12 Best Natural Remedies to Cure Cracked Heels
Cracks in heels is a common skin problem that may vary from mild to severe condition. Mild conditions of cracked heels include thick, red and flaky skin but severe conditions may lead to severe pain and bleeding. Let's have a look on some common causes behind cracks in heels.
Causes of Cracked Heels
1. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is very beneficial in getting rid of cracked heels. For cracked heels massage your heels with coconut oil before going to bed. Early morning, gently scrub your heels by using pumice stone and then rinse off with water.
2. Papaya and Lemon Juice
Make a paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of papaya pulp with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, apply on the affected area and wash off after 15-20 minutes.
3. Banana Pulp
Application of banana pulp is also very helpful to cure the problem of cracked heels. Apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the affected area and leave it for 15 minutes. Then wash it properly with fresh water.
4. Banana and Coconut
Another way to cure cracked heels is application of a mixture of banana and coconut flesh. You can also make a thick paste by mixing flesh of half coconut and ripe banana. Blend them well and apply on affected areas. After 15-20 minutes rinse off with fresh water.
5. Glycerin and Rosewater
Mixture of glycerin and rosewater water when applied on cracked heels is also considered very helpful for fast treatment. Take 1 tablespoon of glycerine and mix with 1 teaspoon of rosewater and apply on affected areas. Let it stay for few minutes and then rinse off.
6. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is also considered very beneficial in getting rid of cracked heels. Apply sesame oil on your cracked heels before sleeping.
7. Paraffin Wax and Mustard Oil
Melt the paraffin wax. Mix the mustard oil in this wax and apply this mixture on your cracked heels at night. Use an old pair of clean socks, keep this mixture on your heels overnight and rinse off in the morning.
8. Paraffin Wax and Coconut Oil
For severely cracked heels melt little paraffin wax and add some coconut oil to it, fill the cracks with the mixture before sleeping and wash off in the morning. Regular application of this remedy will show excellent result within few days.
9. Honey
Moisturizing and antibacterial properties of honey are very beneficial to cure dry and cracked heels. Stir 2 tablespoons of honey in a foot tub filled with warm water just enough to soak your feet. Now soak your feet in the water for 20 minutes. Scrub your feet gently by using pumice stone. Finally wash your feet and pat dry your skin.
Note: Avoid using very hot water, which can cause your feet to dry out more.
10. Lemons
Acidic properties of lemon juice are very helpful in softening rough skin that leads to cracking. Take some warm water in a tub and add some lemon juice. Soak your feet for 15 minutes in this warm water with lemon juice added to it. Now gently scrub your cracked heels using a pumice stone. Finally wash your feet and pat dry with a soft and clean towel.
11. Natural Scrub For Foot Exfoliation
Moisturize and exfoliate your feet whenever possible.You can also make a natural scrub at home.Take some coarse rice flour , add a few spoons of raw honey to the mixture along with enough apple cider vinegar to obtain a thick paste.If you have very deep cracks then also add a spoon of olive oil.Gently massage your cracked heel with this paste.Regular application of this scrub not only helps to cure cracked heels but also prevents further cracking.
12. Drink Plenty of Water
Try to drink 8 to 12 glasses of water on a daily basis because water not only helps to removes toxins from your body but also keep your skin supple and hydrated and prevent from dryness.
Essential Vitamins and Nutrients For Cracked Heels
Deficiency of some essential vitamins and nutrients also results in rough and cracked heels.So try to eat healthy food rich in vitamin A,C and E. Deficiency of calcium, zinc, iron and Omega-3 Fatty Acids also cause cracked skin. So also increase intake of food containing these nutrients.
1. Vitamin A Rich Foods
Vitamin A is found in dark green and yellow vegetables and yellow fruits, such as broccoli spinach, turnip greens, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, and apricots, and in animal sources such as liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs.
2. Vitamin C Rich Foods
Important sources of Vitamin C are oranges, tangerines, limes, guava, lemons, papayas, strawberries, black currants, grapefruit and mangoes. Many vegetables contain Vitamin C including collard greens, green and red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, cabbage, potatoes, kale, spinach(palak), and watercress.
3. Vitamin E Rich Foods
Sweet potatoes and mangoes are rich in Vitamin E. Several oils including sesame, sunflower, peanut, safflower, olive, soybean and corn are good sources of Vitamin E. Nuts also contain sufficient levels of Vitamin E making walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds and almonds excellent snack foods. Butter, margarine, eggs, wheat germ, wheat germ oil, soya, yams, spinach, broccoli, corn, avocados, fortified cereals and liver are other good sources. Some green vegetables also contain small amounts of Vitamin E.
4. Calcium Rich Foods
Milk, cheese, yogurt, goat’s milk and broccoli are good sources of calcium.
5. Iron Rich Foods
Meat, chicken, fish,eggs, vegetables and beans are good sources of iron.
6. Zinc Rich Foods
Oysters, chicken, crab, kidney beans, yogurt, brown rice are good sources of zinc.
