Dry and Cracked Feet: Proven Home Remedies for Soft, Smooth Feet

Dry and cracked feet are a common problem during the winter.

The skin on the soles of the feet tends to become dry during the winter. Lack of moisturization, overexposure to colds, and medical conditions like eczema, diabetes, thyroid, and psoriasis, can increase your risk of dry and cracked feet.

Cracked heels can be very worrisome, embarrassing, and painful. Though cracked heels are mostly harmless, ignoring them may result in infections called cellulitis. It can also result in bleeding and pain. You can treat dried and cracked feet with simple natural home remedies.

Read on to discover the best home remedies for dried and cracked feet.

Best Home Remedies for Dried and Crack Feet

Increase your water intake

The first and most important trick to improve your dry skin condition is to increase your water intake. Your skin tends to lose around a liter of water throughout the day. So, drinking enough water throughout the day is the key to soothing dry and cracked skin. If you don’t like water in the winter, then you may keep sipping herbal teas.

Also read: Drinking warm water before food: here is what happens

Apply a good moisturizer 

Keeping your skin well hydrated is the key to preventing dry and cracked feet. Using a good moisturizer twice a day can help in improving your dry skin condition. You can apply it once in the morning after a bath and once at night before bed. Petroleum jelly is one of the best choices for moisturizers. It forms a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss.

Also read: Milk cream as moisturizer

Soaking your feet

Soaking your feet in lukewarm water and scrubbing it with a pumice stone can help you get rid of the dry and dead cells. You can add Epsom salt to the water for better results. After soaking pat it dry with a towel and apply a good moisturizer. 

Also read: Health benefits of daily massage

Apply honey on your feet

Honey has antiseptic properties that can help you treat cracked heels. It is also rich in antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that prevent infections and fasten the healing of your cracked heels. It softens your heels and keeps them healthy. You can also mix honey and lemon juice and apply this on your feet for quick healing.

ALSO, READ: Does honey turn your black hair white?

Apply oil on the sole of your feet

Applying coconut oil to your feet after a foot soak is an excellent home remedy for cracked feet. Coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help in healing your cracked heels. Rich in fatty acids, coconut oil helps in retaining the moisture of your skin. Olive oil and sesame oil are also great natural remedies for cracked heels. Both olive and sesame oil have nourishing and moisturizing properties that make your skin soft and supple.

Apply Aloe Vera gel to your feet

Aloe vera is an excellent natural remedy for your skin issues. It soothes dry and dead skin and heals the cracks in your feet. After a relaxing foot soak, you can apply aloe vera gel on the cracks. The best time to apply aloe vera gel is before bedtime. Repeat this every night during the winter to keep your heels soft and supple.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that helps reduce inflammation. It has wound-healing properties that can calm redness, and swelling, and heal the cracks in your feet. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil. This will moisturize your dry skin and heal cracks on your feet. Do this every night before bed for excellent results.

Also read: Say Goodbye to Dry Skin: Top Home Remedies for a Hydrated and Glowing Facial Complexion

Tips To Prevent Cracked Heels

• Proper skin care is very important during winter. 
• Keeping your feet clean is very important for preventing cracked feet.
• Soak your feet in warm water and rub the dirt with a pumice stone.
• Proper moisturization can help prevent dry heels.
• Wear moisturizing socks to prevent cracked and damaged heels.
• Always buy a pair of comfortable shoes.
• Avoid excessive walking or standing for long hours.
• Give yourself relaxing foot massages with oil.
• Drink 8 glasses of water every day to prevent cracks.
• Never peel or shave your calluses as they can result in infections.

Also read: Tips and tricks for beautiful feet

Conclusion

Maintaining good health of your feet is very important but very difficult. Most people skip cleaning their feet while taking a bath. But this can lead to poor foot hygiene, cracked heels, and infections. You must take proper care of your feet and keep them protected at all times. Especially if you suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes, then it becomes more important to take good care of your feet. 

Rather than buying expensive foot creams and getting pedicures every month, you can try these simple home remedies every day. You can also do DIY home pedicures and apply foot masks to keep your feet soft and supple.

Also read: TIPS FOR AVOIDING FOOT ODOUR