Home Remedies To Treat Cracked Heels In Winter

Cracked heels in winter are a common condition in which your skin begins to break along the outer edge of the foot heel. The skin there becomes very dry, hard and also flaky, which causes the fissures to occur. Some of these fissures may even lead to painful bleeding. But there’s no need to worry, because there are amazing natural home remedies to treat this condition.

What Causes Cracked Heels?

Cracked heels can happen to anyone for a variety number of reasons, but here are some of the most commonly found responsible factors

• Walking barefoot for extended periods of time
• Regular use of sandals
• Living in dry climates
• Wearing open backed shoes
• Walking or standing on your heels for a long time
• Pregnancy
• Thick, hard and inflexible skin around the heels
• Lack of proper support from footwear around the heel
• Prolonged standing on hard floors
• Inactive sweat glands.

How Can You Treat Cracked Heels Naturally At Home?

One of the most important things to do if you have these cracked heels, or have had it in the past, is to keep your feet moisturized at all time. Use a soft foot file on your cracked heels to reduce the development of fissures and to remove dry and dead skin cells. Remember that getting rid of your cracked heels can be a bit of a process, and the condition will not disappear overnight.

Ripe Bananas

Bananas can be an amazing moisturizer if they are used correctly. Mash up the banana and apply the mixture to your dry and cracked heels. Leave it on your dry feet for 15-20 minutes, then wash the mixture off with warm water. Later, use cold water to wash off the remainder and to refresh your feet.

Paraffin Wax

If you experience pain from your cracked heels, paraffin wax can give you almost instant relief. Mix the paraffin with the coconut or mustard oil and then heat it up until the wax melts. Use the resulting liquid and also apply it to your feet to be left overnight and wash it off in the morning. You will be amazed at the results!

Lemon Juice

Applying lemon juice to cracked heels will soften your skin as lemon has few acidic properties. Stick your feet in a bucket of lukewarm water and mix lemon juice in it for 10 to 15 minutes to hydrate your feet. Once you finish, clean your feet with a pumice stone and pat your feet dry.

Rice Flour With Honey and Vinegar

This is a great natural scrub for removing dead skin cells. To make the scrub, take 2 tablespoons of rice flour and mix it with 2-3 tablespoons of honey and vinegar. This should make a thick paste. Then, soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes, apply the scrub on your heels and wash it off with warm water once it’s dry.

Salt Water

Believe it or not, this is an excellent natural home remedy for dry and cracking heels, and it may be why most of the beach bums you know have soft, baby-like feet. Place your feet into a bucket of salty warm water and leave them there for 15-20 minutes. Now remove your feet and place them in a bucket of cold water for 10-15 minutes. This will improve the blood circulation to your feet.

Indian Lilac or Neem Leaves

If you are able to purchase this herb fresh or have a paste available to you at your natural foods store, this solution is most effective in the ridding of cracked heels for an extended period of time. Apply a mixture of neem leaf powder and also apply turmeric powder to the cracked area of your heels. Leave the mixture there for 30-45 minutes and wash away the paste when you are done. Pat your feet dry. You should see results in only a few days.

Rosewater and Glycerin

Mix together equal amounts of rosewater and also glycerin and rub the mixture over your cracked heels. If any of the fissures are open or bleeding, this could sting as a result of the glycerin (it contains alcohol). This will generally keep your skin soft for hours, and the mixture can be easily applied before you put on sandals or walk around barefoot outside. By following all these above home remedies you can get rid off your cracked heels.