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Home Remedies for Cracked Heels 1. Vegetable Oil. A variety of vegetable oils can be used to treat and prevent cracked heels. Exfoliating the skin on your feet and heels will help remove dead skin. Indian Lilac. Indian lilac, also known as margosa leaves or neem.

• Best Medicine For Cracked Heels In India
• Severely Cracked Heels
• Best Treatment For Cracked Heels
• How To Heal Cracked Heels Fast
• Cracked Heels Treatment Home Remedies

Jun 27, 2018  Wax-Mustard Oil Treatment for Cracked Heels This is a total treat for your cracked heels. If you have wide fissures that bleed often, you need to make an ointment type mixture with wax and mustard oil to be applied to your cracks on heels. Here are some tips. For a foot soak: Keep your feet in lukewarm, soapy water for up to 20 minutes. Use a loofah, foot scrubber, or pumice stone to remove any hard, thick skin. Gently pat your feet dry. Apply a heel balm or thick moisturizer to the affected area. Apply petroleum jelly over your feet to lock in.

Often, the only problem with cracked heels is their appearance. However, in some cases, the condition can be severe if the cracks become infected.

According to the National Foot Health Assessment 2012, 20 percent of adults in the United States have experienced cracked skin on their feet. Women were 50 percent more likely to report the condition than men.

If the cracks in the heels are deep, they can be painful, hurting when a person stands up, and they may sometimes bleed.

People should see a doctor if they experience soreness, redness, swelling, or severe pain in any area of the foot for more than a few days.

In this article, we outline some steps that can be taken at home to treat and prevent heel cracks in minor cases of the condition.

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Home remedies for cracked heels

Moisturizing treatments in the form of creams, lotions, and ointments can help retain moisture in the skin. This may prevent the skin from drying out and cracking. Moisturizing treatments can also help fix skin that is already cracked.

In mild cases of cracked heels, moisturizing two or three times per day may fix the problem. Rubbing any calluses gently with a pumice stone and applying a moisturizer can also help. However, be careful not to overuse the pumice stone, which can make cracked heels worse.

The following steps may help treat cracked heels:

1. Using an emollient or humectant moisturizer

Emollients penetrate the skin and reduce water loss. They fill the gaps between skin flakes, which makes the skin feel smooth, soft, and flexible. They help to reduce water loss in the skin.

Humectants penetrate the outer skin layer, attract water from the air, and maintain moisture. They also help to increase the water capacity of the skin.

In dry conditions, humectants may draw moisture from the lower skin layers instead of from the atmosphere. This may result in more dehydrated skin overall. Combining a humectant with an occlusive may help seal in moisture.

If you want to buy humectant moisturizers, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of customer reviews.

2. Applying an occlusive moisturizer over the top

Once the emollient or humectant is absorbed, people can apply a thick layer of an occlusive moisturizer over the top just before bed to seal the moisture in.

Occlusive moisturizers coat the skin in a thin film that prevents moisture evaporating from the outermost layer of the skin.

Examples of occlusive moisturizers include:

• petroleum jelly
• lanolin
• mineral oil
• silicones, such as dimethicone

Petroleum jelly is considered to be the most effective occlusive moisturizer, reducing water loss from the outer skin by more than 98 percent.

Although occlusives work well to lock in moisture, they can be greasy, sticky, and messy.

3. Wearing 100 percent cotton socks to bed

Wearing 100 percent cotton socks to bed after applying petroleum jelly to the heel may help to:

• keep the moisture in
• allow the heel skin to breathe
• prevent the bed sheets from becoming stained

The skin on the heels should soften after this routine is repeated for a few days.

100 percent cotton socks are available online.

4. Applying a keratolytic to thickened skin

When the heel skin is thick, applying a keratolytic may help thin it, as well as the other treatments.

Keratolytics are agents that thin thickened skin, cause the outer skin layer to loosen, and help with removal of dead skin cells. This process allows the skin to keep in more moisture.

Examples of keratolytics include:

• alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid and glycolic acid
• salicylic acid
• urea

Products that contain both keratolytics and humectants may be the most useful.For example, urea is both a keratolytic and humectant that moisturizes and removes dry, cracked, and thickened skin.

5. Gently rubbing thickened skin with a pumice stone

Gently rubbing a pumice stone against the heel, once the skin is moisturized, may help reduce the thickness of the hard skin and calluses. Pumice stones are available here.

