I am sure you all go that extra mile to take care of your face by indulging in luxurious spa treatments, beauty products and nani ke nuskhe. But what about your feet? Well, a pedicure might make them look pretty for the time being, but it doesn’t take long for cracked heels to make a comeback. Your feet too need regular TLC. We’ve listed down simple home remedies and some amazing products that’ll give you beautiful and soft feet.
Causes Of Cracked Heels
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Callus or cracked heels are a very common situation that arises when the skin becomes dry due to lack of proper hydration and when it is put under pressure constantly by standing for long hours.
Some other common reasons for cracked heels include:
- Aging – When the skin loses its elasticity and does not stretch while aging, it results in cracked, dry and scaly heels.
- Deficiency – Your heel health will be negatively affected if there is a lack of minerals, vitamins, and zinc.
- Obesity – Obesity or overweight might put more pressure on your feet thereby leading to cracked heels.
- Genetics – Cracked or dry heels can also occur due to genetic reasons.
- Inappropriate shoes – Wearing ill-fitting or bad quality footwear may also be the underlying causes leading to unhealthy feet.
- Disorders – Psoriasis, kidney disease, athlete’s foot, diabetes, and thyroid can also lead to cracked heels or callus.
- Standing for prolonged hours in water or in any damp area will cease the production of the natural oils in your skin and this will adversely affect your heel health.
Symptoms Of Cracked Heels
The skin underneath or around your heels becomes dry and chapped due to the lack of enough sweat glands when compared to other body parts. As it lacks elasticity, you will start to notice dryness and a formation of thickened rough skin that is itchy. When your foot is put under constant pressure, it might begin to pain and might even lead to severe breakouts causing it to bleed.
Home Remedies For Cracked Heels
If you are wondering how to cure your cracked heels, here we have researched and listed some of the most effective home remedies that are both simple and easy to follow.
- Honey
- Epsom Salt
- Baking Soda
- Listerine And Vinegar
- Rice Flour And Honey
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Vicks
- Vaseline
- Vegetable Oil
- Oatmeal mask
- Neem Oil And Turmeric Mask
- Banana Therapy
Exfoliate And Bid Adieu To Dead Skin Cells
1. Honey
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What should you do? Mix half a cup of honey in a tub of water and soak your feet in it for 20 minutes. Gently massage and exfoliate your heels with the help of a pumice stone. This helps in getting rid of the dead cells on your heels.
How does this work? Honey is a great natural moisturizer and an antiseptic. It quickly rejuvenates your skin by bringing back the essential fluids thus making your feet soft and supple.
2. Epsom Salt
What should you do? Add half a cup of Epsom salt to a basin filled with warm water. Soak your feet for 15 – 20 minutes. Scrub using a pumice stone or a feet file to remove the dead skin cells. Repeat it twice or thrice a week to heal your cracked and dry heels.
How does this work? Epsom salt which is rich in sulfates helps in reducing the pain caused by cracked heels, eases inflammation and soothes the skin by removing all toxins and dead skin cells.
3. Baking Soda
What should you do? Add 3 tablespoons of baking soda powder in a basin filled with lukewarm water. Mix till it dissolves well and soak your feet in this for 15 minutes. Gently scrub using a pumice stone and rinse with clean water. Wipe it clean and pat dry. Repeat this process twice a week until you see the difference.
How does this work? Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties. This will soothe your dry skin by working as an active exfoliant which will help in ousting dead skin cells. It is also best known to remove foot odor.
4. Listerine And Vinegar
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What should you do? Add one cup each of listerine and vinegar to one cup of water and immerse your feet. Soak them for 15 minutes. Using a pumice stone, gently scrub off your heels and wash it clean with water. Pat dry and apply some moisturizer. Repeat it every day until your skin is revitalized.
How does this work? The acidic properties in the vinegar help in sloughing off dead skin cells. The presence of menthol and alcohol in listerine acts as an antiseptic to soothe your dry and thick heel. It also helps in curing warts and toenail fungus.
5. Rice Flour And Honey
What should you do? Add 3 tablespoons of rice flour to one tablespoon of honey. Also, mix two-three drops of vinegar and stir it to a paste. Now soak your feet in a basin filled with warm water and leave it for 10 minutes. Apply this paste and scrub your feet gently to remove all the dead skin cells out. Repeat this three times a week until you find the difference.
How does this work? Rice acts as a natural exfoliator that cleans and restores the minerals into your skin. Vinegar has acidic properties that help to get rid of dead skin cells. Honey being an antiseptic and a natural moisturizer helps in soothing your dry chapped heels, restoring it back to form.
6. Aloe Vera Gel
This magical gel has unbeatably been the solution for numerous skin and hair related issues. It is proven to be one of the best solutions for cracked heels as well.
What should you do? Soak your legs in a basin of warm water for 15-20 minutes. Pat dry with a towel and apply aloe vera gel all over your feet. Wear a pair of cotton socks and go to bed. Rinse this the next morning with lukewarm water. Follow this daily to see how your cracked heels gain moisture and turn soft within days.
How does this work? Aloe vera is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, the presence of amino acids helps in collagen production, making your skin smoother. Vitamins like A, C, and E along with auxins in aloe vera help in healing cracks and fissures in heels.
