Home Remedies For Cracked Heels

Every part of the skin needs a proper care. A slight carelessness is the initial spark of many painful problems. Basically cracked heels, often known as heel fissures, is not a medical issue or a disease but is a beauty problem. Although it is not a serious health issue and is very common but in it severe case, the cracks can even bleed which is very painful and distressing.

Feet are the laborious parts of the body that carries the body weight all day long are generally exposed to extreme pressure and dirt. Thus foot care is necessary to avoid cracks. The foot skin is drier as compared to the rest of the skin and is directly exposed to dirt, therefore daily cleansing and moisturizing is needed to obtain a soft smooth heel.

Here are some of the remedies that help you repair and prevent the cracked heels to wear your stilettos in summers without being worried.

15. Rosewater And Glycerin

It is one of the most popular remedy for wishing a silky smooth feet.

• Take ¼ of glycerin, ¾ of rosewater and mix it with fresh lemon juice.
• Take some warm water in a tub and add salt to it, mix it well and soak your dry feet in it for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also add to it a lemon juice for better cleansing action.
• Now with the help of pumice stone remove the dead skin by gently rubbing it to your feet.

Once you are done with cleaning your feet, pat dry with a towel and apply the home-made glycerin lotion to it. This organic lotion helps in healing and preventing the dry cracked heels.

14. Aloe Vera

Because of the dryness and less care towards your dry feet, cracks appear in heels that makes the feet rough and coarse. To avoid such cracked heels, aloe Vera as a natural moisturizer is best to use. You can also use tulsi and neem leaves with it.

• Wash the feet properly with pumice stone, then simply apply aloe Vera gel to your feet especially the affected area and let it dry.

This will resolve the cracked feet problem very quickly and is best to apply at night before going to bed.

Quick link = How to heal cracked heels

13. Vegetable Oils

Vegetable oils like coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, almond oil and other hydrogenated vegetable oils are commonly used for treating cracked feet. It gives wonderful results within a few days.

• Scrub your dry feet in soapy warm water and dry them thoroughly after a clean wash.
• Apply any of the oil and massage for a few minutes.
• Wear a clean pair of cotton socks and leave them overnight to nourish the skin completely.
• Gently wash your feet in the morning and dry them completely.

Regularly following this remedy at night will give the required results within a couple of days. You can also mix these different oils to speed up the softening process of dry cracked heels.

Cracked heel is normally a cosmetic issue but sometimes it occurs as a result of hypothyroidism and diabetes.

12. Honey

Honey with its antibacterial and moisturizing properties is an excellent organic and purely natural product for the treatment of heel fissures.

• Fill a foot tub with lukewarm rose water and dissolve one cup of honey in it.
• Keep your feet in it for 15 to 20 minutes and gently scrub your feet in it.

Continue the treatment for several weeks until you see the improvement.

You can also apply the honey directly over the heel and sole, apart from mixing it in rose water.

• Cover your feet with thin layer of honey and massage the affected areas gently.
• Leave it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash it off.

This cleansing soothes the wounds and gives your cracked feet a soft touch.

11. Milk And Honey

Honey and milk, rich in antibacterial and moisturizing properties, are highly beneficial in alleviating the heel fissures.

• Mix one cup of fresh honey with two cups of slightly warm milk in a foot tub.
• Soak your dry feet in the mixture and leave it in for 10 to 15 minutes without any disturbance.
• After this first phase of rest, start a massage of your feet in the tube for next 5 to 10 minutes to alleviate the dead skin.
• Wash your feet and pat dry with a clean towel.

Once you are done with it, apply a thick moisturizer to them to heal dry cracked heels. 

10. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is widely used for dry skins and cracked feet. This product is highly appreciated for its qualities of moisturizing and curing the dry skin cracks.

• First of all scrub the feet in warm water with the help of pumice stone to remove the thick dead skin.
• Dry your feet thoroughly with a clean towel.
• Now cover your cracked feet i.e. the heel, sole and other dry areas with petroleum jelly. You can also mix lemon juice to it for better results.

Put on a pair of cotton sock and for acquiring maximum benefit leave it over night while you sleep.

Heel fissures can be prevented by keeping your feet moisturized as well as protected from dust and extreme temperatures.

9. Lemons

Lemon is an effective cleansing item. Due to its acidic property it helps to loosen the thick dead skin and alleviates the wilted skin easily. Here is how you can use this remedy to heal corns on foot and dry cracked heels.

Quick links = Benefits of lemon water

• Dip your dry feet in warm water, mixed with lemon juice for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Then gently rub your heels with an abrasive pumice stone to remove the rough skin.
• Wash off your feet and moisturize them to prevent dryness.

Note

Do not use hot water as it can burn and dry the skin.

8. Paraffin Wax

If you are suffering from severe heel fissures which are often painful and bleeding, then paraffin wax treatment can be recommended. It acts as a natural balm to these cracks.

• Melt some paraffin wax with two tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut, mustard or almond etc.).
• Let it cool at room temperature to form a thin layer on the surface.
• Dip your feet in the mixture and take it out.
• Wait for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat the process a few more times, forming several layers of wax around your feet.
• Wrap a plastic on your feet and leave it for 30 minutes before peeling off the wax.

Continue the treatment once or twice a week until the cracked feet are repaired.

