to the shape of your foot
• breakdown of shoe interior
• new blisters forming on your feet
• new pain in your feet, legs, or back

Runners should replace their athletic shoes every 400–500 miles. Nonrunners should replace athletic shoes every six months or so, depending on how often you wear them.

To soothe the pain caused by plantar fasciitis, try gently stretching the arch of your foot and your calf. For example, try lunging forward with one leg and trying to get the foot on your other leg as close to the ground as you can. Check out these other stretches for plantar fasciitis.

You can perform simple massage techniques to soothe the pain in your heels. Use your thumbs to massage your arches and heels, working from the balls of your feet up to your heel. You can also use a golf ball to massage your arches. Put your foot on the golf ball, hang on to a stable item, and roll the golf ball under your arches.

While an ice cube can make a good massager, an ice pack can help to reduce inflammation. Cover your ice pack with a cloth or thin towel, and hold it over the painful area three to four times daily for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can also roll an ice cube under your foot, much like the golf ball above.

Carrying extra weight puts more pressure on your plantar fascia. If you’re overweight, losing a few pounds can help to alleviate some of that pressure. Work with your doctor to come up with a long-term plan that focuses on a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Sometimes, plantar fasciitis is a sign that your feet simply need to rest, especially if you regularly do high-impact sports. Giving your feet a break for a few days can help to reduce inflammation and let your plantar fascia heal. While you heal, try a low-impact activity, such as swimming.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), work to reduce inflammation in the body. This could help alleviate pain in your feet caused by inflamed plantar fascia. Just make sure you don’t take more than recommended and be aware of how they can interact with other medications.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENs) therapy relieves pain by low-voltage electric stimulation. It’s a noninvasive treatment that can be done by a professional or on your own with a TENs unit.

In some cases, you might need additional treatment for plantar fasciitis. If your foot pain doesn’t respond to any home treatments, contact your doctor. They may want to do some additional testing or take some X-rays to rule out any other causes of your foot pain. For severe plantar fasciitis, you may also need physical therapy or steroid injections.

Essential Oils and 12 Other Methods

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that causes pain in one or both heels. It happens when the plantar fascia ligaments in your feet — which act as shock absorbers — become damaged and inflamed.

If you’re finding that heel pain is getting in the way of your daily activities, try these quick tips for relief.

According to a 2015 study, lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a possible treatment for pain caused by inflammation. Try diluting a drop or two in a carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil, and massaging it into the bottoms of your feet. You can also try adding a few drops to a warm foot bath.

Try to wear shoes that provide good arch support and have a low heal, especially if you’re going to be on your feet a lot. This helps to support your plantar fascia and prevent them from becoming inflamed.

Your doctor may recommend orthotic shoe inserts or foot pads to help distribute your weight more evenly, especially if you have high arches. You can get them ready-made at most pharmacies, or your doctor can have some made custom for your feet. After a few months, you should be able to stop wearing them.

Night splints help to relieve plantar fasciitis by stretching your arches and calves overnight. These tend to work best for people who’ve had plantar fasciitis for at least six months. Most are meant to be used for one to three months and come in both hard and soft models.

If you regularly wear the same shoes to exercise, make sure to replace them regularly. Signs that you need a new pair include:

• wear on the outsoles
• stretching of the heels
• molding of the insoles to the shape of your foot
• breakdown of shoe interior
• new blisters forming on your feet
• new pain in your feet, legs, or back

Runners should replace their athletic shoes every 400–500 miles. Nonrunners should replace athletic shoes every six months or so, depending on how often you wear them.

To soothe the pain caused by plantar fasciitis, try gently stretching the arch of your foot and your calf. For example, try lunging forward with one leg and trying to get the foot on your other leg as close to the ground as you can. Check out these other stretches for plantar fasciitis.

