Many people suffer from the condition of dry cracked heels, also known as heel fissures. At first, cracked heels are more of an embarrassment and an inconvenience, but if ignored, the condition could worsen, with the development of cracks and fissures, which can be very painful. In some severe cases, the cracks could bleed and become infected. Some common causes of cracked heels are - dryness of the skin in the heel area, lack of proper care and attention to the feet and excessive pressure applied to the feet. Cracked heels could also be a sign of the deficiency of Omega3 fatty acids and zinc. Therefore, cracked heels are often found in people who spend a lot of time on their feet as well as senior citizens. Healing cracked heels is not difficult, as moisturizing the affected areas regularly, using an oil-based moisturizing cream at least twice a day will help considerably. To maximize the effects, wear thick socks, after applying a thick layer of the moisturizer and leave it on overnight. Repeating this exercise everyday for about a week will really help.
Home Remedies for Cracked Heels
You could also use the following home remedies for cracked heels:
- Mash a ripe banana thoroughly, to form a thick paste and apply it on the cracked heel. Leave the pulp on for about 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Try this exercise once, every week.
- Mix the juice of one lemon, with a teaspoon of petroleum jelly, a small quantity of shampoo or liquid soap and some water. Mix them together to form a soapy-solution and dip your feet in it for around 15 minutes, before rinsing and drying your feet. Trying this remedy everyday should bring about a positive change sooner.
- Melt a teaspoon of paraffin wax and mix some mustard oil (about a teaspoon) to it. Apply this to the cracked heals and leave it on overnight. Rinse your heels with warm water in the morning. Try this everyday, for two weeks.
- Use a pumice stone, twice a week on your feet, to get rid of the dead skin present near the cracked heels. Make sure that you soak your feet in warm water for about fifteen minutes, before scrubbing your feet with the pumice stone. After using the pumice stone, pat your feet dry gently and apply a moisturizer on the heel area.
As cracked heals could be a sign of deficiency of certain nutrients in the body, please make sure that you include foods that are high in iron, calcium, Vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc in your diet. In case you observe severe cracks, bleeding or signs of an infection, please consult a podiatrist or a dermatologist, who can suggest how to heal dry cracked heels, using the right treatment.
Tags: causes of cracked heels, dry cracked heels, healing cracked heels, home remedies for cracked heels, how to heal dry cracked heels