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Winter Troubles: Cracked Heels That Hurt!
Winter is a great season but it has its woes. It brings a lot of dry skin as well as cracked heels. Having dry skin is normal in winters and you can use different remedies to get rid of it but having cracked heels is a totally different issue. Cracked heels are very uncomfortable and if not taken proper care of can be very painful as well as embarrassing. There are many different reasons of why your heels crack. Your feet hold your body's weight therefore they take a lot of pressure during the day. When the weight becomes unbearable then the skin of your feet expands and cracks. Dry skin loses its elastic and becomes prone to cracked heels. Other than that it could also happen due to medical conditions like obesity, diabetes, eczema, athlete's foot, etc. Those of you with flat feet, heel spurs or having to stand for a long time may also suffer from cracked heels.
What Causes Heels to Crack?
Some of you rely on lotions to cure cracked heels but at times you might need a little more than that. We have compiled a list of some of the best and effective remedies you can use to cure cracked heels, but before that let us look into some of the major reasons as to why your heels crack:
- The skin around your heels has less sweat glands and does not have enough elasticity, therefore, it is prone to get dry, rough and crack. Using a good moisturising agent can help cure the issue.
- Some of you who lack vitamins and minerals like iron or zinc may also suffer from cracked heels.
- If your work requires you to stand for a long time then you might be putting too much pressure on your heels which can cause them to crack.
- As you age your skin tends to loose elasticity, thus your heels might crack easily.
- Those of you who like to wear sandals or open shoes allow fat under the heels to expand sideways which causes the heels to crack. Those of you who walk barefoot may also experience cracked heels.
- If you are not used to cleaning your feet regularly, you might experience cracked heels.
- Those of you who wash your feet often or work in conditions where your feet is soaked in water for a long time may also get cracked heels.
- High blood pressure and poor blood circulation due to diabetes can also increase the chances of dry and cracked heels.
Remedies for Cracked Heels
Here are some effective remedies you can use to get rid of those nasty cracks from your heels:
For Soft Heels
All of you want your skin to look soft and smooth and when it comes to your feet you need to pay a little more attention to them. If you want soft heels then you can easily prepare the given recipe and soak your feet in it and get baby smooth heels. You will need:
Ingredients:
- 1 tub warm soapy water
- 100 ml seed oil
- 1 handful marbles
- 500 ml full fat milk
- 1 handful rose petals
- 1 handful fresh margosa/neem leaves
- 5 drops geranium oil
- 5 drops sandalwood oil
- 2 tsp wheatgerm oil
Method:
- Simply mix all the ingredients given above and soak your feet in it for around 20 minutes.
- Pat them dry.
- You can use a pumice stone to rub off the dead skin from the heels and apply a good lotion after it.
Deep Condition with Milk and Rose
You can use the next remedy to provide proper conditioning to your dry skin. Milk is very effective when it comes to healing dry skin. It has lactic acid, vitamin A, D E, K and protein which is great for your skin. To use the given method you will need:
Ingredients:
- 1 small tub warm water
- ½ cup raw milk
- 1 handful rose petals
- 4-5 neem leaves
- 1 tsp seed oil or wheat germs oil
- Few drops essential oil (optional)
Method:
- Take a small tub of warm water. Add ½ cup raw milk in it.
- Mix a handful of rose petals in it with 4 to 5 neem leaves.
- You can also add 1 tsp seed oil or wheat germ oil to it. If you want better smelling feet you can try adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil in it as well.
- Soak your feet in it for 20 minutes and rub them gently with a towel to get rid of the dead skin.
- Apply a gentle moisturiser after it and you'll have smooth heels in no time.
Oil Your Feet at Night
Here is an easy and simple way of healing your cracked heels overnight. You will need:
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp castor oil
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp almond oil
Method:
- Simply use these oils to massage your feet at night.
- Apply a generous amount of Vaseline on them and rub it well so that it is absorbed well into the skin.
- Now melt a candle on low heat and apply it on the heels.
- Let it cool off and wear cotton socks to cover your feet.
- Leave them on for the night and peel the wax off in the morning.
- You will have nice and smooth heels the next day.
- Wear your favourite sandals and walk out confidently.
Using Coconut Oil
Another effective way of healing cracked heels overnight is to use coconut oil. Oils work better than lotions when it comes to dry skin because oils get absorbed quicker than lotions. Oils create a protective layer over the skin and work on healing it. You can use any vegetable oil if you like but using coconut oil is recommended for dry and cracked heels. Follow the remedy as given below:
Method:
- Simply apply a generous amount of coconut oil on the affected area and wear cotton socks over it.
- Leave them on for the night and you'll wake up with smoother heels in the morning.
- You can also wash your feet with warm water the next day and rub them with a pumice stone to remove the dead skin.
- This remedy will help you smoothen your cracked heels in a night.
Salt Scrub with Pumice Stone
Another simple and effective remedy is to use salt as a scrub. You will need:
Ingredients:
- A pumice stone or loofah
- 1 tbsp salt
- Few drops olive oil
Method:
- Take 1 tbsp salt and mix it with a few drops of olive oil.
- Rub it over the cracked heels and rub the area with a pumice stone gently.
- You will need to rub your heels for about 20-30 seconds and wash them off with soap water.
- Apply a good moisturiser over the heels and you are all set.