You can perform simple massage techniques to soothe the pain in your heels. Use your thumbs to massage your arches and heels, working from the balls of your feet up to your heel. You can also use a golf ball to massage your arches. Put your foot on the golf ball, hang on to a stable item, and roll the golf ball under your arches.

While an ice cube can make a good massager, an ice pack can help to reduce inflammation. Cover your ice pack with a cloth or thin towel, and hold it over the painful area three to four times daily for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can also roll an ice cube under your foot, much like the golf ball above.

Carrying extra weight puts more pressure on your plantar fascia. If you’re overweight, losing a few pounds can help to alleviate some of that pressure. Work with your doctor to come up with a long-term plan that focuses on a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Sometimes, plantar fasciitis is a sign that your feet simply need to rest, especially if you regularly do high-impact sports. Giving your feet a break for a few days can help to reduce inflammation and let your plantar fascia heal. While you heal, try a low-impact activity, such as swimming.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), work to reduce inflammation in the body. This could help alleviate pain in your feet caused by inflamed plantar fascia. Just make sure you don’t take more than recommended and be aware of how they can interact with other medications.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENs) therapy relieves pain by low-voltage electric stimulation. It’s a noninvasive treatment that can be done by a professional or on your own with a TENs unit.

In some cases, you might need additional treatment for plantar fasciitis. If your foot pain doesn’t respond to any home treatments, contact your doctor. They may want to do some additional testing or take some X-rays to rule out any other causes of your foot pain. For severe plantar fasciitis, you may also need physical therapy or steroid injections.

3 causes, foot care rules and rating 4 remedies

Contents

• Causes of rough skin on the heels and feet
• How to take care of your feet and heels
• Care cosmetics
• Home care products
• Tips and Tricks
• Precautions

Causes of rough skin on the heels and feet

Strange thing, the skin on the legs becomes rough at any time of the year, from which we can conclude that vitamins and the sun have nothing to do with it – even when they are in excess, the heels can still be rough. What is the reason?

Taking care of your feet is just as regular as taking care of your face. © Getty Images

“The reason for rough skin on the feet and heels is that one of the important functions of the skin is to protect against too much pressure. Feet feel it in full – we stand on them. It is not surprising that in places of maximum pressure, blood circulation is disturbed, the skin thickens and thickens. And if it’s not cared for regularly, it can develop crusts and painful cracks.”

• Features of the feet. There are practically no sebaceous glands in the skin of the soles and rather poor blood circulation, in comparison with other areas, which inevitably leads to dryness and roughness.

• Lack of proper maintenance. Cleansing followed by moisturizing/nourishing not only the shins, but also the feet should be a mandatory daily care item.

• Deficiency of important vitamins. Usually this condition occurs in winter and early spring, if the diet lacks fresh herbs and vegetables.

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How to take care of your feet and heels

A foot care program doesn’t take long, but it does require regularity. What should be included in a foot beauty routine?

Cleansing

The usual procedure with which we start and end the day. Pay as much attention to your legs as you do to your face. Treat your feet with a soft washcloth with shower gel and finish the shower with cool water pouring over your feet. Be sure to dry them afterwards.

Steaming

An excellent treatment before exfoliating the skin on the feet. To do this, it is not necessary to keep your feet in a basin of hot water. While taking a shower, the skin on the legs will have time to soften and will be ready for subsequent manipulations.

Exfoliate

Once a week, if your feet are dry and rough, exfoliate with a peel or scrub. Then be sure to apply a nourishing cream or thick foot balm.

Scrubs, soft files, brushes and pumice are suitable for exfoliating the heels. © Getty Images

Additional care

It is advisable to regularly treat the skin with special graters or foot scrubs, finish the procedure by polishing the skin with a fine grater and apply a special foot cream.

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Cosmetic care products

Foot creams are distinguished by the fact that they contain not only good moisturizing (urea), but also exfoliating components, such as salicylic acid. In low concentrations, it has the ability to dissolve bonds between cells, loosen rough skin and thus promote effective exfoliation.

