Curing Cracked Heels

Curing Cracked Heels at Home

Cracked heels are a sign of lack of attention to foot care rather than just overexposure or lack of moisturizing. Medically, cracked heels are also known as heel fissures. Fissures are regular linear cut wounds and mostly affect the surface level, which comprises of the epidermis. Sometimes it may get deep into the dermis and become painful. Excessive pressure on the feet pads make the feet want to expand sideways. As the skin, surrounding the sides of the feet are dry they crack and cause-cracked heels. Appearances of dry cracked heels also indicate zinc and omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

 Though cracks in the skin may arise anywhere in the body the most common is area is the rim of the heel and web of toes, which happen to be the most frequently or constantly used parts of our body. Dry skin or xerosis is one of the most common causes that lead to cracked heels .The other key reason being thick or callus skin around the rim of the heel. Most of the foot problems arise due to neglect and oversight with regard to feet care. Cracked feet, corns and other common feet ailments can be attended to and are easily avoidable.

 Cracked heels are not a harmful in anyway except when the fissures or cracks are deep, and tend to become painful and the skin begins to bleed. This could lead to infection and is an avoidable situation mostly for those already suffering from chronic ailments such as diabetes or lowering immune system due to age or illness, which may retard the treatment of cracked heels.

 Cracked heels are a common occurrence for senior citizens or people who are constantly on their feet thus exerting pressure on the feet pad. In addition to this, sebum production decreases with age and so seniors tend to suffer from dry and cracked heels. Excessively dry skin, peeling skin, and dry and cracked skin on the heels are some of the most common skin problems that seniors face. Dry skin on the heels is often a recurrent problem. It can affect either both the heels or one of the heel. But most commonly, cracked heels affect both the feet.

Some common reasons for having cracked heels:

• Cold chilly winter weather
• Dehydration or dehydrated skin or dry skin
• Non- moisturized  feet
• hot baths or showers
• Prolonged Soaking of feet in hot water
• Use of harsh and drying soaps
• Scrubbing feet till they get extremely dry
• Diabetes
• Overweight
• Dehydration
• Habit of wearing wrong kind of footwear
• Psoriasis
• Thyroid disease

Here are some home remedies to get rid of cracked rough heels

• Massage your heels with sesame oil before going to bed. This is supposedly the best remedy for cracked heels.
• Mix glycerin and rosewater together and apply in on the heels daily. This soothes and cures cracked heels real quick.
• Take 1/4^th bucket of water and squeeze one lemon in it, soak your feet in this and wash it with pumice stone and soap.  Do this twice a week.
• Massage your feet with coconut oil every night. With the dawn, scrub and rinse off.
• Make a mixture of lemon juice and papaya; apply it on the cracked heels. Let it be there for 20 minutes at least. Wash off after 20 minutes.
• Take lukewarm water and soak your feet in it for 15 minutes. This will loosen the dead skin; now wash off with a pumice stone.
• Mix raw salt in Luke warm water, and scrub your heels sin it as you soak it. Natural Pedicure for your feet, and this will exfoliate your feet too.
• Use special creams, which are meant for treating cracked creams at night, and then scrub off in the morning and wash off, with a pumice stone. (the pumice stone, seems a savior na)
• Take a super ripe banana, which has almost turned black, and you are about to throw in the dustbin. Mash it, and apply in on the affected areas. Let it be there for 15 minutes at least. Wash off after 15 minutes. This is for a quick healing.
• Take Paraffin wax, and melt it adding some coconut oil to it. Fill in the crack with this mixture whilst going to bed, wash off in the morning. Mum did for around 2 weeks and the cracked heels are gone.
• After washing your feet, massage with paraffin oil, Vaseline or hydrogenated vegetable oil. This will keep the feet hydrated.
• Mix turmeric, tulsi and camphor in equal parts along with aloe vera gel and apply the paste on the heels. Just plain aloe vera gel is great for cracked heels.
• Mix sodium bicarbonate in luke warm water and soak your feet in it. Wash off with a pumice stone. Helps in exfoliation.
• Remember, the sugar scrub? Mix sugar with some oil, (olive, coconut, jojoba oil, just any oil) and scrub your feet with it. It is the sweetest cure for cracked heels.

• Drink a lot of water to keep your skin and boy hydrated.

Other Tips to Avoid Cracked Heels

• Wear the exact size of footwear. No thin soles and backed shoes please.
• Moisturize your feet and specifically the heels.
• Keep your feet clean. Scrub and exfoliate them regularly.
• Omega 3 and zinc deficiencies cause cracked heels, so make sure you do not have these deficiencies.
• Wash your feet every time you come home.
• Use good creams and products for your feet too.
• Use powder in your shoes and socks.
• Walk on green grass.

Here are top 10 ways to heal Cracked Feet.

1.Glycerin

Glycerin can use in two ways to heal cracked feet. Firstly, you can make a mixture of glycerin and rosewater and apply it on the heels daily. When it followed daily for about two weeks, the cracks will start healing and soon you will have soft and smooth feet.