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Razors and scissors should be avoided for scraping back and cutting skin. People with diabetes or neuropathy should not use pumice stones and should instead visit a dermatologist or podiatrist.

6. Using a liquid bandage

Liquid, gel, or spray bandages can be used to cover the cracked skin. These may provide a protective layer over the cracks, help reduce pain, stop dirt and germs entering the wounds, and aid faster healing.

People should see a podiatrist or dermatologist if their heels are severely cracked, or if self-treatment does not improve cracked heels after a week.

Medical treatments

In severe cases of cracked heels, or if medical care is required, a doctor may:

• remove dead skin
• prescribe stronger softening or removal agents
• apply medical glue to seal cracks
• prescribe an antibiotic if there is an infection
• strap the heel with dressings or bandages
• recommend shoe inserts, heel pads, or heel cups
• help the patient change how they walk

Causes of cracked heels

Dry skin usually causes cracked heels. When weight and pressure are applied to the fat pad under the heel, the skin expands sideways. If the skin is lacking in moisture, it becomes stiff, less elastic, and prone to cracking.

Other causes include:

• standing for long periods of time, particularly on hard flooring
• open-back shoes
• poorly fitting shoes
• friction from the back of shoes
• a poor way of walking
• dry, cold weather

Risk factors

Some conditions make people more likely to have dry skin and a greater risk of cracked heels. These include:

• obesity
• diabetes
• athlete's foot
• fungal infections
• heel spurs
• Sjögren's syndrome
• juvenile plantar dermatosis

Preventing cracked heels

The following steps can help avoid dry skin on the feet, and heel cracks:

Avoiding baths and showers making dry heel skin worse

People with dry skin should aim to:

• avoid hot water, using warm water instead
• limit time in a bath or shower to 5-10 minutes to avoid more moisture loss
• use a fragrance-free, mild cleanser
• gently blot skin with a towel to dry
• apply a moisturizer immediately after drying

Applying a moisturizer to heels immediately after washing

After a bath, a shower or a foot soak, people should immediately smother a moisturizer over the feet to trap in moisture. Ointments and creams are more effective than lotions and irritate the skin less.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommend applying an ointment or cream that contains oil or shea butter for dry skin. They also suggest that ointments and creams containing the following, may soothe dry skin:

• lactic acid
• urea
• hyaluronic acid
• glycerin
• dimethicone
• lanolin
• petrolatum
• mineral oil

Avoiding harsh soaps or scented skin care products

While it is important to keep cracked heels clean, dry, and free from infection, harsh soaps can dry out the skin further. Using a mild cleanser helps keep more moisture in the skin of the heel.

There are also emollient products that can be used in the bath and shower instead of soap.

Skin care products that contain fragrance, alcohol, retinoids, or alpha hydroxy acid can sometimes be too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. Avoiding these products may protect the skin's natural oils.

Wearing closed-heeled shoes

Wearing shoes or boots with a closed heel can help heal and prevent cracks to the back of the foot. Shoes with closed heels with cushioning give support to the problematic area. People should avoid open-heeled shoes, those with thin soles, and ill-fitting footwear.

Wearing padded socks, shoes with a non-slip sole, and inserts or orthotics recommended by a foot health professional may also protect the soft tissue of the foot.

Wearing cotton socks with shoes may help reduce friction as well. They can also soak up sweat and moisture, allow the skin to breathe, and help prevent the skin drying out.

Outlook

Cracked heels can be treated quickly and easily at home with moisturizers and products that thin the skin. To prevent cracked heels, people should ensure that a moisturizer is applied daily to the feet to prevent them drying out.

People should never try and treat cracked heels at home if they are associated with a medical condition. Instead, they should seek the advice of a doctor.

If the cracks are severe, it is important to get the advice of a specialist to prevent the wounds becoming infected.

