25 Simple Home Remedies For Cracked Heels In Winter & Summer

Updated: 08/09/2019

What Are Cracked Heels?

Cracked heels are a widespread foot-relating problem among women. They are not dangerous but cause many discomforts to patients, especially when they go barefoot. In some critical cases, cracks are profound, causing pain and even bleeding.

Have you ever asked yourself why you have cracked heels? Let’s find out.

What Are Common Causes Of Cracked Heels?

In general, there are several causes leading to cracked heels, namely dry heels, prolonged standing, wearing improper shoes, or suffering from some kinds of diseases, such as eczema, diabetes, etc.

What Are Symptoms Of Cracked Heels?

• The first and the easiest-to-identify symptom of cracked heels is the heel dryness. When you touch your heels, you will find them rough and dry.
• Additionally, the heels being cracked are red, itchy, and inflamed. The symptoms become worse when you go barefoot.

The information above has brought you the necessary knowledge about cracked heels. Now it’s time to find out the best home remedies for cracked heels in summer and winter. Let’s take a look!

Top 25 Effective Home Remedies For Cracked Heels In Winter And Summer

1. Scrubbing

Scrubbing the heels should be listed as one of the most effective ways to deal with cracked and dry heels. It helps remove dead and rough skin cells^[1], which is an essential step to improve your cracked heel condition.

• Prepare a tub filled with warm water.
• Soften your heels with some soap before soaking them into the tub.
• Put your feet in the tub for 20 minutes.
• Scrub the heels slightly with a stone to eliminate all dead skin cells.
• Wash your feet with clean water afterwards and dry your feet using a clean cloth.
• Apply some foot cream and put on your socks to keep the cream overnight.
• Apply this method every day.

2. Vegetable Oil

Some vegetable oils are useful for healing and preventing cracked heels such as olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil^[2], etc. These vegetable oils are rich in fats^[3], which help to relieve the cracks as well as nourish the foot skin.

• Prepare a tub filled with soapy water and soak your feet into it.
• Take a rough stone to scrub your feet, especially your heels.
• Clean your feet with fresh water afterwards and dry them using a clean cloth.
• Apply vegetable oil to your foot soles and heels.
• Get on your socks.
• Leave it overnight so that the oil penetrates deeply into the heels.
• Repeat this for a few days until the cracks are gone completely.

3. Rice Flour

Rice flour acts as an exfoliator and a common home ingredient to remove dead skin cells^[4]. As exfoliation is essential to alleviate symptoms of cracked heels, rice flour is listed as one of the greatest home remedies for cracked heels that you should not miss.

• Put 2 teaspoons of rice flour in a bowl and add to it 2 teaspoons of honey.
• Then, pour some apple cider vinegar into the bowl.
• Stir well to form a thick paste.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil if you suffer from severe symptoms.
• Soak your feet into a tub filled with warm water for 15 minutes.
• Then, scrub your feet with the above prepared mixture.
• Repeat this remedy several times a week until your skin condition improved.

Note: If you are suffering from severe cracks, adding a little olive oil may increase the exfoliating effect.

4. Indian Lilac

Indian lilac is another name of neem or the leaves of margosa. It is a powerful ingredient to treat cracked heels^[5], especially when they are itchy and inflamed. Having fungicidal properties^[6], neem is good at easing dryness, irritation, and infection of the skin.

• Wash margosa leaves thoroughly.
• Put them in a blender and blend to a paste.
• Add 3 teaspoons of turmeric powder to the neem paste and mix them well.
• Apply this mixture to your cracked heels and let it stay for 30 minutes.
• Use warm water to wash your feet and pat dry using a cloth.

5. Lemon

Owing to the acidic property^[7], lemon is considered to be a wonderful treatment for dry and cracked heels as it may soften the rough skin on your heels.

Method 1:

• Pour warm water in a tub and add some lemon juice.
• Soak your feet into the tub for 15 minutes. Make sure that the water is not too hot, or else, it will make the feet drier.
• Use a stone to scrub the cracks.
• Wash your feet with clean water and use a soft cloth to dry.

Method 2:

• Pour some lemon juice into a bowl and add to it 1 teaspoon of petroleum jelly.
• Stir to mix them well.
• Wash your feet and dry them using a clean cloth.
• Apply the above mixture to your heels.
• Do this twice day.

Method 3:

• Put some 5 tablespoons of sea salt in a bowl.
• Add to it 1 tablespoon of olive oil and lemon juice from 1 lemon
• Stir them well.
• Apply the mixture to the cracked areas and let it stay for 10 minutes.
• Use warm water to wash your feet.
• Repeat this remedy twice a week.

