Top 7 Cracked Heels Home Remedies

Dry cracked heels are one of the most common foot complaints, and whilst for men, the problem may rarely be seen, for women, open-backed sandals leave the feet on display for all to see and dry cracked heels do not exactly add to the aesthetic appeal of the feet. Dry cracked heels may be a cosmetic problem; however in some cases cracking of the heels can become more serious and may bleed, with the deep cracks becoming sore, bleeding in some cases and leaving the feet wide open to infection. In addition to the unsightly cracks, the skin can become inflamed with dry flaky skin and may become itchy.

Whilst for many people the cracks in the heels may be small and barely noticeable, over time the problem develops further and becomes quite noticeable, especially for those suffering from foot calluses on the heel. The hardened yellowish dead skin cells of the callus make cracking all the more noticeable, and harder to heal. What makes the problem even worse is that the heel fissures allow dirt to enter which is difficult to clean, and discolors the skin further to make the heels look considerably worse.

Dry Cracked Heel Causes & Risk Factors

Dry cracked heels can be simply due to dry skin and are more common at the end of the summer when barefoot walking has been the norm, and the drying effects of the sun have taken their toll. Whilst drying out of the skin is not specific to the heels, the feet are more prone to develop cracked skin due to their location, and to a lack of foot care. Other risk factors which can make the development of cracked heels more likely include:

• Genetic predispositions
• Prolonged standing/walking
• Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema
• Excess body weight
• Frequent wearing of barefoot shoes, flimsy soled shoes and open backed sandals
• Old age, due to reduced production of sebum

What to do for dry cracked heels?

In most non-chronic cases, self-treatment after a consultation with the doctor is enough to address the dry cracked feet problem. An oil-based moisturizing cream applied according to instructions and specialist’s recommendations will keep your heels and the web of your toes moistened enough to prevent skin cracking. Avoiding wearing shoes with an open back or thin sole will help you reduce the pressure on your heels thus allowing your skin to heal in a natural way and keeping you from getting new wounds. You should always remember to never try cutting the hard skin yourself because of the risk of an infection. If the skin needs to be cut, let the doctor or a nurse do it.

In some cases cracked heels may require the podiatric treatment that may include removing the hard thick skin on a regular basis (this needs to be done so that the wounds heal properly), strapping to help hold the cracks together as they heal, applying a moisturizer and also footwear and insoles advice. In addition to this, a heel cup may be used to complement other treatment methods and keep the fat pads of your feet from excessively expanding sideways when you stand or walk. In some cases, the doctor may also apply a special tissue glue to hold the edges of the skin together while the cracks heal.

Daily cleaning and moisturizing are very important for cracked heels treatment. A healthy diet helps too – you need to eat more food that contains Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Omega-3 fatty acid and Vitamin E if you want to get rid of the rough foot or hard skin problem for good. A proper amount of exercise helps improve the blood circulation in your feet, which results in faster recovery and makes your skin more elastic and smooth, and the right choice of footwear helps both solve the current problem and avoid its reoccurrence in the future.

Remedies For Dry Cracked Heels

To get rid of the irritated feelings of cracks heels, besides taking medicines, you can apply some home remedies which are simple, inexpensive and effective.

Rice Flour

If the feet and heel skin is exfoliated, the dead skin will be removed, which assists in eliminating dryness and cracks. One powerful ingredient able to do that is rice flour.

How to use:

• Add some rice flour to several teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and honey. Mix them finely to get a smooth paste.
• Soak the feet and heels in lukewarm water for at least 10 minutes before applying the paste on your heels.
• Follow this method for some weeks and you will see the cracks gradually disappear.

Lemon

Lemon is a rich source of acid, which is a powerful substance to make rough skin softer.

How to use:

• Add some lemon juice to a tub of warm water.
• Soak your feet in that solution; you can use a pumice stone to scrub your heel meanwhile.
• After 15 minutes, wash our feet with water.

Rosewater and Glycerin

Rosewater is packed with vitamins A, C, D, E, B3 as well as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, while glycerin is able to soften the skin. The mixture of these 2 ingredients will deliver you an excellent remedy to get rid of cracked heels.

How to use:

• Combine the same amount of rosewater and glycerin.
• Apply the mixture on your heels every day before you go to bed to get the best result.

Vegetable Oil

There are various kinds of vegetable oil, most of them are beneficial in treating and eliminating cracked heels. You can choose any oil, such as coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil. The best time is before your bedtime because the nutrients can absorb into your skin thoroughly.

How to use:

• Wash your feet with soap and scrub it with a pumice stone.
• Put vegetable oil on your heels and wrap them with a pair of sock. Remove the socks in the next morning and you will notice the positive changes
• Keep doing these several days and the cracked heels will disappear.

Honey

The high amount of antibacterial and moisturizing properties present in honey is excellent in curing cracked heels.

How to use:

• Prepare a tub of warm water
• Add some honey to it and mix finely.
• Soak your feet in the solution for at least 15 minutes.
• Follow this remedy a few times weekly to get the best results.

Banana

Another inexpensive but effective remedy for dry and cracked heels is banana, due to its high concentration of moisturizing substances.

How to use:

• Blend 1 ripe banana to get a thick paste.
• Wash your heels carefully and then apply the paste on your heels.
• Leave it on for at least 10 minutes for the full absorption.
• Rinse your feet with warm water and dip it in cold water again for about minutes.
• Repeat this remedy for several weeks to notice the positive changes.

Petroleum Jelly

Another useful remedy to get rid of cracked heels is petroleum jelly. In addition, it can moisturize and soften your feet.

How to use:

• Soak your feet in water then scrub the hard dead skin on the heels
• Cover your heels with petroleum jelly. Lemon juice is available, you can add 1 teaspoon of the juice to it.
• Wear a pair of the sock so that the jelly can absorb completely into the skin.

Treatments for Dry Cracked Heels

In cases where the skin of the heels has cracked due to dry skin, the remedy is often quite straightforward and simple and involves deeply moisturizing the affected area twice daily. Moisturizers will keep the skin supple and will prevent further cracking, whilst giving the skin the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to heal properly. Oil-based moisturizers are the best, as they are far better at improving the condition of the feet, and have a much longer lasting effect.

Before moisturizing, the feet should be soaked for around 10 minutes in hot water to soften the skin. The dry rough skin should be gently filed down using a pumice stone or corn file, as without the removal of dead hard skin and calluses the cracks will not heal naturally. When the feet are dry, apply the moisturizer and massage thoroughly into the heel. Specialist foot creams are best, as they have a much deeper moisturizing action than hand and face creams.

If this treatment does not cure the problem after a couple of weeks, a doctor or podiatrist will be able to prescribe emollients for deeper re-hydration of the skin. Both prescription and non-prescription moisturizers can be made more effective by wrapping up the affected foot overnight, to retain moisture. Gel therapy socks prevent moisture from escaping helping to rehydrate the heels much faster. These are worn throughout the night after moisturizing and prevent the escape of moisture, keeping the skin humid.

Once the heels have been treated it is important to continue foot care to ensure that they do not return. Orthotic insoles can help to re-distribute the body weight to prevent hot spots or pressure forming. Heel cups are useful as they help to position the heel properly and prevent the heel fat pad from spreading. The spreading of the fat pad, often associated with obesity, is a common cause of dry cracked heels. If the skin is not soft, this spreading can cause small cracks to form in the heel.

In some cases, a podiatrist may recommend strapping up the feet to hold the cracks together to speed up healing, and in extreme cases, a doctor or podiatrist can “glue” the cracks together, although in most cases it is not deemed to be necessary.