Dryness and even neglect in both summer and winter months can lead to the pain and discomfort of cracked heels. Although this problem is common in females during the summer months when sandals or flip flops are frequently worn, dry and chapped skin in the winter can make the problem worse.
Signs and symptoms of cracked heels
- The appearance of dry, hard, thickened skin around the rim of the heel.
- The skin in this area starts to look yellow or dark brown.
- Tiny cracks or fissures start to be visible.
- More pressure on the heel ensures the cracks become deeper.
- The cracks may become so deep that they start to bleed and may even become infected.
Some of the reasons why cracked heels occur
- Spending long periods standing on hard surfaces or a change in your walking posture.
- High arched feet, flat feet, shoes that do not fit correctly or wearing open back sandals or shoes.
- Inactive sweat glands, being overweight or obese.
- Extra dry feet or Xerosis (a medical term for abnormally dry skin and coming from the Greek word “xero,” which means dry).
- Misalignment of the metatarsal bones or surgery to the lower parts of the body.
- Other skin disorders such as athlete’s foot, psoriasis, eczema, thyroid disease and even diabetes.
- Aging as thick dry scaly skin loses elasticity with age, or excessive feet activity especially if the skin is already dry.
- Unhygienic conditions or unhealthy dry skin due to climate, disease or lack of attention to foot care and general neglect of the feet.
- A vitamin, mineral or zinc deficiency or lack of omega-3 fats.
Our feet do a lot of hard work for us and deserve some care and attention in return. Always look after your feet by keeping them clean; applying plenty of natural moisturizing cream and exfoliating your feet regularly; using a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the hard skin in the heel area; exercising the feet; changing to a diet rich in calcium, iron, zinc and omega-3 fats; and avoiding walking barefoot, wearing open-back shoes or thin soled shoes if you are prone to dry cracked heels.
Our top eight home remedies for treating cracked heels
1. Apply some extra virgin olive oil with a cotton ball, gently massaging your feet in a circular motion for 10 to 15 minutes. Wear a pair of thick cotton socks and wash off after an hour. Mix 1 T olive oil, a few drops of lemon oil or lavender oil plus an equal amount of water and place in a small glass bottle for a thick solution. Apply this homemade foot cream several times a day and also overnight.
2. Make a thick paste with 1 T powdered oatmeal and some jojoba oil, and apply well over the heels and any cracks every second day. Leave for half an hour before rinsing off with cold water and patting dry.
3. Apply sesame oil on your heels, and any cracked parts, each night before going to bed.
4. Here is a foot scrub for which you need 2 to 3 T ground rice plus a few spoons of honey and apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes before gently scrubbing with the paste to remove dead skin cells.
5. Slightly more complicated is a mixture of paraffin wax with mustard oil or coconut oil. Heat the mixture in a pan till the wax melts properly. Allow to cool before applying to the heels. Bedtime is a good time to use this treatment so you can cover with a pair of socks and wash off in the morning.
6. For a fresh smelling lemon treatment, take 1 t Vaseline and the juice of a lemon which can be rubbed into the heels until absorbed. Again application is best before bed and kept on overnight before covering with woolen socks to help trap body heat and increase the effectiveness of the mixture and again, wash off in the morning.
7. Good enough to eat is is the banana treatment where you take the pulp of a ripe banana and apply over cracked parts of the heel and feet. Keep on for about 10 minutes before washing off.
8. Combining essential oils, H-Cracked Heels gives you a specially formulated 100% natural product that is fit-for-purpose and easy to use with its gentle and safe healing action.
Whatever you do, never ignore cracked heels – the condition will only worsen and the problem will become more difficult to treat. Our 8 suggestions provide plenty of choice so that with a bit of special attention to the care of your feet, and some minor lifestyle changes, you will once again enjoy lovely smooth heels – summer and winter.
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