7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Rich Foods
Purslane herb, cold water fish, salmon, sardines, mackerel, fish oil and flaxseed oil or flax seeds are excellent sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Causes of Cracked Heels
- Lack of Skin Moisture
- Dry Air
- Improper Foot care
- Poor diet
- Aging
- Prolonged Standing on hard floors
- Wearing the Wrong types of shoes.
- Skin Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, corns and calluses,
- Diseases Including Diabetes and Thyroid disease Etc
12 Home Remedies to Cure Cracked Heels
1. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is very beneficial in getting rid of cracked heels. For cracked heels massage your heels with coconut oil before going to bed. Early morning, gently scrub your heels by using pumice stone and then rinse off with water.
2. Papaya and Lemon Juice
Make a paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of papaya pulp with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, apply on the affected area and wash off after 15-20 minutes.
3. Banana Pulp
Application of banana pulp is also very helpful to cure the problem of cracked heels. Apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the affected area and leave it for 15 minutes. Then wash it properly with fresh water.
4. Banana and Coconut
Another way to cure cracked heels is application of a mixture of banana and coconut flesh. You can also make a thick paste by mixing flesh of half coconut and ripe banana. Blend them well and apply on affected areas. After 15-20 minutes rinse off with fresh water.
5. Glycerin and Rosewater
Mixture of glycerin and rosewater water when applied on cracked heels is also considered very helpful for fast treatment. Take 1 tablespoon of glycerine and mix with 1 teaspoon of rosewater and apply on affected areas. Let it stay for few minutes and then rinse off.
6. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is also considered very beneficial in getting rid of cracked heels. Apply sesame oil on your cracked heels before sleeping.
7. Paraffin Wax and Mustard Oil
Melt the paraffin wax. Mix the mustard oil in this wax and apply this mixture on your cracked heels at night. Use an old pair of clean socks, keep this mixture on your heels overnight and rinse off in the morning.
8. Paraffin Wax and Coconut Oil
For severely cracked heels melt little paraffin wax and add some coconut oil to it, fill the cracks with the mixture before sleeping and wash off in the morning. Regular application of this remedy will show excellent result within few days.
9. Honey
Moisturizing and antibacterial properties of honey are very beneficial to cure dry and cracked heels. Stir 2 tablespoons of honey in a foot tub filled with warm water just enough to soak your feet. Now soak your feet in the water for 20 minutes. Scrub your feet gently by using pumice stone. Finally wash your feet and pat dry your skin.
Note: Avoid using very hot water, which can cause your feet to dry out more.
10. Lemons
Acidic properties of lemon juice are very helpful in softening rough skin that leads to cracking. Take some warm water in a tub and add some lemon juice. Soak your feet for 15 minutes in this warm water with lemon juice added to it. Now gently scrub your cracked heels using a pumice stone. Finally wash your feet and pat dry with a soft and clean towel.
11. Natural Scrub For Foot Exfoliation
Moisturize and exfoliate your feet whenever possible.You can also make a natural scrub at home.Take some coarse rice flour , add a few spoons of raw honey to the mixture along with enough apple cider vinegar to obtain a thick paste.If you have very deep cracks then also add a spoon of olive oil.Gently massage your cracked heel with this paste.Regular application of this scrub not only helps to cure cracked heels but also prevents further cracking.
12. Drink Plenty of Water
Try to drink 8 to 12 glasses of water on a daily basis because water not only helps to removes toxins from your body but also keep your skin supple and hydrated and prevent from dryness.
Essential Vitamins and Nutrients For Cracked Heels
Deficiency of some essential vitamins and nutrients also results in rough and cracked heels.So try to eat healthy food rich in vitamin A,C and E. Deficiency of calcium, zinc, iron and Omega-3 Fatty Acids also cause cracked skin. So also increase intake of food containing these nutrients.
1. Vitamin A Rich Foods
Vitamin A is found in dark green and yellow vegetables and yellow fruits, such as broccoli spinach, turnip greens, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, and apricots, and in animal sources such as liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs.
2. Vitamin C Rich Foods
Important sources of Vitamin C are oranges, tangerines, limes, guava, lemons, papayas, strawberries, black currants, grapefruit and mangoes. Many vegetables contain Vitamin C including collard greens, green and red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, cabbage, potatoes, kale, spinach(palak), and watercress.
3. Vitamin E Rich Foods
Sweet potatoes and mangoes are rich in Vitamin E. Several oils including sesame, sunflower, peanut, safflower, olive, soybean and corn are good sources of Vitamin E. Nuts also contain sufficient levels of Vitamin E making walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds and almonds excellent snack foods. Butter, margarine, eggs, wheat germ, wheat germ oil, soya, yams, spinach, broccoli, corn, avocados, fortified cereals and liver are other good sources. Some green vegetables also contain small amounts of Vitamin E.
4. Calcium Rich Foods
Milk, cheese, yogurt, goat’s milk and broccoli are good sources of calcium.
5. Iron Rich Foods
Meat, chicken, fish,eggs, vegetables and beans are good sources of iron.
6. Zinc Rich Foods
Oysters, chicken, crab, kidney beans, yogurt, brown rice are good sources of zinc.
7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Rich Foods
Purslane herb, cold water fish, salmon, sardines, mackerel, fish oil and flaxseed oil or flax seeds are excellent sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.