If the mere appearance of rough cracked heels is not enough to spur
you into action, then the pain that is caused as the cracks deepen will
cause you to to begin looking for remedies to provide some relief. Maybe
your feet haven't gotten so bad to the point that they literally hurt.
If so, then good. Now is the time to start doing something to provide
some much needed cracked heel relief and you can get the job done with
inexpensive home remedies.
At its simplest explanation, cracked
heels are a clear sign of neglect and inattention to your feet. You may
know this from experience but when the cracks become deep, they can
become quite painful. Before beginning a new treatment regimen, you
should always consult your podiatrist to determine if the regimen is
healthy for you. This precaution is necessary because certain health
conditions require long term medical attention. Once you have determined
you are in the free and clear, you can begin addressing your foot
issues.
Although there are numerous products on the market
designed to provide cracked heel relief, you can try the following home
remedies:
- Apply a generous amount of vegetable shortening to your feet. Always make sure your feet are clean and dry before applying any product. You probably didn't know it, but vegetable shortening contains essential oils that your extra skin is lacking. Put on a pair of socks immediately after applying the shortening to keep mess to a minimum. Wear this application overnight for best results.
- Soak your feet in lemon juice. Lemon juice is a mild, naturally occurring acid that can help to dissolve dead and dry skin. You should do a soak for about ten minutes. Ideally, after soaking your feet, you should scrub them gently with a pumice stone. Scrubbing should be immediately followed by an application of moisturizer to promote foot softening.
- Apply a mixture of glycerin and rosewater. Both of these products are easily found near the pharmacy of your local grocery store. Glycerin and rosewater is an old wives remedy that has been passed down to heal cracked heels. You should apply this regularly to see results over time.
- Create your own exfoliating scrub. Take equal parts of honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. Mix until it forms a paste and apply to your feet. If the fissures in your skin are especially deep, add a teaspoon of olive oil to the mixture. The paste should be left on your feet for approximately 20 minutes each night and then rinsed off.
- Do it yourself moisturizer. If you don't have moisturizer handy, no worries. You can create your own. Mix a spoonful of olive oil with a few drops of lavender oil and lemon oil. Add an equal amount of water to the mixture. Shake it up and you will have a thick, milky solution. You can apply this homemade moisturizer up to three times per day as needed.