Another option is to add glycerin, raw salt, lemon juice, and rose water in warm water. Now soak your cracked feet in this warm water for about ten minutes and then scrub the area with a pumice stone. Finally wash your feet and pat dry it and apply some glycerin. If required wear a pair of socks. Follow this remedy for a week to cure cracked feet.

2.Drinking Water

One of the reasons behind cracked feet is dehydration. This is why it is very essential to make all efforts to keep your body well hydrated. You can easily control dryness and dehydration by drinking more water. Make it a habit to drink at least eight to ten glasses of water every day. Water will help to keep your skin soft and supple and soon the problem of cracked feet will get solved. Along with water, you can also increase the intake of fruits and vegetables having higher water content. Also, avoid tea, coffee and alcohol consumption as it can lead to dehydration.

3.Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly will help to maintain the moisture level of your feet and hence it can also used to heal cracked feet. Before going to bed, apply petroleum jelly on your feet generously and after that wear a pair of clean socks to lock in the moisture. Next morning you will notice much softer heels. Another option is to mix petroleum jelly with lemon juice together and then apply this mixture to the dry and cracked heels. Before applying, it is essential to wash your feet and pat them dry. Follow this remedy daily.

4.Banana

Take one or two overripe bananas and blend them in a blender to form a thick and creamy paste. Wash your feet properly and then apply this smooth banana paste on it. Allow it to sit for about fifteen minutes and then wash your feet thoroughly with lukewarm water and cold water alternatively. Soon you will have smooth and silky feet. You can follow this simple cracked feet home remedy on a daily basis to prevent and treat dry and cracked heels. Instead of banana, ripe papaya can used to treat cracked feet.

5.Paraffin Wax

To cure cracked heels, you can use paraffin wax. Take paraffin wax and heat it along with some mustard oil or coconut oil to make a smooth paste. In case you do not have paraffin wax, then you can even use the wax melted from a regular candle. After scrubbing the dry skin cells from the feet, apply this paste on the cracks before going to bed. Then cover your feet properly by wearing a pair of socks and next morning washes your feet properly. Follow this remedy for about a week or two to enjoy smooth feet minus the ugly cracks.

6.Warm Water

Before going to bed, take half a bucket of warm water and add some liquid soap in it. Now soak your feet in this warm soapy water for about twenty minutes. The dead skin cells will become loose which you can now get rid of by scrubbing the area with a pumice stone. Try to do it gently or else the skin will get irritated. Finally rinse off your feet with clean water, pat dry them with a soft towel and finally apply some foot cream or moisturizer. Wear a pair of clean cotton socks and in the morning, you will find your feet in a better condition. Follow this remedy daily until the cracked feet are healed completely.

7.Honey

Honey can used to treat cracked feet. One easy remedy is to soak your feet in warm water and honey for ten minutes. This will help to get rid of the dryness and your feet will become soft and supple. Another option is to make natural foot scrub at home with honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. Take a handful of fine but coarse rice flour and add a few spoons of raw honey and apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste. You can also add a tablespoon of olive oil to the paste. Wash your feet properly and then gently massage the feet with this paste for a few minutes. Finally wash the feet with lukewarm water. This cracked heel remedy will help to keep the skin on your feet soft and moisturized.

8.Lemon

Lemon juice has a very mild natural acidic property and thus it can used to get rid of dead and dry skin cells from around your feet. Add some lemon juice to warm water, soak your feet in this solution for a few minutes, and then gently scrub the feet with the help of a soft foot brush. After that wash and dry your feet completely and apply some moisturizer on your feet thoroughly. Another option is to make a mixture of lemon juice and papaya and apply it on the cracked heels, allow it to sit for fifteen minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy for cracked heels once in a week to get positive results.

9.Olive Oil

The simplest way to heal cracked feet is to apply some extra virgin olive oil on your feet with the help of a cotton ball, gently massage the feet in a circular motion for five to ten minutes, and then slip on a pair of thick cotton socks. After one hour, wash your feet. Also with the help of olive oil you can make an effective moisturizing cracked heel cream. To make this cream take one tablespoon of olive oil, a few drops of lemon oil or lavender oil in a small bottle and then add an equal amount of water to it. Mix it properly to get a thick milky solution. Now you can apply this homemade foot cream on your feet two to three times a day.

10.Oatmeal

You must scrub your feet every morning with a homemade foot scrub made from oatmeal and jojoba oil. Both oatmeal and jojoba oil have moisturizing properties which will help to maintain the moisture level of your feet. Take one tablespoon of powdered oatmeal and add some jojoba oil to it to make a thick paste. Apply the paste to your feet with special attention to the heels and callused areas. Leave the paste on your feet for about half an hour, then rinse it off with cold water, and pat dry your feet. Follow the remedy every alternate day until the cracked feet can heal completely.

To conclude, with the above-mentioned tips you can surely have the best heels this season. However, if these remedies are not giving you positive results, make an appointment with a podiatrist to find out the exact cause and go for proper treatment.