Method 4:

• Put 1 teaspoon of Vaseline cream in a bowl and add to it 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
• Mix them well to form a thick paste.
• Wash your feet and dry them with a clean cloth.
• Apply the mixture above to your feet, especially your heels.
• Wear your socks to keep the cream
• Wipe it off the next morning.

6. Rosewater And Glycerin

If you are suffering from cracked heels and they are so painful when you go barefoot, try mixing rosewater with glycerin and applying the mixture to the cracks to ease the pain. Rosewater not only is rich in vitamin A, C, B3 but also has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties^[8]; while glycerin has a wonderful effect on softening our skin^[9].

• Prepare 1 teaspoon of rosewater and put it in a bowl.
• Take an equal amount of glycerin and add it to the bowl.
• Mix them well.
• Rub the mixture on the heels before bedtime every day.

7. Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is another effective way to treat cracked heels. It may help to alleviate the pain quickly by softening cracks in your heels. It also helps to increase the blood circulation and improve skin tone. It is used in the beauty industry because it is so good at softening and moisturizing the skin by working as a natural emollient^[10].

• Put a block of paraffin wax in a double-boiler to melt it.
• Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or mustard oil.
• Let it cool down naturally.
• Put your feet quickly in the mixture for 10 minutes.
• Repeat this action several times.
• Use a plastic bag to cover the feet and leave it for an hour.
• Take off the plastic bag and remove the wax on your skin.
• Do this remedy twice every week.

Note:

• Ensure that the mixture is not too hot.
• People having diabetes or poor blood circulation are not recommended to apply this remedy.
• Don’t overuse paraffin wax. A thin layer is enough.

8. Epsom Salt

One of the causes of cracked heels is the lack of moisture in the feet, as mentioned earlier. Therefore, using Epsom salt will hydrate your feet, especially your heels. It also helps reduce redness, inflammation, and pain caused by the cracks^[11]. In other words, it shortens the healing process thanks to the laxative effect.

Method 1:

• Fill a tub with warm water.
• Add to it ½ cup of Epsom salt.
• Soak your feet into the tub for 15 minutes and use a stone to scrub your heels.
• Then, dry them using a clean cloth.
• Apply some lotion to your feet and heels.
• To limit the moisture evaporation, get on your socks and leave it overnight.
• Remove the socks and wash off the cream in the next morning.

Method 2:

• Add ½ cup of salt to a bowl.
• Add some essential oils such as tea tree oil or peppermint oil and mix them well.
• Clean your feet.
• Apply the mixture to your feet, focusing on the cracked and dry areas.
• Wash the mixture off with clean water.
• Dry your feet using a clean cloth.
• Apply this method twice a week to improve your situation quickly.

9. Bananas

You may have not known that ripe bananas you eat is also one of the most powerful home remedies for cracked heels thanks to its ability to moisturize the skin. Bananas can be used either alone or in combination with avocados to handle cracked heels. This method is so fantastic for curing your cracked heels and nourishing your skin because banana works as a natural skin moisturizer^[12], while avocados are enriched with essential nutrients and vitamins^[13]. They contribute to helping your heels recover from cracked and dry condition quickly.

Method 1:

• Crush a ripe banana to form a paste.
• Wash your feet and apply the paste to your heels.
• Wait for 15 minutes to let the paste penetrate into the skin.
• Use lukewarm water to clean your feet.
• Then, soak your feet in a tub filled with cold water for 10 minutes.
• Apply this remedy everyday until you feel an improvement.

Method 2:

• Put a ripe banana in a blender and blend to get a thick paste.
• Add some avocado.
• Wash your feet carefully and apply the paste to your heels.
• Leave it on for 20 minutes.
• Use warm water to wash the paste off.

10. Honey

As we all know, honey presents in home remedies for many kinds of diseases. Indeed, it is useful for curing cracked heels. Thanks to the antibacterial and moisturizing properties, honey is considered a wonderful skin moisturizer^[14] and believed to ease cracked and dry heels and lips fast.

• Fill a tub with warm water and add a cup of honey to the tub.
• Stir it well.
• Soak your feet into the tub for 20 minutes, combined with scrubbing your heels gently.
• Apply this remedy every day.

11. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly may help bring your beautiful feet back as it helps soften your dry skin and keep it moist for a longer time. It is reported to be a great moisturizer^[15] that helps keep cracked heels’ risk factors at bay.

