Most of us pay close attention to how we look, how radiant our face looks, how bouncy the hair is, how do we appear overall and what not. But one part that is mostly ignored by all is our feet. Yes, your feet and heels will win the competition of the most ignored body part. There are various reasons that cause cracked heels, from not drinking enough water, not caring for skin to having diabetes. Thankfully cracked heels and dry skin of your feet are problems that can easily be fixed at home by using home remedies for cracked heels and dry feet.

Home remedies for cracked heels and dry feet

So, let’s get started on everything to do with cracked heels and dry skin on your feet.

What causes cracked heels?

Cracked heels can usually be noticed mainly in obese people. It happens when the skin around the heel needs to split to cope with the pressure placed on the feet. If in case a person is standing on his or her feet the whole day the pressure can contribute to cracked heels. Cracked heels increases if the skin on the feet is dry and have dead skin around the heels. Few other reasons for getting cracked heels are:

• Lack of hydration in the body
• Ill-fitting shoes
• Diabetes
• Fungal infection
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Obesity

Also, read Home remedies for the various day today ailments. 

In fact, at times even in healthy people cracked heels can be seen. Thick skin on your heels can look bad but it’s there for a reason. Dry skin on heels is like a protective layer for the tissues beneath. Well, these problems of cracked heels and dry feet can easily be dealt with at home with some of the magical kitchen ingredients.

Home remedies for cracked heels and dry feet

• Soak your feet- To give some relief to your aching and cracked heels is to just soak them once a week in warm water followed by a nourishing cream. This helps in ensuring the skin is hydrated and soft. You could add fresh lemon juice to the water as it helps in removing the dry and dead skin from your feet, especially heels. Soak for around 10 mins and scrub it properly.
• Pumic Stone- You can remove the extra pile of the skin by using a foot file or pumic stone. Do not use this too often as it may remove the protective layer of the heel. Always after using a foot file or pumic stone apply hydrating cream on your foot.
• Honey- Honey is known for its medicinal properties and helps in cracked heels. You can use honey as a foot scrub after a soak and you can also apply it as a foot mask overnight as well.
• Coconut oil- Coconut oil is a medicine for many skins related ailments. It’s highly recommended for dry skin and eczema. It helps in retaining the natural moisture. Coconut oil helps in healing the cracked, bleeding heels. Apply it regularly at night on your heels and wear a sock to retain the moisture.
• Banana- Banana is rich in nutrition that includes vitamin A, B6 and C. This helps in maintaining the elasticity of the skin well hydrated. It also prevents the drying of the skin, so you see this is a great natural moisturizer. All you need to do is take ripe bananas and mash them to make a paste and apply the mixture all over the feet including nails. Wash it off with cold water after 20 mins. Repeat this twice a week before going to bed for good results.
• Vaseline and lemon juice mixture- The combination of Vaseline and lemon is quite helpful to get rid of dry skin and cracked heels of your feet. All you need to do is soak your feet in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Pat them dry and apply the Vaseline and lemon juice mixture thoroughly across the feet. Wear a clean pair of socks and let be overnight. Wash it off in the morning. Do this as many times as possible during the week to get desired and quick effect.
• Rice flour pack- Rice flour is a natural exfoliator and effectively clears dead skin. Here is a tried and tested rice pack that is sure to give you smooth heels. All you got to do is mix 2 tbsp Rice flour with 1tsp honey, and 5 drops of vinegar. Make a nice scrub mixture of it and apply it on overall feet after a good soak of 10-15 mins. Repeat this 2-3 times a week
• Vicks VapoRub- Well, I am sure we all have Vicks at home. So just dig out and apply a generous layer on your cracked heels. Wear the socks and just snooze for the night. Once you are up in the morning wash it off with warm water. Since Vicks has many medicinal ingredients like camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol it helps in healing the skin, gives a cooling effect and also moisturizes the skin.
• Baking Soda- Yet another wonderful exfoliant is baking soda. It helps remove the dead skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps in reducing the foul odour. This one is a simple tip, just dissolve 3 tbsp of baking soda in lukewarm water. Soak your feet for 15 mins, remove them and scrub them with pumice stone and wash it off with warm water. Pat dry your feet and fine softness around.
• Aloe Vera- Aloe Vera has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in soothing and healing the skin very well. After you soak your feet, scrub them, wash them off and pat dry. Apply a thick layer of Aloe vera gel on your feet, wear socks and doze off. Repeat this every night for a week to see the result. I completely vouch for this. It has helped me.
• Epsom Salt- Just like baking soda Epsom salt soak also helps in soothing the skin. Just add a small cup of Epsom salt to the soaking water and sit in it for 15 minutes. Scrub off the dead skin, wash and pat dry. Simple, isn’t it?

Hope you liked these home remedies for cracked heels and dry feet. If these self-care measures don’t suffice and if your heels become swollen or inflamed it’s better to talk to your doctor. In few cases, cracked heels and dry skin can also be a sign of underlying health issues such as diabetes or loss of nerve function. Be the best judge of your symptoms and problems. Home remedies are no doubt useful but you got to analyze when you would need the specialist opinion.

This post is part of the Blogchatter half Marathon.

Disclaimer- All the opinions shared in these articles would be completely mine and are not a substitute for medical advice. Weigh your symptoms and problem before going ahead with a home remedy or medical advice. If you are allergic to anything or any ingredient kind refrain from using it. The author won’t be responsible for anything untoward.

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