8 Simple Home Remedies For Cracked Heels

Have you ever treated yourself to a pedicure? The skin on the bottom of your feet may be absolutely beautiful and as silky soft as a baby’s bottom, only for it to feel rougher than sandpaper a day later. Do you feel as though the skin on the bottom of your feet is the roughest skin on your body, or that your heels are always cracked? If so, you’re not alone. There are many ways to soothe your rough skin and cracked heels.

There are many home remedies and lifestyle tips to prevent cracking of heels. Proper moisturization is the first step to prevent dry heels. Wearing comfortable shoes, refraining from excessive walking, and avoiding overexposure to pollution are the easiest ways to prevent cracked heels. Scrubbing your heels regularly with pumice stone and dipping them in warm salt water or water with lemon juice added to it can keep them clean and soft. Relaxing your feet and getting foot massages with oil also prevents dryness, and thereby cracked heels.

What Causes Cracked Heels?

There are many factors responsible for dry, cracked heels. There are no oil glands present in the skin of your heels. Thus, if proper care is not taken, they get dry, thereby causing the skin to crack and bleed. Other reasons for cracked heels are:

• Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema
• Medical conditions like thyroid, diabetes, and hormonal imbalance
• Exposing heels to pollution
• Excessive walking and standing on hard floors for long

With proper care and moisturizing, cracked heels can be cured.

The symptoms of dry and cracked heels are:

• Dryness around the heel area, and in the area on the underside of your feet, just below the toes
• Red and flaky patches of skin
• Skin peeling in thin strands
• Cracks and ridges in the skin
• Itchiness
• Bleeding from the cracks
• Discharge from the cracks due to a developed infection

Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

• Home remedies are a great way to naturally healing dry and cracked heels. Here’s one that uses Vaseline, lemon juice, and warm water:

1. Start by soaking your feet in warm water for 15 – 20 minutes. Rinse and dry your feet once finished.
2. Combine one teaspoon of Vaseline with four drops of lemon juice. Massage the mixture over your cracked heels and other affected areas, allowing it to absorb into the skin.
3. Once the mixture has absorbed, wear a pair of clean wool socks. Keep them on overnight and wash your feet in the morning.
4.  The moisturizing properties of the Vaseline Jelly combined with the acidic properties of the lemon will help smooth and heal your feet overnight.

• Oils

various types of oils can be used to prevent cracked heels, as well as to treat them. Any hydrogenated vegetable oil will work well. Examples include sesame oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. All you need to do is to scrub your feet with a pumice stone and then apply the oil liberally on the cracked area. It is recommended that you use this remedy just before going to bed as by doing so you will allow plenty of time for the oil to penetrate well into the skin. you can wear socks so as not to make a mess. If you repeat this process every day you will notice that your heels will get softer, and in time the cracks will be completely gone

• Rosewater and Glycerin

this mixture is very effective as glycerine will soften your skin, while rosewater is rich in vitamins as well as antibacterial properties. Simply mix an equal amount of rosewater and glycerine and apply on your cracked heels every night.

• Ripe bananas

you may have never thought about this, but in reality, ripe bananas are a great remedy for dry, cracked heels. Try it out – mash a ripe banana until it becomes a smooth paste. Then apply onto your cracked heels. Let your feet absorb it for 10 minutes and then wash it away using lukewarm water. Afterward, soak your feet in a basin with cold water.

• Paraffin wax

paraffin wax is ideal if you are experiencing pain in your cracked heels. Just mix some paraffin wax with coconut oil and place over heat so that the wax will melt. Once the mixture has cooled down to room temperature apply it on your heels. This is best done before going to bed.

• Honey

mix a cup of honey in half a bucket of water. Make sure the water is warm. Then immerse your feet and let them soak for 20 minutes. Gently scrub your heels afterward and you will be amazed at the result.

•  Rice flour

rice flour is an ideal exfoliating scrub. Just mix some ground rice with a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. You can also add some honey too. Stir well until a thick paste is created. Then, wash your feet and apply the mixture onto the cracked heels.

• Oatmeal

mix one tablespoon of oatmeal with some jojoba oil until you have a rather thick paste. Then apply onto your cracked heels liberally. Leave it to penetrate the skin for 30 minutes. Then rinse with cold water and pat to dry. Doing this every day will help remove cracks from your heels.

Simple Tips to Prevent Cracked Heels

We have already discussed some amazing home remedies for cracked heels. Below we are going to list down a few simple tips that can prevent dry skin on the feet and thus prevent developing cracked heels.

• Moisturize your feet regularly at night before going to bed.
• Don’t scrub your feet too frequently.
• Eat lots of fruits and veggies to ensure that your body never suffers from the lack of vitamins and minerals.
• Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.
• If possible, go for regular pedicure session as this will help to maintain your foot in good condition.

Disclaimer: The materials and the information contained on The Ugly Duckling Beauty Blog are provided for general and educational purposes only and do not constitute any legal, medical or other professional advice on any subject matter.

Try out these remedies for cracked heel and see which ones work best for you.