7. Vicks
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Vicks may not only cure your cold, it can also cure your cracked heels!
What should you do? Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes. Pat dry with a towel and apply Vicks liberally all over your feet. Pull on a pair of socks and leave it overnight. Rinse the following morning with lukewarm water.
How does this work? Vicks is rich in menthol and eucalyptus. It aids in trapping moisture, thereby making your feet softer.
8. Vaseline
What should you do? Mix one teaspoon of vaseline with 2-3 drops of lemon juice to make it a paste. Soak your feet in warm water for 20 minutes, remove and pat dry. Now apply the paste all over your cracked heels and wear a pair of socks to bed. Wash it with lukewarm water the next morning. This simple procedure can be followed every day until you can spot the difference.
How does this work? Vaseline is known for its highly moisturizing properties. This along with lemon that is rich in citric acid aids in soothing cracked heels and promotes new skin cells by exfoliating the old.
9. Vegetable Oil
What you should do? Rinse your feet, pat dry and keep it clean before you begin. Use a cotton ball and apply a thick layer of vegetable oil all over your heels and foot. Gently massage for a few minutes in a circular motion for 15 minutes. Wear a pair of cotton or woolen socks and head to bed. Wash your feet the next morning with lukewarm water. Repeat this every day and bid goodbye to cracked heels.
How does this work? Vegetable oil is rich in vitamin A, D and E. As the skin quickly absorbs this oil, it gets enough nourishment naturally. This leads to smooth skin in no time.
Here are some more varieties of oils that you can try –
- Lavender oil
- Olive oil
- Tea tree oil
- Coconut oil
- Sesame oil
- Vitamin E oil
10. Oatmeal mask
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What should you do? Mix a tablespoon of oatmeal with 5 drops of jojoba oil/olive oil and make it into a thick paste. Apply this mixture on clean feet and let it stay for an hour before you rinse off with cold water. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer. Repeat this process daily.
How does this work? Oatmeal is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. This along with essential oils will provide the necessary nourishment to your skin thus making it soft and moisturized.
11. Neem Oil And Turmeric Mask
What should you do? Mix 4-5 drops of neem oil with a tablespoon of turmeric powder and mix it into a paste. Apply this mixture on your cracked heels and let it be for 20- 30 minutes. Rinse off with cold water and pat dry with a towel.
How does this work? Neem, also known as margosa leaves, is rich in antifungal and antibacterial properties which help in removing dead skin cells and cures bleeding heels. Turmeric is a natural healer of all types of wounds.
12. Banana Therapy
What should you do? Pick two ripened bananas and mash them into a paste. Apply it on your heels and gently massage. Let it be for 10-20 minutes. Repeat daily for a week or two until you feel the difference.
How does this work? Bananas are rich in vitamins like B6, A, C and help in moisturizing your heels.
Other fruits like papaya, strawberries, avocado, and pineapple can also be used as a foot mask to obtain smoother heels.
Products To Cure Cracked Heels
1. Himalaya Herbals Foot Care Cream
This foot cream with active and natural ingredients like honey, sal tree, ginger, turmeric, and fenugreek helps in softening your dry heels and cures cracks effectively.
Pros: Made out of natural ingredients, affordable
Cons: Takes time to heal
2. Bodyshop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue Cream
This foot cream contains peppermint oil which provides a cooling effect and repairs cracked heels. Apply this every night to obtain a revitalized skin within weeks.
Pros: Good fragrance, fights foot odour, hydrates and softens skin
Cons: It is expensive
3. Khadi Natural Jasmine Green Tea Foot Crack Cream
This powerful foot crack cream contains ingredients like jasmine, essential oils like citrus oil, wheat germ oil, almond oil, tea tree oil, shea butter and turmeric which nourishes and moisturizes chapped heels.
Pros: Softens and protects your heels, affordable
Cons: Strong jasmine fragrance
4. Vaadi Herbals Foot Cream
Vaadi herbals is another reliable foot cream which works magically in repairing your cracked and dry heels. It contains sandalwood, jojoba oil, clove oil, cocoa butter, thyme which works in healing fissures on your heels and soothes the skin swiftly.
Pros: Affordable, contains natural ingredients
Cons: Takes time to show results
5. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Foot Magic
This foot cream is rich in cocoa butter and mango butter which contains vitamin E that helps in treating wounded, cracked and chapped heels. The presence of peppermint oil moisturizes the hard and thick skin on your heels and rejuvenates it.
Pros: Sulphate free, paraben free
Cons: Thick in consistency and might feel sticky
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I prevent cracked heels?
Cracked heels are inevitable. The only way you can protect your heels from being adversely affected is by moisturizing them with essential oils/creams and keeping your feet clean.
2. Are cracked heels a sign of diabetes?
Both obesity and diabetes might lead to cracked heels. But cracked heels needn’t necessarily always be associated with these. It can also be due to other reasons like overexposure to water, athlete’s foot, psoriasis.
3. Is pedicure a good way to heal cracked heels?
Regular pedicures are a good habit but they can’t guarantee to heal your cracked heels. It also depends largely on the kind of pedicure you’re getting done. While most pretty up your feet, not all are designed to cure the dryness. You will also need a post-care routine to keep your feet feeling soft and supple.
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