Cracked heels can range in severity from painful problem to a cosmetic issue and are a very common problem that affects many women. In addition to thickened, dry skin, the problem may come with symptoms, such as itching, redness, peeling skin and inflammation. Taking proper precautions immediately can prevent cracks from causing pain, bleeding and getting deeper.
What are the common causes of cracked heels?
Cracked heels may be as a result of some factors such as dry air, unhealthy diet, lack of moisture, improper foot care, prolonged standing on rough floors, wearing wrong types of shoes and aging. Conditions like calluses, eczema, diabetes, psoriasis, thyroid disease and corns may also cause the problem.
However, there are a number of effective home remedies that you can try to resolve cracked heels problem. Here are the top 5 home remedies for cracked heels.
1. Jojoba Oil and Oatmeal
Jojoba oil and oatmeal work to enhance the overall health of the skin and are moisturizing. Create a very thick paste with a tablespoon of oatmeal powder and sufficient jojoba oil.
Apply this on the affected parts of your feet and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Make use of warm water to rinse off the paste, pat the skin dry and remember and use a thick moisturizer.
2. Honey and Milk Exfoliator
Honey and milk are natural moisturizers and the former has the extra benefit of also being a natural anti-bacterial. Take two cups of milk and a cup of organic honey and pour them into a basin/bucket to soak your feet. Ensure to mix these very well before soaking in your feet.
You can slightly warm the milk for extra comfort, but don’t make it too hot because hot liquids tend to dry out the feet further and can also cause burns. Soak your feet for 20 minutes without disruption and then start to massage the feet as you’re soaking them for another 5-10 minutes to help them absorb the honey and milk well and to slough the dead skin. Wash your feet with water once you are done, pat them dry and then apply a thick moisturizer.
3. Rice Flour Scrub
Rice flour is an excellent exfoliator and it can be used to make an “all-natural” scrub to smooth the skin and slough off the dead skin. Create a foot soak that has the following makings:
- Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 3 tablespoons of rice flour
- Warm water to fill the rest of the basin
- A few drops of olive oil
Soak your feet for 30 minutes, once a day. Apply a thick moisturizer after patting your feet dry.
4. Fruit Mask
Fruits contain enzymes and compounds that can help to soothe and soften cracked heels. These ingredients work to effectively eat away the dry skin without damaging the healthy tissues, revealing soft and smooth feet. Create a paste with half an avocado, half coconut flesh and one banana. Apply the paste to your feet once it is ready and let it sit for 30 minutes before using warm water to wash it off. Pat your feet once they are clean and dry, and apply a moisturizer.
5. Foot Cream
As not everyone is a great fan of DIY home remedies, a good foot cream from your nearest department store can do the job for you. The best foot creams are made from natural ingredients such as lavender, rosemary, peppermint extracts, arnica, tea tree oil, etc. Most of them have anti-inflammatory and nourishing properties that will cool and smoothen your feet after hard day at work. A shower or a foot bath followed by a simple foot massage with application of foot cream can certainly help avoid cracked heels.