Feeling embarrassed to remove your shoes in public places because of cracked heels? Most of us do spend a lot of time taking care of our faces, but the least importance is given to our feet, often completely ignored.
Some of the common factors that cause cracked heels are obesity, improperly fitting shoes, standing for a long duration, dry skin and lack of proper care and hygiene.
Our kitchen is a repository of wonderful ingredients with healing properties and medicinal values that can cure many daily problems, including cracked heels.
Home Remedies For Cracked Heels
1. Banana
The abundance of nutrients in bananas includes vitamins A, B6 and C all of which eases to keep up the elasticity of the skin and keeps the skin well hydrated. Banana is a natural moisturizer that keeps the feet moisten and prevents drying of skin.
Ingredients
2 ripe bananas
How to do
Take 2 ripe bananas mash into a smooth paste. Avoid unripe bananas as it contains acid that is not good for the skin.
Apply the paste all over the feet, including the nails and sides of the toe. Let it stay for 20 minutes and then rinse your feet with water.
Repeat this for at least 2 weeks before going to bed to get best results.
2. Honey
Honey is considered as a natural antiseptic that aids in healing cracked feet. It is also a good humectant that moistens the skin and prevents drying of the skin. In addition, the soothing properties of honey also help to revitalize the skin.
Ingredients
1 cup honey
Warm water
How to do
Mix 1 cup of honey into a tub of warm water.
Clean the feet and steep in this mixture, massage soothingly for 20 minutes.
Dry your feet and apply moisturizer.
Regularly do this before going to bed for a few weeks.
3. Vegetable Oil
Cooking oils get readily absorbed by the skin. Vegetable oils are heaped with nutrients that include vitamins A, D, and E all of which revamp the skin and heal cracked heels by creating new cells.
Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
How to do
Clean and pat dry your feet thoroughly.
Nicely spread a thick layer of vegetable oil, covering your heels and toes.
Wear clean comfortable socks and leave them overnight.
Repeat this daily before going to bed to heal the cracked heels.
4. Vaseline and lemon juice
The acidic properties of lemon, when combined with the moisturizing effect of Vaseline, ease to clear off dry skin and cracked feet.
Ingredients
1 tsp Vaseline
4-5 drops of lemon juice
Warm water
How to do
Steep your feet in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes. Rinse and dry.
Combine 1 tsp of Vaseline and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this mixture over your heels and other parts of the feet thoroughly.
Wear a pair of woolen socks overnight and wash them off in the morning.
Do this simple procedure before going to bed regularly.
5. Rice flour, honey and vinegar
Rice flour works as an amazing natural exfoliator, that helps to clear off the dead cells and nourishes the skin. Added with honey a natural antiseptic that heals cracked feet and vinegar is a mild acid that moistens the dry and dead skin, making it very easy to exfoliate.
Ingredients
2 tbsp rice flour
1 tsp honey
5-6 drops of vinegar
How to do
Make a scrub by mixing all the ingredients to form a thick paste.
Soak your feet in lukewarm water for 10 minutes, dry, and then gently scrub using the mixture to clear off the dead skin.
Repeat this process 2-3 times in a week.
Treat your feet by giving them a little more attention and care, start with moisturizing them at least twice a day. Look out for moisturizers containing skin-softening agents like urea, salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxy acid that may help clear dead skin cells.
Simple Feet Care Routine To Be Followed
Soak your feet for about 10 minutes in plain water and dry well.
Gently rub the heels with a foot scrubber to aid remove dead skin cells.
Massage oil-based cream or petroleum jelly and wear a cotton sock at bedtime to seal the moisture and help the moisturiser to work.
Never ignore dry, cracked heels, if left unattended you may develop deeper fissures, which may increase the risk of infection.
Other Natural Remedies
Several other home remedies work wonders for healing cracked heels. All these ingredients function in moisturizing and softening the skin. These include:
- Vinegar- for a natural foot soak
- Olive oil - moisturises the feet
- Shea butter- softens and moisturise the feet
- Mashed bananas - to moisturise feet
- Paraffin wax - locks the moisture
- Oatmeal blended with oil - for clearing dirt and impurities
Frequently Asked Questions
How Cracks In Heels Begin?
Cracked heels are a common foot problem also called heel fissures. Primarily, it is caused by insufficient moisture that is when the skin around the heels becomes thickened and loses its elasticity.
Why Does Diabetes Cause Cracked Heels?
In diabetes, the blood sugar level of the body changes. This damages the nerve cells of your feet and the skin on your feet may become dry and rough.
What Can Prevent Cracked Heels?
Drinking enough water to hydrate your body is the best way to cure cracked heels. Also, apply a foot cream or moisturizer to your feet before going to bed and always wear clean and good quality shoes and socks.
What Are The First Signs Of Cracked Heels?
The first sign of cracked heels is the rough and dry skin with some peeling. The formation of cracks on your heels and skin on the top of your feet gets rough and itch also is a sign of cracked heels.
What Is The Home Remedy For Cracking Heels?
Vegetable oils, aloe vera gel, glycerine with lemon, and even paraffin wax, when rubbed on feet, work wonders to treat cracked heels
What Is The Food For Cracked Heels?
Eating a diet containing fruits and vegetables and foods rich in Vitamin E. Also, certain oils such as hazelnut oil, sunflower oil, and almond oil can work wonders to soothe cracked heels
Is Ghee Good For Cracked Heels?
Ghee, with its healing and moisturizing benefits, can help repair cracked heels and make your feet smooth and silky
Can Coconut Oil Remove Cracked Heels?
To get crack-free feet, coconut oil can be the ultimate solution. Owing to its moisturizing and healing properties, it of the most effective home remedies for cracked heels
How To Heal Cracked Heels Quickly?
A petroleum jelly or a medicated healing ointment for feet works wonders. Alternatively, wear thin cotton socks when going to sleep to help these ingredients work at night.
What Causes Dry, Cracked Heels?
Prolonged standing, biomechanical issues that increase pressure in the heels, or deficiencies of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, besides certain health conditions, cause heels to crack.
What Is The Best Medicine For Cracked Heels?
Applying foot healing balms and moisturizers that contain humectants can cure cracked heels effectively.
Can Lemon Remove Cracked Heels?
Applying lemon juice with honey to cracked heels can be an effective home remedy to cure them.
References:
- Cracked heel, Author: Vanessa Ngan
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cracked-heel
- https://ijdvl.com/novel-use-of-trichloroacetic-acid-in-deep-heel-fissures/
References:
Management of Padadari (cracked feet) with Rakta Snuhi (Euphorbia caducifolia Haines.) based formulation: An open-labeled clinical study
Shashi Gupta and Rabinarayan Acharya
Author information: Department of Dravyaguna, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6639817/