Method 1:

• Prepare a tub filled with warm water.
• Soak your feet into the tub for 10 minutes to soften the cracks and dry skin.
• Rub your heels gently to remove the dead skin cells.
• Apply some petroleum jelly to your heels.
• Put on your socks so that the petroleum jelly penetrates deeply into the skin.
• Apply this remedy every day before bedtime.

Method 2:

• Prepare a tub filled with warm water.
• Soak your feet into the tub for 10 minutes.
• Rub your heels gently to remove dead skin cells.
• Mix a little lemon juice with petroleum jelly and apply it to the cracked heels.
• Put on your socks so that the mixture penetrates deeply into the skin.
• Apply this remedy every day before bedtime.

12. Vinegar

You can use vinegar as one of the excellent home remedies for cracked heels as it may help to soften your skin. Thanks to the astringent, antibacterial, and anti-infective properties^[16], vinegar has the power to eliminate dead skin cells^[17], impurities, and microbes located in the cracked heels; thereby, it speeds up the recovery process.

Method 1:

• Put ½ cup of white vinegar/ apple cider vinegar in a tub.
• Add some water to the tub.
• Soak your feet into the tub for 15 minutes.
• Scrub your heels using a stone to remove dead and rough skin cells.
• Clean your feet with water and pat them dry using a soft cloth.
• Apply some petroleum jelly to soften and moisturize your skin.

Method 2:

• Put an enough amount of coarse rice flour in a bowl.
• Add some raw honey and apple cider vinegar to the bowl.
• Mix them well to form a paste.
• Wash your feet carefully and apply the paste.
• Slightly massage your feet.
• Rinse the paste off using warm water.
• Do this method twice per week.

Method 3:

• Add some warm water to a basin.
• Soak your feet into the basin for about 10 minutes.
• Scrub the feet.
• Wash your feet afterwards and apply some coconut oil to the cracked areas.

Method 4: 

In this method, you can add some Listerine to vinegar to heal cracked heels more effectively because Listerine contains phytochemicals and thymol^[18], which are useful to remove dead skin cells.

• Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into a bowl and add to it an equal amount of Listerine.
• Also, add 2 cups of water.
• Stir the mixture well and pour it into a basin.
• Soak your feet into the basin for 20 minutes.
• Wash your feet afterwards and dry them using a clean cloth.
• Apply this remedy thrice every week.

13. Oatmeal

Your cracked heels may be cured by using a scrub from oatmeal. Oatmeal will give a hand in eliminating dead skin cells, relieving skin dryness and itching^[19], and maintaining skin moisture^[20].

Method 1:

• Take 1 tablespoon of oatmeal powder and put it in a bowl.
• Add a little jojoba oil to the bowl and mix them well.
• Apply the mixture to your cracked heels and leave it on for half an hour.
• Wash it off using cold water and dry your feet with a clean cloth.
• Do this remedy every day.

Method 2:

• Pour 1 cup of ground oatmeal into a bowl.
• Add to it ¼ cup of honey, ¼ cup of olive oil, and ½ cup of flour.
• Mix all ingredients well to form a paste.
• Then, soak your feet into warm water for 10 minutes before applying this paste.
• Let it stay for half an hour and wash it off using warm water.
• Apply some foot cream for the final step.
• Do this method several times a week.

14. Olive Oil And Lemon Juice

You can utilize olive oil and lemon juice as one of the best home remedies for cracked heels. Olive oil helps to moisturize your skin^[21]; while lemon juice helps to soften the dead and rough skin cells and make them easier to remove. The solution made of olive oil and lemon juice is useful not only to prevent your skin from being dry but also to exfoliate.

• Put 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a cup and add to it the same amount of lemon juice.
• Mix them well.
• Then wash and dry your feet.
• Apply the mixture to the feet, focusing on dry and cracked areas.

15. Baking Soda

Baking soda is beneficial at removing dead skin cells, bacteria, and germs living in your skin thanks to the powerful antibacterial properties^[22]. This ingredient also helps to soften the dry and rough skin, which significantly contribute to reducing cracked heels.

• Prepare a basin filled with warm water.
• Add some baking soda powder to the basin.
• Stir well to dissolve the baking soda powder completely.
• Soak your feet into the basin for 15 minutes.
• Then, use a stone to scrub your feet, especially the heels.
• Wash your feet with fresh water for the final step.

After reading this article, we hope that you have found your own home remedies for cracked heels. Try these methods and don’t forget to share with us your results. If you have any contributing ideas to our article, don’t hesitate to drop your comments and questions in the box below. We will try to give feedback as soon as possible.

• Dry Skin
• Skin Disorders