Got cracked heels? Here are some home remedies

Feet are your physical base. They're what keep you up and running which is why maintaining good foot health is important. Cracked heels, also referred to as heel fissures, are a common foot problem in winters, which seem to affect women more often than men. Dry, flaky skin is the result of extreme climatic conditions such as hot dry summers and/or extremely cold winters, lack of moisturization, overexposure to pollution, and some medical conditions such as vitamin deficiency, eczema, overweight diabetes, thyroid, and psoriasis and ageing lead to dryness which causes the skin to crack. So, if you have chronic dry or cracked heels, consider whether you're at risk for these other health conditions and consult a doctor.

Foot treatment

Give yourself weekly foot treatments at home to revitalise the skin. Soaking the feet in warm water helps to soften the skin and remove dead skin. For daily foot and heel care, apply pure almond oil on the feet daily before your bath and massage it into the skin. After your bath, apply a cream while the skin is still damp. This helps to seal in moisture. Massage the cream into the skin. The feet will remain soft and smooth.

Honey

It is a natural remedy for common foot problems. Honey contains antimicrobial and antibacterial properties which can heal and cleanse deep cracked wounds and moisturise the skin. Mix one cup of honey in five litres of lukewarm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes. You can use honey as a foot scrub after the soak or apply it as a foot mask overnight. You can repeat it twice in a week.

Lemon

You can opt for cheap and home remedy available in your kitchen shelf. Take lemon halves and some quantity of sugar. Dip the lemon halves into sugar and scrub on the heels daily and wash off with fresh water. Follow a daily treatment for cracked heels for one week.

Shampooing

At night, before retiring, soak the feet in hot water for about 20 minutes. Add some coarse salt and shampoo to the water, before soaking the feet. Hot water helps to soften the dead skin on the heels. With the help of a pumice stone or a heel scrubber, rub the heels gently, in order to remove the dead cells. Avoid metal scrubbers. After washing the feet, massage them with cream, rubbing it into the skin. A cream containing lemon and turmeric would be ideal. Bandage the heels with a clean cloth. Then wear cotton socks and go to sleep. This way, the cream will remain on the heels and not get on to the bedclothes. Keeping the heels smeared with cream all night will soften the skin and replenish moisture loss. Repeat this every night for one week.

Coconut oil

It contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which can help your skin retain moisture. It is widely used for the treatment of dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. Not only does coconut oil help retain hydrating water on the skin's surface, but it also removes dead skin cells. On top of that, coconut oil can help strengthen tissues underneath the epidermis. Coconut oil can be used in place of your regular foot lotion to prevent cracked heels; consider using it daily. Apply the oil liberally on your feet before going to bed you'll have smoother heels in the morning. Moisturise your feet with coconut oil twice a day when you experience deep cracks.

Hot olive oil treatment

Prevent cracked heels by soaking, scrubbing, and performing the hot olive oil treatment on your feet twice a week. Apply olive oil with the help of cotton ball and gently massage your feet in a circular motion till the oil is soaked in the skin. Cover the foot with a cotton cloth and wash it after some time with lukewarm water. Apply the oil before going to bed night daily for better results. Rub olive oil on your heels as soon as you emerge from a shower or bath in the morning and apply the oil again each night before bed. Wear socks to bed to keep the oil on your feet and off your bedding.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil is very useful in treating cracked heels since it is considered to be very nourishing and moisturising. Sesame oil contains vitamins, nutrients and minerals along with its anti-fungal properties. Apply sesame oil on your heels and other parts of the feet and allow it to soak in the skin naturally. You may wash the feet with normal freshwater. Sesame oil softens and soothe dry and cracked feet very efficiently.