Cracked heels (Heel Fissures) are very common problem in these days and it can range in severity from cosmetic issue to painful problem. Cracked heels occur as a result of neglect and lack of moisturizing to heels and these heels develop deep cuts which cause pain.
Dry air, lack of moisture, improper foot care, unhygienic conditions, age, an unhealthy diet like deficiency in zinc and omega – 3 fatty acid and wearing wrong type of shoes are most common causes of cracked heels. Feet expand sideways due to excessive pressure and form the crack.
Red or flaky patches, peeling and cracked skin, itchy skin, bleeding or discharge from cracks are some of the symptoms you can experience when you’re suffering from cracked heels.
In this article, you will find several effective home remedies and tips that helps to heal the cracked heals very effectively.
1. Coconut Oil:
There are variety vegetable oils like olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil can be used to treat and prevent the cracked heels efficiently by providing essential moisture and avoiding the dry air.
Method:
First of all, scrub the feet with a pumice stone and wash them thoroughly.
Apply some vegetable oil liberally on your heels and soles.
Then put on a pair of clean socks and allow it to stay like that for overnight, means it better to do this process at night time before going to bed.
You can notice softer heels in the next day morning.
Repeat the same application regularly for few days until the cracks completely went away from your heels.
2. Rice Flour:
Rice flour act as an excellent homemade exfoliating scrub which can used to exfoliate the skin on the feet and heels to remove the dead skin caused from the dryness and cracking.
Method:
Take handful of ground rice and mix it with a sufficient amount (teaspoons) of both honey and apple cider vinegar.
Stir it well to make it like a thick paste and add a tablespoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil, if your heels are cracked extremely badly.
Soak your feet first in tub filled with warm water for about 10 – 15 minutes and then apply this paste to the heels
Gently scrub them with this paste to get rid of the dead skin.
Apply some moisturizer after washing your feet thoroughly
Regularize this process until the cracked heels went away by leaving your heel soft and smooth.
3. Indian Lilac:
Indian lilac also called as neem or margosa that contains anti-fungal properties which helps to treat the cracked heels.
Method:
Take handful of fresh Indian lilac leaves and crush then to make a fine paste
Then add 3 teaspoons of turmeric powder in it and mix it well
Apply this paste on the cracked heels and allow it sit for about 30 minutes
Wash your feet with warm water and allow it to dry them on air or by using a clean cloth.
Continue doing the same for few days to get rid of the cracked heels completely.
4. Lemon:
Lemon has acidic property which helps to reduce the rough skin by removing the dead skin cells that causes cracking in your heels.
Method:
Take a lemon and squeeze it to extract the juice from it
Apply this juice directly on the rough skin
Or alternatively, you can soak the cracked heel in warm water mixed with lemon juice for at least 10 – 15 minutes.
But make sure to avoid hot water which causes your feet to dry out more than normal.
Finally rinse your feet using pumice stone and soap
Pat your feet dry with towel and repeat it regularly to get clear this cracked heels.
Or you can cut a lemon and use half of this lemon to rub on the feet
Lightly squeeze the lemon to extract its juice while scrubbing on the foot.
5. Olive Oil, Lemon Oil and Lavender Oil:
You can make your own cracked heel cream at home with this oil. This cream helps you in treating the cracked heels very effectively.
Take a tablespoon of olive oil and add few drops of lemon oil and lavender oil to it.
Stir it well and pour this oil mixture into a small bottle
Then add an equal amount of water (equal quantity of oil mixture with equal quantity of water) to it
Shake it well so that the water and oil form a thick milky solution
Use this homemade cream for dry cracked heels when it is needed.
Remember that to shake the solution well before using it.
6. Rosewater and Glycerine:
Glycerine softens the skin of your feet and rose water adds vitamins A, B3, C, D and E which provides the essential moistures and it also contains antibacterial and antiseptic properties that help to treat the cracked heels effectively. So when both of these are mixed, they make a perfect home remedy for treating cracked heels.
Method:
Take equal quantities of glycerine and rosewater
Mix it well and use this solution to rub your feet and heels
It would be more effective when applied at night time before you go for sleep
Leave it like that for overnight and then rinse your feet in the next morning.
Do this daily for few days till the cracked heels were completely gone away.
7. Oatmeal and Jojoba Oil:
Jojoba oil when mixed with oatmeal will have an excellent moisturizing effect that helps to heal the cracked heels.
Method:
Take a tablespoon of oatmeal powder and mix it with enough amount of jojoba oil to make it like a thick paste.
Apply this paste on your cracks and massage it gently of few minutes.
Wait for about 30 minutes and rinse it thoroughly
Pat dry and repeat this till you get complete relief from the cracked heels.
8. Paraffin Wax:
Paraffin wax will provide a quick relief from the cracks, when it is in really bad condition that causing a lot of pain.
Method:
Take some amount of paraffin wax and mix it with some coconut oil or mustard oil
Heat it until the wax melts completely and allow the mixture to get cool to room temperature
Then apply this to your feet and massage it gently.
For effective results, try to apply this before going to bed and wash them thoroughly in the next morning.
9. Banana:
Bananas help to provide the essential moisturizer and remove the dead skin cells in the feet when applied. It is one of the cheapest home remedies for cracked and dry heels.
Method:
Take a ripe banana and mash it to make a fine smooth paste
Clean your feet thoroughly and then apply this paste on your cracked heel
Allow it sit for at least 10 – 15 minutes to make your skin absorb the natural nourishments.
Now gently wash your feet with warm water and then soak your feet with cold water for few minutes
This process helps to keep the skin closed after allowing the moisturizer to the skin
Do this process daily for few weeks to restore the soft and smooth heels without any cracks.
10. Milk and Honey:
Milk is rich in vitamin A and calcium that helps to repair and rebuild the skin. Honey acts as humectants that helps to traps and seal the moisture, make it ideal to apply to dry and cracked heels. Honey also helps to ward off the bacteria that open cracks that run deeper. The combination of both will helps a lot in heeling the cracked heels.
Method – 1: (Honey and Milk)
Take a cup of honey and add this to 2 cups of milk.
Stir it well and pour this in a foot soaking basin
Then soak your feet for about 15 – 20 minutes in this mixture.
After successful 10 minutes of soaking, you can start massage your heels that are still into basin soaked in that honey-milk mixture.
Keep on doing this for about 10 minutes and the wash it with lukewarm water
Repeat on regularly to get clear the cracked heels and to makes the heels soft and smooth.
Method – 2: (Honey, Milk and Orange Juice)
Take a cup of organic honey and warm it slightly to make it easier to spread.
Then stir this in 2 tablespoons of milk and 1/2 of orange juice and mix it well.
Now use a pumice stone or foot file to slough off some of the callused skin before spreading a layer of this mixture evenly on your heels.
Apply this mixture to the cracked heels as it has to cover all the dry parts thoroughly.
Let it stand for about 45 minutes and rinse it with warm water and then dry it thoroughly.
Repeat this twice a day that once at morning and once at morning time and once at night time before going to bed. (Let it sit for overnight and dry it)
Or else you can cover it in gauze when you apply at morning or if you have to be walking around. Source : organichealth.co
