15 Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

Cracked heels are one of the most common problems that can arise if you don’t pay proper attention. In most cases, this is purely a cosmetic issue that does not cause any health problems. However, in severe cases, these cracks can get very deep and when you walk or stand this can cause some pain and discomfort.

Some of the causes of cracked heels are improper foot care, dry air, lack of moisture, an unhealthy diet, aging, prolonged standing on hard floors and wearing the wrong types of shoes. Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, corns and calluses, diabetes and thyroid disease may also contribute to the problem.

Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

Here are simple and effective home remedies that will help soothe and makeover your cracked heels. Read on to learn what to do for cracked heels.

1. Pumice Stone

A pumice stone works to shave off dry skin, leaving your heels much softer. Keep in mind, the pumice stone or foot file will work well for mild cases of dry skin.

Before using the pumice stone, soak your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes. This will soften the skin, making the pumice stone more effective.
Follow this treatment with a moisturizer.

2. Vegetable Oil

A variety of vegetable oils can be used to heal cracked heels. Olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil will work.

Before going to bed, wash your feet and dry them up completely. Then apply a layer of vegetable oil on your cracked heels.
Wear a pair of thick socks and leave overnight.
In the morning, wash off and repeat for a few days to get smooth and healed feet.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can be used for healing your cracked heels. The acidic property in lemons can be very effective in softening rough skin that leads to cracking.

Cut a lemon in two halves and take one half of it.
Rub this lemon half on your feet while squeezing it so that the juice is transferred to your heels.
Do this for five minutes. Then, gently scrub your feet with a soft cloth or brush. Wash off with water.

Alternatively;

Take a lemon and squeeze out its juice into a feet soaking basin filled with warm water.
Soak your feet in it for 15-20 minutes.
Do this twice a week.

4. Oil Massage

Oils are natural moisturizers and several of them are especially effective for cracked heels. Massage your heels with a mixture of these oils: olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, and grapeseed oil.

Thoroughly massage your cracked heels for about 10 minutes.
Then, wear a pair of thick cotton socks so that the oils continue to penetrate your skin.
Do this before going to bed and leave overnight.

5. Mentholated Rub

This is another popular treatment for cracked heels because of the many essential oils that it contains. It also helps you get rid of toenail fungus.

Before going to bed, apply some mentholated rub on clean, dry feet.
Wear a pair of socks and leave overnight.
In the morning, remove your socks and wash your feet with warm water.
Repeat daily for a few days until you get rid of cracked heels.

6. Oatmeal and Jojoba Oil

Oatmeal and jojoba oil are moisturizing and they also work to improve the overall health of the skin.

Create a thick paste with one tablespoon of oatmeal powder and enough jojoba oil.
Apply this paste to your cracked feet and allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
Rinse it off with warm water, pat the skin dry and apply a thick moisturizer.

7. Bananas

Ripe bananas are one of the cheapest home remedies for cracked heels, thanks to their moisturizing properties.

Take the pulp of a ripe banana and apply over your cracked heels.
Keep on for about 10 minutes and then wash off.

8. Aloe Vera

While aloe vera is beneficial for overall health, it can also help you get rid of cracked heels. You need to mix certain herbs with aloe vera gel to cure your fissures and get smooth feet.

Crush one teaspoon of holy basil leaves to get its paste.
Mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder, holy basil paste and one teaspoon of camphor powder with two tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
Mix well and apply on your cracked heels.
Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with luke warm water.

You can also use plain aloe vera gel without any herbs mixed into it for daily usage to prevent cracked heels.

9. Paraffin Wax

This is a total treatment for painful cracked heels. If the condition of the cracks on your heels is really bad and causing a lot of pain, a paraffin wax treatment can provide quick relief.

Melt one block of paraffin wax in a double boiler and mix in two tablespoons of mustard oil or coconut oil.
Allow it to cool until a thin layer forms on the top. Then, dip your heels in the mixture, wait for 10 seconds and dip again. Do this a few times or until you have several layers of wax built up.
Cover your heels with a plastic and leave it on for 30 minutes before removing the plastic and peeling off the wax from your skin.
Repeat this cracked heel treatment twice a week.

10. Milk and Honey

If you don’t take proper care of your feet, you may get cracked heel. Therefore, it’s essential to follow a daily regime of cleansing and moisturizing your heels and a weekly regimen of exfoliating them. If you already have cracked heels, exfoliate them daily and moisturize them till they are healed. Here is a natural exfoliating mix made with honey and milk.

Pour one cup of honey and two cups of milk into a foot soaking basin and mix well. If you feel you need more of them, add one more cup of honey and two more cups of milk.
Soak your feet for 20 minutes in this mixture.
After 10 minutes of soaking, start massaging your heels while they are still in the basin.
Keep massaging for about 10 minutes.
Then wash with lukewarm water.

11. Epsom Salt

If you want to heal your cracked heels, it’s important to take extra care to keep them well moisturized. You can do this simply with an Epsom salt foot soak.

Add 1/2 cup of Epsom salt in a basin filled with warm water and soak your feet in it for about 10 minutes. Then, gently rub your feet with a pumice stone for a few minutes.
Put your feet back in it for another 10 minutes.
Finally, dry your feet thoroughly and apply a moisturizer.
Repeat this cracked heel treatment daily for a week.

12. Rosewater and Glycerin

The combination of glycerin and rose water makes an effective home treatment for cracked heels. Glycerin is a highly effective moisturizer and rose water helps increase the moisturizing effects.

Mix equal amounts of glycerin and rose water thoroughly and rub it on your heels daily before going to bed.

13. Rice Flour Scrub

Exfoliating the skin on your feet and heels will help remove dead skin, thus preventing cracking and dryness. Rice flour is a great exfoliator and you can make an all-natural scrub to slough off the dead skin and smooth the skin.

Mix a handful of ground rice with a few teaspoons of honey and apple cider vinegar. Stir it until it becomes a thick paste. If the condition of the cracks on your heels is extremely bad, add a tablespoon of olive oil.
Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes and then gently scrub them with the rice flour paste.
Repeat the process a few times a week until you get rid of cracked heels.

14. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a natural skin soother. It’s excellent for cuts, scrapes and cracked skin. It helps kill germs and heal and moisturize skin.

Rub a teaspoon of avocado oil on your cracked heels before bedtime.
Wear a pair of socks and leave overnight.
In the morning, remove your socks and wash your feet with warm water.
Do this daily until your skin is healed.

15. Vinegar Soak

White vinegar contains acetic acid which is gentle on your skin. However, do not directly apply it on your heels as the acetic acid in it may dry up the skin further. Make a foot soak with vinegar.

Add 1/4 cup of vinegar and one tablespoon of olive oil in a basin filled with warm water.
Soak your feet in it for 10 minutes and then use a pumice stone to gently scrub your feet before you dry them.
After drying your feet, apply a thick moisturizer.

TIPS

Never use scissors, a cuticle cutter, or a toenail clipper on cracked feet. You will cause additional injury.
Drink plenty of water to keep your body, and by extension feet, hydrated.
Avoid open-heeled or high-heeled shoes, as these can make cracked feet drier and more painful.
Wear breathable shoes with or without cotton socks.
Smooth wet feet regularly with a pumice stone. This reduces the thickness of hard, cracked, calloused skin. Be sure to scrub the pumice over the balls and heels of your feet.
Try immersing feet in warm water and honey for 15 minutes. Honey works wonders for treating cracked feet.

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