Related coverage

Article last reviewed by Sun 26 March 2017.
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Causes of cracked heels. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ipfh.org/foot-conditions/foot-conditions-a-z/cracked-heels/causes-of-cracked-heels/

Cracked heels. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/cracked-heels

Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/dry-skin

Dry skin: Diagnosis and treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/dry-sweaty-skin/dry-skin#treatment

Emollients. (2014, August 19). Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Emollients/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Krivda, M. S. (2004, June). Making the choice. The Dermatologist, 12(6). Retrieved from http://www.the-dermatologist.com/article/2766

Morse, M. J. (2014, January). A guide to dry skin conditions in the lower extremity. Podiatry Today, 27(1). Retrieved from http://www.podiatrytoday.com/guide-dry-skin-disorders-lower-extremity

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O'Sullivan, G., Fotinos, C., & St. Anna, L. (2012, October). Clinical inquiry: What treatments relieve painful heel cracks? The Journal of Family Practice, 61(10), 622-23. Retrieved from http://www.mdedge.com/jfponline/article/64876/pain/what-treatments-relieve-painful-heel-cracks

Prevention and treatment of cracked heels. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ipfh.org/foot-conditions/foot-conditions-a-z/cracked-heels/prevention-and-treatment-of-cracked-heels/

Sethi, A., Kaur, T., Malhotra, S. K., & Gambhir, M. L. (2016, May-June). Moisturizers: The slippery road. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 61(3), 279–287. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4885180/

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Cracked heels are a common foot problem. One survey found that 20 percent of adults in the United States experience cracked skin on their feet. This can occur in both adults and children, and seems to affect women more often than men.

For most people, having cracked heels isn’t serious. It may cause discomfort when going barefoot. In some cases, cracks in the heels can become very deep and cause pain. Read on to learn about the best home remedies for treating and preventing cracked heels.

1. Heel balms or thick moisturizers

The first line of treatment for cracked heels is using a heel balm. These balms contain ingredients to moisturize, soften, and exfoliate dead skin. Look out for the following ingredients:

• urea (Flexitol Heel Balm)
• salicylic acid (Kerasal)
• alpha-hydroxy acids (Amlactin)
• saccharide isomerate

You can find these heel balms over the counter at a drug store or online.

Tips for treating cracked heels

• apply heel balm in the morning to increase skin elasticity before you start your day
• moisturize your heel two to three times a day
• wear shoes that protect your heel

Some heel balms may cause minor stinging or irritation. This is normal. Consult your doctor if the balm continues to bother you or causes severe reactions. Severe cases of cracked heels may require a prescription-strength balm or steroid cream to help reduce inflammation and relieve itching.

2. Soak and exfoliate your feet

The skin around cracked heels is often thicker and drier than the rest of your skin. This skin tends to split when you apply pressure. Soaking and moisturizing your feet can help with this. Here are some tips.

For a foot soak:

1. Keep your feet in lukewarm, soapy water for up to 20 minutes.
2. Use a loofah, foot scrubber, or pumice stone to remove any hard, thick skin.
3. Gently pat your feet dry.
4. Apply a heel balm or thick moisturizer to the affected area.
5. Apply petroleum jelly over your feet to lock in moisture. Put on socks to avoid spreading any grease around.

Avoid scrubbing your feet when they’re dry. This increases your risk for damaged skin.

You can also try moisturizing heel sleeves. These have a similar effect to foot soaks. The sleeves are like socks that contain therapeutic oils and vitamins to help treat your dry skin. You can find them on Amazon here.

3. Liquid bandage

You can also apply liquid bandage to cracks to seal the wound and prevent infections or further cracking. This product comes as a spray, which means you can go about your day without worrying about the bandage coming off. Liquid bandage is a good option for treating deep heel cracks that may bleed.

Apply liquid bandage to clean, dry skin. As the crack heals, the coating is forced to the skin’s surface. You can buy this product without a prescription at a drug store or online.

Some people report success using super glue to close skin cracks. One 1999 case study observed ten people who used two to three drops of super glue along each crack. They held the crack together for 60 seconds to allow it to seal. About a week later, they reported the cracks to be closed and pain-free. But commercial super glue can be toxic, depending on the brand. Talk to your doctor before trying this approach.

4. Honey

Honey may work as a natural remedy for cracked heels. According to a 2012 review, honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Research shows that honey can help heal and cleanse wounds, and moisturize the skin. You can use honey as a foot scrub after a soak, or apply it as a foot mask overnight.

5. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is often recommended for dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. It can help your skin retain moisture. Using coconut oil after a foot soak could be a good option, too. Coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may your cracked heels if they’re prone to bleeding or infections.

