You know that feeling, where the heels of your feet are so dry it’s discomforting. Some people don’t want anyone coming near their feet because the skin feels so unpleasant. You are not the only one dealing with this problem; it is estimated that about 20 percent of people over 21 suffer from cracked heels.
It can be great to get a pedicure and foot treatment at your local spa, but why not try healing your cracked heels at home? Here are some natural remedies that work great:
Penetrating Oil
The cracked heel phenomenon or condition does not happen overnight. It is the result of ignoring the skin on your heels, even though it was dry. Now, there are a number of reasons why this could have happened like wearing open-back shoes or dehydration, but the result is the same.
Layers of severely dry skin have finally cracked under pressure. You need to use something that can penetrate the layers like coconut oil, organic tallow, or other organic oils. Wash your feet, pat them dry, use a pumice stone to exfoliate, and apply the oil. Put on clean socks to leave the oil on overnight and repeat these steps for a few days.
Gentle Exfoliation
Those with layers of dead skin may want to consider exfoliating. Sure, using the pumice stone works, but it may not be enough when the problem is extensive. You may need a specialized exfoliating solution to help deal with your specific foot problem. You can mix a specific natural blend meant to exfoliate but also medicate the region.
What you want to do is start with a handful of ground rice. Begin to add a few teaspoons of raw honey and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to the rice until you get a paste-like consistency.
Add a few teaspoons of your choice of oil. Soak your feet in lukewarm water for about 10 minutes, and then scrub with the solution. Do this for about a week or until you feel satisfied with how your heels feel.
Here are a couple of organic products from Neal’s Yard that you might find helpful.
Leafy Aid
Cracked feet come in many forms depending on their severity. There are some that just have mild cracks and discomfort while others have severe symptoms like infections or itchiness. It is important to apply a more poignant solution when your cracked feet are this severe, like this leafy solution.
What you want to do is get your hands on a handful of Indian lilac, which is also known as margosa or neem leaves. Crush the leaves until you make a paste, adding a teaspoon of turmeric powder. Blend well and apply it to the affected areas.
Do not remove until 30 minutes have passed, and then just clean your feet and pat dry. The reason you are using this is because neem naturally soothes and effectively kills fungus.
Lemony Softness
Lemons are known for their natural acidic properties, which are helpful for your cracked heels. The acidic active ingredients in lemon should help soften the skin given enough time. Now, you should not apply the lemon directly but rather dilute it so that it is not too aggressive.
What you want to do is mix lemon juice from one lemon into enough water to soak your feet. Again, you want to use lukewarm water. You do not want to use hot water, which could exasperate dryness. Let your feet soak in the water for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing them with a pumice stone. End by washing and pat drying your feet.
Rosy Wash
Another effective solution comes from the combination of glycerin and rose water. There are a few reasons why this solution could be helpful to some. Glycerin, for one, helps to soften the skin like lemon but is not as aggressive. Rose water contains a lot of skin-strengthening ingredients like vitamins A, B3, C, E, and antioxidants just to name a few.
You should simply mix both of these solutions in equal parts and apply to your clean feet. Make sure you let the blend stay on your feet overnight, so wear a clean sock or a moisture-trapping wrap around your feet. Do this a number of times weekly until the condition gets better.
Banana Goodness
One of the most interesting and inexpensive solutions is the banana-based one. Bananas have strong moisturizing properties, and you are going to be using these properties to help you deal with your cracked heels. All you have to do is mash enough bananas to apply a healthy layer over the affected areas.
Now, your feet need to be clean and dry before you apply the paste. Let the banana mush sit over the affected areas for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off. Make sure that you do this every day for a week or until your skin feels better.
Hopefully, some of these solutions help you find relief. Be sure to pass them on because they are effective and can help others in your situation. Make sure to consider wearing more socks and try to make moisturizing your heels a natural part of your life from now on to prevent this from happening again. You should also talk to your podiatrist to see if he or she has additional suggestions.
