Believe it or not, Heel Fissures, commonly referred to as Cracked Heels, are a very common problem.  It is a condition that results in dry, callused skin.  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.  Cracked Heels may not be an incredibly painful condition, but it can often be embarassing. 

Symptoms of Cracked Heels will vary depending on the severity of the cracks in your heels.  Sometimes a person can have bleeding feet in serious conditions, but the most common symptom is dry skin that continually flakes off.  Other common symptoms are listed below. 

• Callused heels
• Hard skin growth
• Flaky skin patches
• Constant peeling skin
• Bleeding cracks (in more serious cases)
• Yellowing skin on the heel

The bottoms of your feet are extremely 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 Cracked Heels are more than a cosmetic issue.  The primary causes of Cracked Heels are insufficient moisture and prolonged hours on your feet, but there are other factors that can cause cracked heels.  They are listed below.

• Dry, cold weather
• 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 minimum amount of water to drink to stay hydrated is eight to ten 8oz glasses per day.  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, which consists of fast food, junk food, processed foods, meat, dairy products, and added sugars.  It is beneficial to eat a plant-based diet that consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, and whole grains like barley or buckwheat.  When you eat a plant-based diet, you are giving your body the essential nutrients that it needs to be healthy.
• Make a foot soak to help remedy your Cracked Heels.  Fill a bowl, which is big enough to fit your feet, 3/4 of the way with very warm water.  Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 1 Tbsp. of raw coconut oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil to the bowl of water and mix well.  Soak your feet in this solution for 10-15 minutes.  When you are done soaking, gently scrub your feet with a pumice stone or foot file before your dry your feet.  Once you dry your feet, apply organic coconut oil on your heels and put cotton socks on to wear them overnight.  Do this every couple days until symptoms subside. 
• Apple cider vinegar is a great natural solution that can be ingested or applied directly on the skin.  If you mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with 8oz of water and consume that twice a day, this can help to restore your body's pH balance, which is sometimes all that is needed to help remedy Cracked Heels.  For topical use, mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and distilled water and spray this on the affected area several times a day. 
• Since coconut oil is an incredible moisturizer and has antimicrobial properties, it can help reduce the symptoms of Cracked Heels.  For best results, gently apply warm coconut oil nightly before bed, as this softens the skin.  Symptoms may take a few days to reduce. 
• Because aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, it is commonly used to help remedy Cracked Heels.  Applying aloe vera to your heels helps restore your skin's pH balance and relieve itching and irritation.  Like coconut oil, aloe vera also has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties. 

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Aloe Vera Juice
• Coconut Oil
• Berries (as they have many antioxidants)
• Olive Oil
• Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, and collards)
• Raw Almonds and Walnuts
• Oranges (provided you are not allergic to citrus)
• Beets
• Bok Choy
• Pineapple