6. Other natural remedies

There are many other home remedies for cracked heels, although none are proven to specifically treat cracked heals. Most ingredients focus on moisturizing and softening the skin.

These include:

• vinegar, for a foot soak
• olive or vegetable oil, to moisturize
• shea butter, to moisturize
• mashed bananas, to moisturize
• paraffin wax, to seal in moisture
• oatmeal mixed with oil, for exfoliation

Use caution

Do not treat cracked heels on your own if they’re caused by a medical condition. Special treatment from a podiatrist (foot doctor) may be needed. Severe cases of cracked heels should also be evaluated by a podiatrist, regardless of your medical history. The doctor will suggest the best treatment for your situation.

Q:

I’ve read about Listerine foot soaks for cracked heels. Does this treatment work and how can I try it?

A:

Listerine mouthwash or any antiseptic mouthwash when combined with warm water has been used as a foot soak. Many people combine it with vinegar. Listerine ingredients include denatured (undrinkable) alcohol, menthol, thymol, eucalyptol and methyl salicylate, and many other chemicals. The mouthwash can kill germs and moisturize dry skin.

Be prepared to do this once a day (usually at night) for a couple of weeks. Follow the soak with a pumice scrub and moisturizer for best results. Just like with other home remedies, it takes time and care to improve cracked heels.

Best Medicine For Cracked Heels In India

Severely Cracked Heels

The first sign of cracked heels is having areas of dry, thickened skin, known as callouses, around the rim of your heel. As you walk, the fat pad under your heel expands. This causes your callouses to crack.

Other factors that can cause cracked heels include:

• standing for long hours
• walking around barefoot, or with open-back sandals
• taking long, hot showers
• using harsh soaps that can strip your skin of natural oils
• shoes that don’t fit properly or support your heels
• dry skin due to climate, such as cold temperatures or low humidity

If you don’t moisturize your feet regularly, they may dry out even faster.

Medical causes

High blood sugar and poor circulation resulting from diabetes are common causes for dry skin. Nerve damage may prevent you from knowing your feet are dry, cracked, and painful.

Other conditions that may lead to dry skin and cracked heels include:

• juvenile plantar dermatosis
• palmoplantar keratoderma, causes abnormal skin thickening on the soles and palms
• obesity
• pregnancy
• aging

In addition to having cracked heels, you may experience:

• flaky skin
• itching
• pain, possibly severe
• bleeding
• red, inflamed skin
• ulceration

In severe cases, you may develop complications with a cracked heel, especially if it’s caused by a medical condition. Complications can include:

• a loss of feeling in your heel
• cellulitis, an infection
• diabetic foot ulcer

Symptoms of infection include pain, warmth, redness, and swelling. Call your doctor right away if you think you have an infection.

Your footwear matters. If you’re prone to cracked heels, try to find shoes that fit properly and support your heels. Whenever possible, wear shoes with a sturdy, wide heel that supports and cushions your heels.

Avoid

• flip-flops and sandals, which can increase the risk of your feet drying out
• open-back shoes, which generally don’t provide enough heel support
• shoes with a tall, skinny heel, which can cause your heel to expand sideways
• shoes that are too tight

Other ways to prevent cracked heels:

Best Treatment For Cracked Heels

• Avoid standing in one position or sitting with your legs crossed for too long.
• Slather on thick foot cream at night and then cover your feet with socks to lock in moisture.
• Inspect your feet daily, especially if you have diabetes or another condition that causes dry skin.
• Wear custom shoe inserts (orthotics) to cushion your heel and even out weight distribution.
• Wear good quality or clinically-testedpadded socks.
• Use silicon heel cups to keep the heel moisturized and help prevent the heel pad from expanding.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Use a pumice stone after showering a few times a week to help prevent thickening skin. But avoid removing calluses yourself if you have diabetes or neuropathy. You may inadvertently create a wound and increase your risk of infection.

How To Heal Cracked Heels Fast

In many cases, cracked heels aren’t cause for concern. You may be able to relieve the condition with over-the-counter or home remedies. See a doctor if you have a severe case of cracked heels, or an underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. It’s important to see a doctor to prevent potentially serious complications.

Cracked Heels Treatment Home Remedies

Although your skin may show signs of improvement after initial treatment, it may take several days or weeks for the cracks to heal. During and after this time, wear shoes that fit properly and practice proper foot care to help prevent new heel cracks.