If there are cracks on the heels, it is good to apply the cream in a thicker layer after the procedures, put on cotton socks and leave this “compress” overnight.

Moisturizing

Intensive Care Foot Cream. Nutrition”, Garnier

Maple sap, which is part of the product, restores the skin of the feet. Lipikar Gel Lavant, La Roche-Posay

Gently cleanses, contains shea butter to strengthen the skin’s protective properties.

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Home care products

If you want to treat your skin at home, you can try these treatments.

Foot bath

Add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to a bowl of warm water. It loosens the stratum corneum in a short time, 10 minutes in warm water is enough to soften the skin well and treat the feet and heels with a scrub, grater or pumice stone. After the procedure, dry your feet well and apply foot cream.

In general, any foot exfoliation is good to combine with a herbal or salt bath and subsequent application of a mask.

Foot and Heel Mask

Homemade mask lovers can treat themselves to a homemade mask for rough feet.

Bath and sauna enthusiasts like to make their own exfoliating agent. © Getty Images

Potatoes

Take a warm boiled potato, mash it with a fork to a puree and apply a thick layer on your feet. Wrap your feet in plastic wrap and leave for 30 minutes. Then rinse with warm water and apply a nourishing cream to the skin.

Oatmeal

Mix 2 tbsp. l. oatmeal, 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil and 1 tbsp. l. liquid honey. Apply the mixture on the steamed feet. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes.

Semolina

Prepare half a cup of semolina, 2 tbsp. l. sea ​​salt, 1 tbsp. l. honey and sour cream. Mix the ingredients in the order given until a slurry is formed. Apply it on your feet for 15-20 minutes.

Heel and foot packs

Honey

Make a cake with 2 tbsp. tablespoons of flour with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey. Attach the cake to the steamed legs and wrap it with a film. Put on your socks and leave it like that overnight.

With aloe juice

Mix onion juice and aloe with olive oil, apply the mixture on the steamed skin of the feet. Wrap with foil, put on socks and leave overnight.

With sea buckthorn oil

Soak a cotton pad in sea buckthorn oil and apply it to cracks or very dry areas on the foot. With such a compress, it is better to stay overnight.

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Useful tips and tricks

1. 1

   Wear shoes for the season and size made from natural materials with a comfortable last.

2. 2

   Always use emollient creams.

3. 3

   Get rid of dead tissue on your heels regularly with a pumice stone.

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Precautions

When caring for your feet, pay attention to the following points.

• Treat heels with a file or pumice stone no more than once a week.

• Always dry your feet after washing.

• Apply cream only to cleansed skin.

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Causes of dry skin and what to do about it

Contents

• Causes of dry skin and cracked heels
• Daily Care Rules
• Cosmetics against dry skin on the heels
• Cosmetic treatments for dry heels
• Very dry heels: what to do at home
• Precautions

Causes of dry skin and cracked heels

Thick, rough skin on the heels is a natural phenomenon. Man is an upright creature, therefore, it is on the feet that the main burden falls. It is clear that our main point of support by its nature cannot be thin and pampered. So roughness, corns, thickening and dryness of the skin on the heels is normal, especially if you have flat feet or problems with joints and posture (and who doesn’t have them now?).

The worst thing that can happen to the skin on your heels is cracks. Even if they do not cause discomfort or pain, they should not be ignored. Cracks can serve as a signal of problems in the body. However, most likely, you yourself unwittingly launched the situation.

External causes

• Tight, uncomfortable shoes. Shoes must protect the skin of the feet and minimize stress. Incorrectly selected shoes or boots at least disrupt blood circulation and harmonious weight distribution. The consequences are calluses and corns.

• Open shoes. Have you noticed that in the summer the skin on your heels gets rougher and thicker especially quickly? Sandals, sandals, slates save the feet from heat and overheating, but at the same time the skin of the feet is forced to defend itself from the outside world with double zeal. That is to build up armor.

