How to Heal Dry, Cracked Heels Quickly with Home Remedies

Cracked heels, also known as heel fissures, is a common problem as a result of improper foot care.

Generally caused by lack of moisture from dry air, a poor diet, wearing the wrong footwear, or prolonged standing, cracked heels may also be a result of conditions like eczema, corns, and calluses, psoriasis, diabetes, thyroid or other issues.

Cracked heels are often accompanied by troubles like itching, redness, inflammation, and peeling skin.

Ignoring the problem may lead to deeper cracks, resulting in pain and bleeding, even infections. Besides all that, they definitely do not look attractive!

So, here are some home remedies to help heal your dry, cracked heels quickly with simple ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen and bathroom.

Method 1: Use Soak and Scrub

Removing the hard, dead skin is one of the most effective treatments to fix your cracked heels. Soaking will help soften the dead skin, making it easier to remove.

Things you’ll need:

• Moisturizer
• Pumice stone
• Mild body wash
• Towel
• Warm water

Step 1. Soak your feet in a soapy solution

• Pour a small amount of some mild body wash into a tub of warm water.
• Mix it with your hands to work up some lather.
• Soak your feet in this soapy solution for 15 minutes.

Step 2. Gently scrub your heels

• Use a pumice stone and gently scrub your feet and heels to remove the loosened dead skin.

A pumice stone works to shave off the dead and dry cells from your skin, leaving it softer and smoother.

Step 3. Rinse and moisturize your feet

• Rinse off your feet with fresh water and pat dry using a clean, soft towel.
• Generously apply a foot cream or moisturizer.
• Put on a pair of clean socks and leave it overnight for softer skin in the morning.

Repeat the treatment once daily until your heels are completely healed.

Method 2: Use Vaseline

Vaseline, being a petroleum jelly, is a mixture of natural waxes and mineral oils that lock moisture in the skin, and is an oil-based emollient that leaves your heels feeling softer, tender and smoother.

Single-Step Treatment: Leave it on cracked heels overnight

• Apply Vaseline evenly all over your feet at night and put on a pair of clean socks.
• The next morning, gently scrub off the softened dead skin and wash your feet using lukewarm water.

Repeat the treatment for 15 days to observe amazing results.

Method 3: Use Vicks VapoRub

Vicks VapoRub contains camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus in a base of turpentine oil, which acts as an effective emollient, that traps and locks moisture in the skin.

It also has a cooling and soothing effect on the skin.

Single-Step Treatment: Massage it on cracked heels

• Put a small amount of Vicks VapoRub on your finger and apply it directly on your heels and feet.
• Massage gently for 3 to 4 minutes and cover with cotton socks.
• Leave it on overnight to do its work.
• Wash it off the next morning using lukewarm water.
• Using a pumice stone and gently exfoliate the softened skin.
• Finish by applying coconut oil.

Use the treatment every night for 15 days or until the cracks in your heels are completely gone.

Method 4: Use Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another amazing treatment for cracked heels. With its natural antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, hydrating, and healing properties, it serves as the perfect treatment for rough and dry cracked heels.

Single-Step Treatment: Rub it on cracked heels for 15 days

• Before going to sleep, put some oil on your fingertips and gently massage it onto your cracked heels.
• Slip-on a pair of clean socks.
• Wash off your feet the next morning with lukewarm water.

For best results, use the Soak and Scrub method before applying the coconut oil.

Use either of these treatments for 15 days to observe significant results.

Method 5: Use Olive Oil Scrub

Olive oil is packed with numerous phytochemicals and nutrients that help protect and moisturize your skin. It is an incredible emollient that helps smoothen and soften your heels by allowing moisture to seep deep into your skin.

Moreover, olive oil has antibacterial properties that help protect the skin from further infections that may be causing cracked heels.

Brown sugar helps scrub away the dead skin cells from the heels. As a natural humectant, it attracts and locks in moisture from the surrounding areas in your feet, helping to keep them softer.

While honey has excellent moisturizing and antibacterial properties, lemon contains acidic properties that together also help to exfoliate your dead skin, giving rise to fresh, new, softer, smoother skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Honey – 1 tablespoon
• Brown sugar – 1 tablespoon
• Olive oil – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon – 1

Step 1. Take sugar in a bowl

• Put 1 tablespoon of brown sugar in a bowl.

Step 2. Add olive oil, honey, and lemon to it

• Add 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and honey.
• Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into the mixture.

Step 3. Mix the solution and rub it on your heels for 5 min

• Mix the ingredients to form a scrub and rub this mixture on your heels in gentle circular motions.
• Continue doing this for 5 to 7 minutes or until the sugar granules in the scrub melt.
• Wash your heels with warm water and cover with clean socks.

Repeat the process 3 times a week for 3 weeks to observe amazing improvement.

Method 6: Use Lemon Soak

Lemons contain acidic properties that help to exfoliate and renew the skin helping to shed off dead and dry skin cells and provide nutrients for their replacement to help achieve newer, softer, and smoother skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon
• Warm water
• Towel

Step 1. Squeeze lemon juice into warm water

• Add about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to warm water in a tub and mix well.

Step 2. Soak your feet in the lemon water

• Soak your feet in the solution for 15 minutes.

Step 3. Wash and moisturize your feet

• Wash your feet thoroughly, pat them dry using a towel.
• Finish by applying some moisturizer. Natural moisturizers like coconut oil or olive oil are the best.
• Preferably, slip on a pair of socks to keep any dust or dirt from sticking to the cream/oil on your feet.

Repeat the process 3 or 4 times a week for 4 weeks to get rid of cracked heels.

Tips You Should Keep in Mind

• You can use almost any natural oil, gel, or cream to keep your skin soft, smooth, and moisturized. Coconut, olive, castor, jojoba, and almond oils are some healthy options to consider.
• Baby oil or mineral oil is another excellent alternative. They are mild, and mineral oil does not contain fragrances or other chemicals that the skin may react to negatively.
• Avoid using foot powders which can excessively dry out the soles of the feet through absorption. Avoid using products that contain alcohol, as they tend to dry up the skin through evaporation.
• After bathing, be sure to use some moisturizer like shea butter lotion, cocoa butter, lanolin or some other oil or cream on your feet.
• Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized.
• Saunas and steam baths can lead to dry feet, so you may wish to avoid them as much as possible.
• Allowing your feet to breathe, by wearing a properly fitted and well-ventilated shoe, is an important aspect in preventing cracked heels.
• In certain extreme cases, wearing heel cups can be of great help.

Summary of How to Heal Dry, Cracked Heels Quickly with Home Remedies

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