Believe it or not, cracked heels, or heel fissures, are a very common problem. They aren’t fun and don’t look attractive either. You don’t want to look down at your heels and see that they are dry, sometimes red, or worse, see that the cracks have gotten bigger and deeper. Your feet are constantly working, which is why they are susceptible to this cosmetic damage.
Unless you run barefoot on the ground all day long, the bottoms of your feet will be pretty sensitive. If the sensitive areas on your heels become too dry, they can crack and be painful to walk on. Sometimes they can even get infected, but that is only if the issue is more than cosmetic. The primary cause of cracked heels is insufficient moisture, but there are other factors that can cause cracked heels. They are listed below.
- Dry skin
- Poor diet
- Unhealthy foot hygiene
- Skin conditions (for example: psoriasis or eczema)
- Diabetes & obesity
- Thyroid issues
- Aging
- Prolonged hours on your feet
- Soaking in a hot bath too often
One of the best things you can do to remedy cracked heels is to drink a lot of water. The best way to ensure proper hydration is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water. If you weigh 150lbs and divide that by 2 to get 75, then you should be drinking 75 ounces of water every day.
Another way to keep your feet healthy is to eat a healthy diet. A lot of skin problems can be the result of a poor diet. It is beneficial to eat a plant-based diet that consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and whole grains like barley or buckwheat.
To provide quick relief to your cracked heels, you can make this easy home remedy below.
Ingredients
- Large bowl (or something big enough to fit your feet)
- Very warm water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
- Pumice stone, microplane rasp, or foot file
Directions
- Fill your bowl (or whatever you’re using) about ¾ of the way full with very warm water. Add the vinegar and your choice of coconut or olive oil and gently stir.
- Soak your feet in this bath for about 10-15 minutes. When you are done soaking, take a pumice stone or foot file and gently scrub your heels before you dry your feet.
- Pat your feet dry and apply organic coconut oil to your heels to moisturize them. If you want some extra health benefits for your feet, try applying some tea tree oil to your cracked heels with the coconut oil. Put on cotton socks and wear them overnight.
