Get Rid of Cracked Heels at Home
Can you confidently remove those shoes in public without getting awkward stares from people? Well, you are not alone. Cracked heels are a common condition affecting at least 1 out of 3 humans who have cracked or have experienced it at least once in their lifetime. Cracked heels, in some cases, can be mild, while some can be deep and severe.
Most people experience cracked heels, especially during summer, due to the dryness of the weather. Studies have shown that both men and women, old and young, can experience cracked feet, so again, you are not alone. Although according to research, women have a higher chance of suffering from cracked heels than men.
This article is not here to emphasize the problem. Rather, it focuses on how to care for the feet in and out of season so that your heels can stay beautiful and healthy.
Causes of Cracked Heel
Apart from the dryness of the weather, another cause of cracked heels is the excessive burden on the feet. Since the feet carry the body’s weight and more weight when you lift things, you may have a higher tendency to experience cracked heels. Coupled with this, poor foot hygiene can also cause cracked heels.
One of the most classic signs that you may suffer from cracked feet soon enough is when your heels lose their soft and tender nature and get hardened. After the hardening process, you may begin to feel slight stings and aches such that when you look at yourself, you may notice a tiny crack line on your heels. If proper care and attention are not given to that crack, it will spread across other parts of your feet and cause more pain and discomfort.
Thus, it is best to adopt remedies that eliminate the pain and cracks when you notice any of these symptoms. You should also consider maintaining a healthy foot routine to keep your feet’ skin attractive.
Cracked heels usually do not raise concerns as sometimes they clear off on their own without any special remedy or medications. However, Cracked Heels can be painful and cause severe discomfort for some people. Hence the need for natural remedies to reduce the pain and clear the ugly cracks.
What is this Article About?
This article is packed with different natural and home remedies that can assist in getting rid of both the pain associated with cracked heels and clearing the cracks associated with it.
If, after applying these natural remedies to tour cracked heels, the cracks do not heal or get better, you should consult your doctor. This will ensure that the lingering cracks and discomfort they have refused to heal are not a result of underlying health conditions like diabetes. Visiting a doctor if they refuse to heal up would also help prevent further complications and infection of the cracks, especially if they are deep.
Home Remedies for Cracked Heels
Olive Oil
Tea tree oil is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after essential oils that are effective in treating different skin conditions. It is packed with medicinal and natural properties that help remedy different skin conditions ranging from psoriasis to eczema and acne, among others. Research shows tea tree oil has effective properties that can heal cracked heels.
It begins with getting rid of the hardened and dead skin on your heels. It soothes the discomfort and pain associated with the condition and then goes ahead to heal the cracks. It is also packed with antibacterial properties that help prevent the wound from getting infected, especially if the cracks are deep.
Since tree oil is an essential oil that tends to irritate the skin, combining It with a carrier oil like olive oil will help reduce the irritation it may cause on your skin. Olive oil also contains properties that effectively support the treatment of cracked heels. To treat your cracked heels with this oil combination, all you need to do is dilute the tea tree oil with Olive oil, dip a cotton ball into the oil combination and dab the affected area of your heel with the soaked cotton ball. Allow the oils to sit on your skin for about 1 hour, then wash them off with warm water.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a widespread remedy for treating different conditions both within and outside the body. People who use Apple cider vinegar for treating some of these conditions, especially skin conditions, reported a quicker healing process than when they used some over-the-counter medications.
Apple cider vinegar has a wealth of properties that are effective in skin exfoliation. That is, it removes the dead skin cells around your heels and returns your skin to its former soft and tender nature.
Studies showed that combining Apple cider vinegar with lemon juice will speed up the skin’s exfoliation process. This is because the anti-inflammatory properties in Apple cider vinegar and the acidic content of the lemon juice work together to make the process faster and also help heal the cracks. Although applying them to your cracked heels may cause slight stings, it will be worth it in the long run.
Turmeric
Turmeric is more than just a kitchen spice. According to research, turmeric has a wealth of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that assist the body get rid of free radicals and preventing cell death and damage. To use turmeric for treating cracked heels, all that you need to do is blend some turmeric wet and apply it straight to the affected area of your heel. In other words, use the blended turmeric as a mask for your heel. You can repeat this process up to 2 times per day for up to a week to get maximum results.
Further studies showed that adding licorice root to the blended turmeric can speed up the healing process by getting rid of the pain, eliminating the dead skin cells, and healing up the cracks effectively.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has a long-standing history of treating skin conditions of any nature. Having an aloe Vera plant at home is tantamount to having a natural skin product in your home.
Aloe Vera has a wealth of medicinal and natural properties that can eliminate skin infections and injuries. It even tends to clear scars and keep the skin rejuvenated. What’s more? Aloe Vera will not only help you get rid of your cracked heels, but it will also help you keep your feet’ skin healthy and attractive.
All that you ought to do is cut up some Aloe Vera leaves, scrape out the gel and apply the gel directly to your cracked heels. Since the gel may dry off quickly, it is best to keep reapplying for a while. You should continue with the treatment until your cracked heels heal up completely.
You should also consider adding glycerin in the aloe Vera gel to add sufficient moisture to your heels. If the aloe Vera plant is not available in your immediate environment, you can buy aloe Vera gel in pharmacies and stores. However, ensure that whichever brand of aloe Vera gel you are buying is 100% natural and does not contain any form of chemicals that can damage your skin or complicate your cracked heels.
Oatmeal and Sea Salt
Combining oatmeal and sea salt has been proven effective in getting rid of cracked heels. This is because oatmeal, on the one hand, has antioxidant properties that help eliminate dead skin cells such that you can easily scrape them off, while on the other hand, sea salt has high amounts of minerals that, when they get absorbed into the skin, they improve the condition of the skin and boost the healing process of injuries. Thus, while the former clear the dead cells off your heels, the latter enriches your heel skin.
Experts have suggested massaging your heel skin with this remedy is the most effective method. All you need to do is mix some oatmeal with sea salt, add a few tablespoons of honey to the mixture, and then massage deeply into your skin. You can repeat this process up to 3 times daily for maximum results. You should begin to notice improvements in your condition after about 3 to 4 days of using this remedy.
Conclusion
Cracked heels are a common condition. It clears off on its own in some cases. However, if you do not like the appearance of the cracks on your skin or your cracks cause you discomfort and pain, you should adopt One of the above natural remedies.