• Insufficient maintenance. The skin on the heels is prone to thickening – this is a protective reaction. If the “growths” are not exfoliated in time, cracks may form in places of the highest pressure over time.

• Care too active. Yes, and you can go overboard with it – peeling with special socks or using professional exfoliating devices on your own will thin the skin excessively. Hence the wounds and cracks. Plus, by removing too much skin, you stimulate tissue regeneration in SOS mode – the skin will grow faster and in greater volume

• Fungal lesions. If there is a suspicion of a fungal infection, run to the doctor.

Thickening of the skin on the heels is a natural phenomenon. © Getty Images

Internal Causes

We won’t make diagnoses, but if you’re experiencing uncharacteristic dry and cracked heels, the cause may be more serious than improper care or uncomfortable shoes.

• Avitaminosis.

• Dehydration of the body.

• Violation of the digestive tract.

• Hormonal reorganization.

• Lack of fatty acids in the diet.

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Daily care rules

Taking care of your feet is generally easier than taking care of your face. But since no one sees our heels most of the time, we pay little attention to them. And in vain. To keep them in exemplary condition, you need only three actions.

Clean

In the case of feet, neglecting the basic rules of hygiene is fraught with unpleasant consequences. But no special effort is required. Do you shower in the evening? Great! Use the usual gel, thoroughly lathering the feet. Just remember to thoroughly rinse off the foam and dry your feet with a towel, paying particular attention to the area between the toes.

A greasy cream or oil will solve the problem of dry heels. © Getty Images

Moisturize and Nourish

You can get by with one product – any sufficiently oily (but well-absorbed) body cream or special foot product. Most importantly, apply it every night.

Exfoliate

Use a body scrub twice a week to exfoliate dead skin cells.

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Cosmetics against dry skin on the heels

We have collected for you a cosmetic minimum that will help you quickly solve the problem of dry heels.

Intensive Care Foot Cream. Nutrition ”, Garnier will help keep your heels in order and take care of the healing of cracks. The active ingredient is allantoin.

Body Scrub “Precious Beauty Scrub”, Garnier exfoliates and nourishes the skin thanks to oils of almond, rose, macadamia, argan.

Balm Cicaplast Baume B5, La Roche-Posay – an excellent composition (panthenol, madecassoside, trace elements, hyaluronic acid, thermal water) will come to the aid of the skin on any part of the face and body.

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Cosmetic procedures against dry heels

Beauty salons usually offer two basic foot treatments.

1. 1

   Classic pedicure – “wet” treatment with a bath and subsequent removal of keratinized skin from the heels.

2. 2

   Hardware pedicure is carried out without the participation of water, the skin is ground and polished using special nozzles.

The hardware effect is softer, which means that with very problematic heels, more sessions will be required. But the risk of injury or infection is minimized.

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Very dry heels: what to do at home

Foot baths soften the skin. © Getty Images

Baths

Soaking will help soften rough heels and exfoliate them effectively. Pour warm water into a suitable size container, adding a little soap and baking soda. Alternatively, you can draw water into the bath and lower your feet there. Duration – 10-15 minutes. Then use a scrub.

Dry the skin before using the special peeling tool (pumice stone, file, roller).

Compresses

Olive, coconut, shea – any of these vegetable oils, with regular use, gradually restores the skin of the heels. You can use them alternately or mix them. Rub the oil into the skin properly and when it is absorbed, apply an additional oil layer.

Such applications are made after steaming and exfoliating the skin, before going to bed. Cotton socks are worn on the feet.

By bathing and exfoliating 2-3 times a week, you can get rid of dryness pretty quickly,” says Garnier dermatologist Marina Kamanina.

Pumice stone

Porous volcanic rock removes keratinized areas on the heels well and does not injure the skin. Treat dry heels in a circular motion, but do not press. After the procedure, apply cream.

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Precautions

Do not use professional tools unless you are a pedicurist.