Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a simple and affordable ingredient that you probably already have in your kitchen. But did you know that it can work wonders when you rub it on your feet? This natural remedy has been used for a long time to soften, exfoliate, and soothe tired and achy feet. Let’s explore how baking soda can transform your feet and why you should give it a try!
- Exfoliates Dead Skin: Baking soda gently removes dead skin cells from the surface of your feet. By rubbing it on your feet, it helps soften rough and cracked heels, leaving your skin feeling smoother. This is especially beneficial if you struggle with dry feet or calluses.
- Neutralizes Foot Odor: Baking soda is well-known for its ability to neutralize odors. When you rub it on your feet, it balances the pH levels of your skin and reduces the growth of odor-causing bacteria, effectively eliminating any unpleasant smells.
- Soothes Tired Feet: After a long day on your feet, baking soda can provide relief and relaxation. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling and alleviate the pain of tired or achy feet, making it a great way to unwind and pamper yourself.
- Fights Fungal Infections: Baking soda possesses antifungal properties that may help in the treatment or prevention of athlete’s foot and other fungal infections. By applying it to your feet, you create an environment where fungi struggle to grow, ultimately keeping your feet healthy.
To experience these fantastic benefits, follow these simple steps to create your own foot scrub or soak:
Option 1: Baking Soda Foot Scrub
- Mix: Combine 3 tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of water to create a paste.
- Rub: Gently massage the paste onto your feet, focusing on areas with rough skin or calluses. Use circular motions to exfoliate and remove dead skin.
- Rinse: After a few minutes of rubbing, rinse your feet with warm water and pat them dry. Apply a moisturizer to keep them soft.
Option 2: Baking Soda Foot Soak
- Prepare: Fill a basin or tub with warm water and add 3 tablespoons of baking soda.
- Soak: Immerse your feet in the water and let them soak for 10-15 minutes to allow the baking soda to work its magic.
- Exfoliate: After the soak, gently exfoliate the softened skin using a pumice stone or foot scrub. Rinse and dry your feet, and then moisturize them.
Rubbing baking soda on your feet can bring about remarkable results in terms of exfoliating dead skin, neutralizing odors, soothing tired muscles, and even helping to prevent fungal infections. It’s a wallet-friendly and natural remedy that you can easily incorporate into your self-care routine. Give it a try, and your feet will feel refreshed, soft, and rejuvenated!
I’m 18 and obsessed with using sunbeds… but people online are saying I look “burnt to a crisp.”
Megan Blain, an 18-year-old who’s hooked on sunbeds, says she won’t stop tanning, even though online trolls are constantly insulting her. They’ve compared her skin to a “dirty 2p coin,” but she feels stuck in a tanning habit she can’t break.
Megan, from Seaham, County Durham, started using sunbeds at 16 to keep a tan all year. She ditched fake tan products for daily sunbed sessions and even began using tanning injections to get a darker glow. Although she didn’t know much about the risks, she spent up to 30 minutes on sunbeds, sometimes using baby oil to boost the effect.
Teenager Megan Blain, 18, has admitted to being addicted to sunbeds, despite facing harsh criticism online and noticing concerning changes to her skin
Megan said, “I liked how I looked with a tan. I wear bright colors, and the tan made them stand out more. Once I saw how good it looked, I started going to the sunbeds more often.”
But her intense tanning routine has raised health concerns. Megan now admits she’s addicted and has tried to cut back on sunbed use.
She also says the tanning injections make her feel sick, and she’s noticed a strange patch on her skin that changes size. Even though she’s scared it could be cancer, she hasn’t stopped tanning yet. Megan has tried to go to the doctor several times but gets too nervous to go inside.
“I’m the type of person who worries about everything, so it’s strange that I’m not more worried about this patch. I know it could be melanoma, but I still use sunbeds, which shows it’s an addiction. I never feel dark enough,” she explained.
She says she’s stuck in a cycle of overusing sunbeds and taking injections that make her feel sick and unable to eat. She used to go every day, but now she goes about four times a week.
Despite getting negative attention from strangers, with some saying she looks like a “burnt chip” or a “cremated” version of herself, Megan still can’t imagine life without tanning beds.
Megan said, “Everywhere I go, people stare at me. When they say I’m dark, I don’t believe them. I don’t feel dark at all, like I can’t see it myself.”
She admits she wants to stop using sunbeds one day, but she can’t imagine quitting. “I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone because you could get addicted without even realizing it, like I did,” she warned.
Megan has tried to cut down, now only using sunbeds four times a week, and she’s using her TikTok platform to warn younger people about the dangers of sunbed addiction. She’s especially worried because more young people seem to be using sunbeds than older ones, and she knows how easy it is to get hooked.
However, Megan has also faced online trolls who make fun of her tan. Some compare her to “burnt chips” or say her skin looks like a dirty “2p coin.” One person even asked if the sunbeds “cremated” her.
While Megan’s views on tanning have changed, she still struggles to break her habit of using UV lights.
Megan said, “After two years, I’ve changed my mind about sunbeds. If I could go back, I’d never start. Now, it’s not even about wanting to be tan anymore—I just feel like I have to use them.”
She explained that once she’s on the sunbed, it’s hard to turn it off. “I don’t even like using them anymore, I actually dread it, but I feel like I physically can’t stop.”
Another tanning addict, Fionnghuala Maguire, 35, from Belfast, shared her story, saying she feels “lucky to be alive” after using sunbeds almost every day for 15 years. She started at 14 and never used sunscreen during that time. Fionnghuala is now warning others not to make the same mistake, having been hooked on tanning and going to salons up to seven days a week at the height of her addiction.
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