Do you wear socks and shoes all the time just to avoid your cracked heels coming into someone’s notice? This is probably the behaviour of every person who has cracked heels. Even though your heels are the down most part of the body, cracked heels are easier to spot! Out of embarrassment, a lot of people hide their heels. It is high time that you work upon them. Cracked heels cream and ointments are the go-to options but you should reconsider your decision and go for something safe and organic. These creams contain chemicals that may harm your skin. Therefore, we would recommend you to try these home remedies.
Home Remedies for Cracked Heels
Your kitchen is a treasury with some amazing items that can offer aid to many general problems. Cracked heels can also be treated with some common products. We will tell you how to mix two things to make a perfect solution. Most of the items mentioned in this article would be lying in your cabinet so you don’t have to rush to the market to get them.
White Vinegar and Mouthwash
Vinegar is acidic in nature and it helps in softening the dry and broken skin. It allows for easy exfoliation. Mouthwash on the other hand has alcohol and menthol that soothe skin, treat toenail fungus and heal the cracked heels. Together, these act to get rid of bacteria and heal the skin.
- In a tub, add one cup of white vinegar, one cup of mouthwash and three cups of water.
- Soak your feet it in for 15 minutes.
- Dry them and apply moisturiser.
- Do this daily.
Rice flour, apple cider vinegar and honey
We have told the effectiveness of vinegar in the previous remedy. Honey has impeccable antiseptic and moisturising properties. Rice flour helps in exfoliating, remineralizing and purifying the skin. Together, these work to exfoliate the dead skin, cleanse the cracks and allow the skin to heel faster.
- In a bowl, add 3 teaspoons of rice flour, one teaspoon of honey and a few drops of apple cider vinegar. Make a smooth paste.
- Fill a tub with warm water and soak your feet in it for 10 minutes. This would soften the skin.
- Take out your feet and scrub the cracked heels with this homemade foot scrub.
- Wash the feet and then apply a moisturiser.
- Do this 2-3 a week. This helps in keeping the feet soft.
Banana
Did you ever think that banana could heal the cracked heels? Banana peels are used to treat mosquito bites but it can also effectively treat cracked heels. Banana has many nutrients and it has great moisturising properties. It increases skin elasticity.
- All you have to do is mash one ripe banana to form a thick paste. Make sure it is fully ripe and not unripe.
- Massage this paste on your feet especially the cracked heels part.
- After 20 minutes, wash your feet.
- For better results, do this before going to bed and then apply a moisturiser.
Honey
Do we need to tell you the benefits of honey for the skin. Cracked heels are caused due to a lack of care. When you stay out in dirt and pollution, our feet also get affected and not just the facial skin. Make it a practice to perform a foot care regimen for soft and beautiful feet.
- Fill a tub with warm water and add a cup of honey to it.
- Give it a stir so that the honey gets completely mixed in the water.
- Now, soak your feet in it.
- Use a pumice stone to exfoliate the skin around heels.
- After 20 minutes of soaking, dry your feet and apply a moisturiser.
- This can be done daily as it is easy and keeps the feet soft.
Oiling
There are many types of oils that you can use for this remedy. For example olive oil, coconut oil, mustard oil and even vegetable oil. These get absorbed by the skin well and moisturises the cracked skin. Vegetable oil is best suggested for cracked heels as it contains vitamins A, E and D that soothe the skin and promote the generation of new skin cells.
- To begin, first, clean your feet thoroughly using a foot soap or regular soap.
- Now, clean the excess water with a towel.
- Using a generous amount of vegetable oil and massage in on your heels and toes.
- Wear a pair of cotton socks and go to sleep.
- This would allow overnight healing of the skin.
Vapour rub
The only use of a vapour rub known to the public is for cold. But there is a lot more to it than you would have thought. Applying vapour rub on the cracked heels would soothe the broken and irritated skin. It contains menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, etc. that offer cooling properties. These are emollients and can effectively trap moisture to process skin healing.
- Before you call it a day, apply a generous amount of vapour rub on your feet and particularly heels.
- Massage it in so that some gets filled into the cracks.
- Now, fear cotton socks and go to sleep.
- The next morning, wash your feet with warm water to get rid of the stickiness.
- You can do this every alternate day until you get the results.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural exfoliant. Did you know this before? However, it doesn’t mean that you can use it on the face as well. Don’t put baking soda on the face. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help in calming the skin and eradicating foot odour.
- Fill a tub with warm water and add 4 tablespoons of baking soda to it.
- Give it a stir to mix all the soda in water.
- Soak your feet in it for 20 minutes.
- Use a pumice stone or any of the foot scrub remedy mentioned in this article to scrub your feet.
- Wash your feet, dry them using a towel and apply moisturiser.
- Do this only two times a week.
Aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel is the one-stop solution to most skin problems. It comes to your rescue even in the cracked heels problem. Aloe vera contains many anti-inflammatory agents along with beta-carotene and vitamin E that are great for skin health. It has antiseptic properties as well to heal the skin.
- Firstly, soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes and scrub the heels using a homemade foot scrub or a pumice stone.
- Now, apply a layer of fresh aloe vera gel on your heels.
- Wait for it to dry a bit and then wear socks.
- Leave it overnight and wash your feet the following morning.
- You would see the results within a week of doing this remedy.
Petroleum jelly and lemon juice
There are so many uses of petroleum jelly other than beauty purposes. Due to its amazing moisturising properties, it is highly effective in treating cracked heels. Lemon, on the other hand, has acidic properties that allow exfoliation of the skin and promoting the growth of new skin cells.
- In a bowl, add one teaspoon of petroleum jelly and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix them well.
- Before applying this foot pack, soak your feet in warm water for 15-20 minutes.
- Dry your feet and apply the mixture on cracked heels.
- Wear cotton socks and go to bed.
- Wash your feet the next day.
- If you want to see quick results, perform this remedy daily without a fail.
Conclusion
You must be convinced by now that there are home remedies for almost every issue. Cracked heels are quite common especially with women as they wear shoes less often than men. Instead of buying cracked heels creams, isn’t it better to use kitchen ingredients and get results naturally? Do try these remedies the next time when cracks visit your heels.
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