The amazing properties of coconut oil help to get rid of the feet problems like smelly feet, dry or cracked feet, feet fungus etc. Coconut is a good treatment for your feet and will leave your feet as soft and smooth as baby’s feet. Here in this article, we will discuss how to use coconut oil on feet.(1)
Is Coconut Oil Good for Feet?
We know that coconut oil, the miracle oil, is the solution to many health and beauty problems ranging from digestive problems to dry, thin hair. And yes, coconut oil is good for feet. It has multiple benefits on feet.
Benefits of Using Coconut Oil for Feet
The benefits of using coconut oil on feet have been discussed below:
- Coconut oil retains hydrating water on feet’s skin surface(2)
- It removes dead cells on feet(3)
- It strengthens tissues under feet’s’ outer layer of the skin.
- It moisturizes your feet penetrating deep into the skin.
- Its antibacterial property helps to kill bacteria found in feet.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Feet?
Coconut oil alone can be applied directly to the affected areas on feet in order to get soft, better feet. It also may be combined with a number of ingredients for treating dry, smelly feet.
1. Organic Coconut Oil
Organic coconut oil softens rough, cracked skin. It has antibacterial properties, which kill bacteria on feet. If you sleep using organic coconut oil, you will get smoother, better feet next morning.(4)
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon organic coconut oil
- A bowl with warm water
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Procedure:
- Add coconut oil with water
- Immerse your feet in the oily water
- Leave it for 20 minutes
- Pat them dry
How it works: coconut oil penetrates deep into the skin thus moisturizing your rough feet. It removes dead skin cells and regenerates new cells.
Repetitions: once in everyday
Best time to apply: before sleep at night.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar and Coconut Oil for Feet
Apple cider vinegar has natural acids which kill fungus on feet. This is an effective home remedy for athlete’s foot.(5)
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Procedure:
- Add apple cider vinegar and coconut oil with water
- Stir well
- Immerse your feet in the solution for 15 minutes
- Pat them dry
How it works: anti fungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of apple cider vinegar help to fight against the fungus which causes Athlete’s foot.
Repetitions: twice a day
Best time to apply: before bath, before sleep at night.
3. Tea Tree Oil and Coconut Oil for Feet
Anti-fungal property of coconut oil and tea tree oil helps to cure the ringworm on your feet. This mixture is best applicable to athlete’s feet.(6)
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 4 -5 drops tea tree oil
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Procedure:
- Add tea tree oil with coconut oil
- Stir well, Apply it to the affected feet
- Massage it for 5 minutes
- Wear your socks
- Leave it overnight
How it works: this mixture reduces redness of the infected tissues and soothes and heals skin inflammation associated with Athlete’s foot.
Repetitions: once in every day
Best time to apply: Before sleep at night.
4. Turmeric and Coconut Oil for Feet
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory property which reduces discomfort of your dry feet. It moisturizes the skin of your feet. It is antiseptic also.(7)
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Procedure:
- Mix coconut oil with turmeric and raw honey
- Apply it to the affected areas on feet
- Leave it for 20 minutes
- Wash with water and pat it dry
How it works: this mixture best suits to eczema affected feet. It is natural and cost-effective remedy.
Repetitions: twice a day
Best time to apply: before bath, before sleep at night
5. Baking soda and Coconut Oil for Feet
Baking soda balances the pH level of the feet. Therefore fungus and bacteria can’t grow on your feet. It acts as an anti fungal agent, which destroys fungus.(8)
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp baking soda
- A bucket of water
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
Preparation time: 5 times
Procedure:
- Combine baking soda with water
- Add coconut oil with it
- Immerse your feet in the solution and leave it for few minutes
- Pat the feet dry
How it works: this mixture moisturizes and softens the skin, removes dead cells, kills bacteria and fungus of your foot.
Repetitions: once in a week
Best time to apply: before bath
6. Salt and Coconut Oil for Feet
This is cost-effective good home remedy for dry foot. This mixture doesn’t contain any chemicals. The antioxidant property of this mixture removes hard patches, dead skin cells etc.
Ingredients:
- A bucket of lukewarm water
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Procedure:
- Add salt and coconut oil with lukewarm water
- Immerse your feet in the solution
- Stay for 15 minutes
- Pat them dry
How it works: This mixture is a natural remedy for treating bad feet. It will eliminate the hard spots on your feet as well as will give your feet a smoother appearance.
Repetitions: once in every day.
Best time to apply: before sleep at night.
7. Coconut Oil and Sugar Scrub for Feet
A blend of coconut oil and sugar scrub moisturizes and hydrates your feet. It will treat dry, cracked feet.
Ingredients:
- 30 grams brown sugar
- 100 grams coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon any essential oil
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Procedure:
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl
- Put it in an air-tight container
- Apply it to feet
- Massage for few minutes
- Wash with water and pat it dry
How it works: this mixture protects your feet from infections and is ideal for dry feet as it restores the lost moisture.
Repetitions: once daily.
Best time to apply: Before sleep at night.
8. Coconut oil and Lemon Juice for Feet
The natural acidity property of lemon juice brightens up the skin of feet. If you scrub your feet with lemon juice, the feet will be refreshed.
Ingredients:
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Procedure:
- Extract juice from 1 lemon
- Add water and coconut oil with the juice
- Soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply it to the affected areas on feet
- Leave it for 15 minutes
How it works: after your busy schedule all the day, your feet need some care which is possible when you apply this mixture to your feet. You will feel relaxed after using this mixture on feet.
Repetitions: once in every day.
Best time to apply: before sleep at night.
All moisturizing agents do not work equally on cracked, dry, smelly fungus-affected feet. However, virgin unrefined coconut oil is the best for the treatment of bad feet. If you want to moisturize your dry feet, apply coconut oil, wear clean socks and go to sleep. Next morning, you will find better feet. Bear in mind, one-time application of coconut oil will not give you magical results. Apply it regularly.
Scientific Evidence:
- Enhanced barrier functions and anti-inflammatory effect of cultured coconut extract on human skin-https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28564614/
- Coconuts and Health: Different Chain Lengths of Saturated Fats Require Different Consideration- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7766932/
- Massage therapy for stress management: implications for nursing practice- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20664464/
- Natural Oils for Skin-Barrier Repair: Ancient Compounds Now Backed by Modern Science- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-017-0301-1
- Fungal Nail Infections (Onychomycosis): A Never-Ending Story?- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047123/
- Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
- Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22593922/
- Clinicomycological Characterization of Superficial Mycoses from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/drp/2016/9509705/
