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FEELING embarrassed to remove your shoes in public places because of cracked heel?
Most of us do spend a lot of time taking care of our face, but the least importance is given to our feet, which are often completely ignored.
Some of the common factors that cause cracked heels are obesity, improperly fitting shoes, standing for a long duration, dry skin and lack of proper care and hygiene.
Our kitchen is a repository of wonderful ingredients with healing properties and medicinal values that can cure many daily problems, including cracked heels.
Let’s look at some of the home remedies to heal your cracked heels.
Banana
The abundance of nutrients in bananas that include Vitamin A, B6 and C keep up the elasticity of the skin and keeps the skin well hydrated.
Banana is a natural moisturiser that keeps the feet moist and prevents drying of skin.
Ingredients:
Two ripe bananas
How to do it:
Take two ripe bananas and mash them into a smooth paste.
Avoid unripe bananas as it contains acid that is not good for the skin.
Apply the paste all over the feet, including the nails and sides of the toe.
Let it stay for 20 minutes and then rinse your feet with water.
Repeat this for at least 2 weeks before going to bed to get best results.
Honey:
Honey is considered a natural antiseptic that aids in healing cracked feet.
It is also a good humectant that moistens the skin and prevents drying of the skin.
In addition, the soothing properties of honey also help to revitalise the skin.
Ingredients:
One cup honey
Warm water
How to do it:
Mix one cup of honey to a tub of warm water.
Clean the feet and step in this mixture, massage soothingly for 20 minutes.
Dry your feet and apply moisturiser.
Regularly do this before going to bed for a few weeks.
Vegetable oil:
Cooking oils gets readily absorbed by the skin.
Vegetable oils are heaped with nutrients that include Vitamin A, D, and E, all of which revamp the skin and heal cracked heels by creating new cells.
Ingredients:
Two tbsp vegetable oil
How to do it:
Clean and pat dry your feet.
Nicely spread a thick layer of vegetable oil, covering your heels and toes.
Wear clean comfortable socks and leave them overnight.
Repeat this daily before going to bed to heal the cracked heels.
Vaseline and lemon juice:
The acidic properties of lemon, when combined with the moisturising effect of Vaseline, clear off dry skin and cracked feet.
Ingredients:
One tsp Vaseline:
Four-five drops of lemon juice
Warm water
How to do it:
Step your feet in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes.
Rinse and dry.
Combine one tsp of Vaseline and a few drops of lemon juice.
Apply this mixture over your heels and other parts of the feet thoroughly.
Wear a pair of woollen socks overnight and wash off in the morning.
Do this simple procedure before going to bed regularly.
Rice flour, honey and vinegar
Rice flour work as an amazing natural exfoliator that helps to clear off the dead cells and nourishes the skin.
Honey is a natural antiseptic that heal cracked feet while vinegar is a mild acid that moistens the dry and dead skin, thereby making it very easy to exfoliate.
Ingredients:
Two tablespoon rice flour
One teaspoon honey
Five-six drops of vinegar
How to do it:
Make a scrub by mixing all the ingredients to form a thick paste.
Soak your feet in lukewarm water for 10 minutes, dry and then gently scrub using the mixture to clear off the dead skin.
Repeat this process two-three times a week.
Treat your feet by giving a little more attention and care, start with moisturiser them at least twice a day.
Look out for moisturisers containing skin-softening agents like urea, salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acid that may help clear dead skin cells.
Simple feet care routine to be followed:
Soak your feet for about 10 minutes in plain water and dry well.
Gently rub the heels with a foot scrubber to aid removal of dead skin cells.
Massage oil-based cream or petroleum jelly and wear a cotton sock at bedtime to seal the moisture and help the moisturiser to work.
Never ignore dry, cracked heels, if left unattended you may develop deeper fissures, which may increase the risk of infection.
Other natural remedies:
There are several other home remedies that work wonders for healing cracked heels.
All these ingredients’ functions in moisturising and softening the skin.
These include:
Vinegar- for a natural foot soak
Olive oil – moisturises the feet
Shea butter- soften and moisturise the feet
Paraffin wax – locks the moisture
Oatmeal blended with oil – for clearing dirt and impurities.
Online Reporter