Help for Cracked Feet

Cracked feet, or heel fissures, may cut deep into the skin, producing a painful condition. More often than not, the condition is due more to a lack of care for the feet than from overexposure or lack of moisturizing. Cracked feet fissures most commonly occur along the heel's rim or in the toes' webbing. While prevention (good foot care) is the best idea, simple home remedies can help once the condition has presented itself.

Simple Treatment

In general, any daily regime that includes washing and moisturizing your feet provides a cure for dry or cracked heels. After a long day, give your feet a 15-minute soak in warm, soapy water. Rinse off the soap and gently pat your feet dry.

A homemade salve can be made from a teaspoon of Vaseline and the juice squeezed from one lemon. Massage this onto the fissures and other dry areas until the salve has been completely absorbed. Try this daily and watch for results.

For something more soothing, try an application of glycerin mixed with rosewater. You can usually find glycerin at most health food stores. Another good option is to use shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil as a moisturizer. Apply the shortening or oil to the cracked areas, then cover your feet with a pair of thick socks. Leave them on overnight. Typically, you can expect results in a matter of days.

The Old-Fashioned Way

A popular old-fashioned remedy is to rub a ripe banana's pulp on dry heel cracks. Allow it to soak into the skin for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing the area clean.

Lemon juice is also said to work on its own. Simply soak your cracked feet in the juice for about 10 minutes. Try this method on a weekly basis and see if it helps.

Pariffin Wax

Another home remedy involves melting paraffin wax and mixing it with a dash of mustard oil. Apply this waxy paste to your cracked heels and leave it on overnight. Again, wearing a sock may prevent stains on your sheets. Rinse this off in the morning. Wearing this paste nightly for approximately two weeks may cure your cracked feet.

Dietary Considerations

Because cracked heels may be related to dietary deficiencies, make sure your diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc (which promotes healing), calcium and iron to help what may be the underlying cause.

Other Considerations

Caring for your feet requires keeping them clean and well exercised. Your feet may also require exfoliating and moisturizing on a regular basis. Also, for some, walking barefoot aggravates the condition. Even wearing open-backed shoes may contribute to the problem. Likewise, prolonged standing could be a cause, requiring you to take a break from your feet from time to time.

If tending to your cracked feet at home does not produce results, be sure to speak to a physician, as there could be another cause which requires medical attention. But for many, these home remedy treatments will usually help.

References

• Home Remedies for Cracked Feet
• More About Cracked Heels

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