Note

Do not dip your feet in stove hot wax as it can be injurious. Also this remedy is not recommended for those who are diabetic and have poor blood circulation.

Cracked heels are common, but to avoid the severity, precautions must be followed but before prevention if you are suffering from cracked heels you need to cure them.

7. Indian Lilac

Indian lilac commonly known as neem or margosa leaves is rich with its antibacterial properties that help in preventing infections. Some times in severe cases, the cracked heels get infected that reminds about the cracked heel with every step.

• Grind the leaves finely and then add turmeric powder to it.
• Mix the ingredients to form a paste.
• Now apply it to the affected areas and let it sit for 30 minutes.
• After half an hour wash the feet and dry it completely.

In the end apply a good moisturizing cream to heal your dry cracked heels. 

6. Rice Flour Scrub

The thickening skin of the dry feet is one of the major reasons of cracked heels. Rice flour scrub is beneficial to exfoliate the thick layer of dead skin of heels.

• Take two teaspoons honey and mix it with three tablespoons of rice flour.
• Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the mixture and whisk the mixture until it makes a thick paste.
• You can also add oils to the paste according to the severity of cracks.
• Dip your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes and then scrub it with the paste.

Note

Continue the process 2 to 3 times a week until the problem solves.

5. Vinegar

Vinegar contains acetic acid and is therefore effective to slough off the lifeless skin.

• Fill ¾ of feet soaking basin with lukewarm water and add ¼ of white vinegar to it.
• Dip your feet in the solution for 15 minutes.
• Gently rub your heels with pumice stone to remove the loose skin.
• Wash off the cracked feet and apply a good quality moisturizer.

Note

Direct application of vinegar can further dry the skin, so, it must be diluted with water and it should be repeated once or twice a week.

The remedies that are shared here not only prevent but also cure the cracked heels naturally leaving your feet soft and smooth.

4. Jojoba Oil

Moisturizing oils are a boon for rough and coarse skin especially of foot heels. Jojoba oil when mixed with oatmeal is beneficial for ugly cracked heels.

• Take 1 tablespoon of oatmeal powder and mix it with jojoba oil to make a paste.
• With a mild massage apply the paste to the cracks.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes and then sponge it off.

Note

Repeat the process regularly until you are satisfied and your dry cracked heels are healed.

3. Fruity Cure

Fruits contain the elements that work wonderfully for maintaining healthy skin. They are beneficial in both ways whether applied on the skin directly or are eaten.

Bananas are best to use on daily basis for dry skin and is an instant moisturizer.

• Mash a ripe banana, and then apply it to the dry and cracked heels for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Wash off your feet with warm water and then dip again for 10 to 15 minutes in cold water.

Note

To restore the smoothness and softness of your heels do this procedure for a couple of weeks.

You can also combine banana with other fruits to make its mask for the cure of cracked feet.

• Mash banana and half avocado, and then mix the mashed fruit with coconut flesh that makes a paste.
• Now apply the mask on your cracked feet, slowly massaging onto the cracks.
• Wash it off after 15 minutes.

Note

Repeat the process daily until the cracks are healed.

You can also use papaya in place of banana. This fruity mask is a great cure for deep heel fissures.

2. Foot Ointment

You can easily make a foot ointment at home to cure the spiky heels.

• If you are using magnesium flakes then you first need to mix it in a boiling water to form a thick paste. But if you are using magnesium oil then you need not to mix it with water.
• Now melt beeswax, Shea butter and coconut oil on a medium stove and allow the mixture to cool a bit, forming a semi-fluid substance.
• Now blend the mixture and add to it the magnesium paste or magnesium oil drop by drop while blending.
• Refrigerate the paste obtained for 10 to 15 minutes after blending.
• After refrigeration blend the mixture once again until it is thick like butter.
• Store the ointment in a container having its lid.
• Apply the paste on cracks and wear a pair of socks before going to bed.

Note

Use the ointment every night until the cracks heal andyou are satisfied with the softness of your feet.

1. Epsom Salt Solution

Feet need care but cracked feet need extra attention. Epsom salt not only helps in curing the wounded rough heels but also improves the circulation.

• Add Epsom salt and lemon juice to a tub of warm water and dip your feet in the solution for 10 minutes.
• Then scrub your feet with a foot filer or a scrubber and again soak your feet in the solution for another 10 minutes.
• After that run tap water over your feet and pat it dry.
• Now mix glycerin, rosewater, lemon juice and honey to make an organic moisturizer.
• Apply a small amount of this moisturizer to protect your feet from dryness.

DO’s

1. Take care of your feet as you care of the rest of your skin.
2. Moisturize your feet on regular basis.
3. Clean your feet daily with a good cleanser and protect it from dust.
4. Wear comfortable shoes to avoid dry cracked heels problem.
5. Do pedicures on regular basis to get rid of the dead skin.
6. Keep your diet healthy and balanced.
7. Frequently change your shoes.

DO NOT’s

1. Do not take long steam or hot showers.
2. Do not scrub your feet too hard but massage it gently.
3. Do not let the dust to settle on your feet.
4. Do not wear shoes that trap the heat and make your feet sweat.
5. Do not use caffeine and alcohols in excess.
6. Avoid heaters as it dries the air, use a good humidifier in homes to keep the moisture balanced while using heaters.
7. Avoid using low moisturizing soaps which have sharp fragrance as it contains high level of chemicals.