Using an Emollient or Humectant Moisturiser
Using an emollient or humectant is also a good way of healing cracked heels. Emollients penetrate into the skin and decrease water loss from the skin. They also fill in the gaps between the skin flakes and make them softer and smoother. These emollients or humectants attract water from the air and keep your skin moisturised for a long time which results in a softer skin. Look for thick creams that are targeted for cracked heels. These usually have ingredients that work to keep skin around your heels soft and moisturised.
Wearing 100% Cotton Socks to Bed
If you want to protect your heels and prevent them from cracking then start wearing socks to bed. It is important to wear 100% cotton socks for best results. You can apply petroleum jelly on the heels and wear socks for the night. This will lock the moisture in and allow the skin to breath. It will also prevent your bedsheets from getting stains from the jelly you used on your feet. Simply do this every night and get softer heels each morning.
Quick Remedy: Lime + Sugar
If you do not have a lot of time but want to get rid of those cracked heels then you can use this quick remedy each day. This will only take up only 5 minutes of your time but give you soft heels:
Ingredients:
- ½ lemon
- 3 tbsp sugar
Method:
- Simply take ½ lemon and 3 tbsp sugar and dip the lemon in the sugar and use it as a scrub on your heels every day.
- Let it dry and wash it off with water.
- Pat it dry and use a moisturiser.
- You can use this remedy during the day or at night before going to bed, and you will be happy with the results for sure.
Banana and Honey Moisturiser
Using a mixture of banana and honey is a great way of healing your cracked heels. Banana helps to hydrate your dry skin and make it supple. It is packed with vitamin A which restores the moisture of your skin and heals dry skin instantly. Honey is a great healing agent. It is a natural exfoliator and removes dead and dry skin effectively.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana (peeled)
- 1 tsp honey
Method:
- Simply mash the banana and add 1 tsp honey in it.
- Mix it well and apply it on your heels.
- Gently rub it on and leave it for 20-30 minutes.
- Wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Apply your favourite moisturiser and you will be happy with the end results.
Using a Liquid Bandage
If you do not want to spend too much time in caring for your cracked heels then you can try using liquid, gel or spray bandages. These bandages provide a protective layer over your heels and restore the moisture. They also effectively reduce pain caused by cracked heels. They also stop the dirt and other germs from entering into your skin through the cracks and help in healing it faster.
Foot Creams You Can Use to Repair Cracked Heels
Some of you may not be a home remedy kind of a person. If you do not have a lot of time on hand to make these concoctions and use them, you can buy some good and effective creams or lotions made specifically for cracked heels. Here are some very good creams you can buy from the market and use to get rid of the dry and cracked heels in no time:
Life & Pursuits Organic Foot Healing Cream
The Life & Pursuits Organic Foot Healing Cream is one of the best creams you can buy in the market for healing your cracked heels. It is a pure organic foot cream which has natural oils and zinc oxide in it. It provides deep moisture to your skin and repairs it internally. Simply apply this cream on the affected area and leave it overnight. Wear a pair of cotton socks to lock in the moisture and wash it off in the morning. You can buy this cream for ₹ 199.00 from Amazon.
Fizzy Fern Barefoot Care Cream
Another effective cream in the market for cracked heels is the Fizzy Fern Barefoot Care Cream. It is packed with natural ingredients like neem oil, clove oil, turmeric extracts, shea butter and beeswax. This cream is specifically made to heal cracked heels. The clove oil in the cream works like an antiseptic and the neem oil has antibacterial properties which heel the cracks effectively. You can buy this cream for ₹ 319.00 from Nykaa.
Himalaya Wellness Footcare Cream
Himalaya Wellness Footcare Cream is a rich cream which instantly repairs cracked heels. It has sal tree extracts, honey, turmeric, fenugreek and ginger in it which when combined together work wonderfully on dry skin. Sal tree extracts have great anti-inflammatory properties and honey works as an effective moisturiser for dry skin. The ginger extracts prevent the skin from cracking. Simply wash your feet well with soap and apply the cream on the affected area. Massage it well and let it work. You can use this cream twice a day for better results. The cream can be bought for ₹ 110.00 only from 1mg.
BioBloom Foot Cream
You can also check out the BioBloom Foot Cream if you are suffering from cracked heels. This cream has eucalyptus oil which is an effective moisturiser and repairs cracked heels in no time. It also has pure essential oils in it and is completely paraben and LLP free, therefore you can use it without worrying about the damage caused by harsh chemicals. You can use this cream at night before going to bed and wash it off in the morning. Using this cream for 2 weeks can get you soft heels permanently. The cream can be bought for ₹ 550.00 from Amazon.
Vaadi Herbals Foot Cream
The last wonder cream for your cracked heels on the list is Vaadi Herbals Foot Cream. This cream has clove oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, sandalwood and thyme in it. The presence of cocoa butter keeps your heels well moisturised. Sandalwood protects both dry and oily skin and clove oil keeps the microbial activity away from the skin. The unique formula works together in repairing your dry and cracked heels and makes them soft and presentable. The cream in available for ₹ 171.00 on Amazon.
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A Little Care for Your Feet will Make the Cracks Disappear
As it would have been evident by now, it is quite easy to get rid of cracked heels provided you are ready to give some time and care for your feet. We hope you would have found this BP Guide informative and it would have helped you decide which home remedy you would like to try out to get rid of those cracked heels. Share your experiences with us and stay connected for more such engaging content.