Cracked feet are unsightly and painful.
People suffering from cracked feet or heel fissures usually hide their feet in stuffy shoes.
Aside from the physical embarrassment of the condition, most people who have dry feet and cracked heels complain of some level of discomfort like pain, bleeding, and a host of other nightmares in between.
Fortunately, there are wonderful natural remedies that are sure to soothe and soften your dry feet.
Some of these remedies can be found in your kitchen, and you can whip up a cure for dry feet and cracked heels in no time at all.
What Causes Dry Cracked Feet?
The most common causes of cracked feet include:
- Poor gait (the way a person walks)
- Poor blood circulation
- Dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis
- Nutritional deficiencies like zinc and omega-3 deficiency
30 Home Remedies for Cracked Feet
1. Lemon and Coconut Oil
Ingredients
- One big lemon
- A pair of socks
- Coconut oil
Method
- Take the whole lemon and cut it in half
- Squeeze the juice out of both halves, but leave the pulp inside
- Take the two lemon halves and place your heel in each one
- Put on socks to hold the lemon halves firmly against your heels
- Leave the lemons pressed to your heels for about thirty minutes
- Pull off the socks and discard the lemon halves
- Rub coconut oil on your feet
How Often Should You Do This?
- 2-3 times a week
How Does This Work?
The acid from the lemon exfoliates dead skin cells and softens the skin.
After the lemon has smoothed the dry, cracked heel, the vitamin E in the coconut oil soothes and moisturizes the skin.
Caution
Try not to leave the lemon on your skin for longer than 30 minutes per session. Doing so can weaken the skin and it may not be able to moisturize as well.
2. Papaya Foot Mask
Ingredients
- Fresh papaya
- Lemon juice
Method
- Crush the flesh of the papaya to make a smooth pulp
- Mix the pulp with lemon juice
- Apply the mixture to your cracked feet and leave it on for 15 – 20 minutes
- Rinse off and towel dry
How Often Should You Do This?
- 2-3 times a week
How Does This Work?
Papaya has an enzyme called Papain, and this enzyme works the same way as Alpha-Hydroxy acid. Alpha-Hydroxy acid is a popular ingredient used in the production of skincare products. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles and reverses signs of aging.
Caution
It is not advisable to leave the mixture on your skin for more than 20 minutes per session.
3. Shea Butter Foot Rub
Ingredients
- 1-2 spoonsful of organic shea butter
- A pair of socks
Method
- Rub shea butter on your feet and massage till your skin absorbs the butter
- Pull on your socks and leave overnight
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can repeat the massage every night before bed.
How Does This Work?
Shea butter is an excellent natural moisturizer. Its properties include vitamin A and Vitamin E.
4. Lemon Foot Soak
Ingredients
- Lemon
- Warm water
- Pumice stone
- Towel
Method
- Add lemon juice to warm water (water should not be very hot)
- Soak your feet in the water for 10-15 minutes
- Once your heels have softened, scrub with the pumice stone
- Rinse out your feet and pat dry with a towel
How Often Should You Do This?
- Everyday. Repeat until you get softer feet.
How Does This Work?
This home remedy for dry, cracked heels works because, while the lemon juice gets rid of the cracks on the heels, the pumice stone helps to exfoliate the rough surface.
Caution
Please try not to exceed soaking time.
5. Honey Foot Softener
Ingredients
- 1 cup of honey
- Warm water
Method
- Add one cup of honey to half bucket of warm water
- Soak your feet for about 15-20 minutes
- Scrub gently to reveal softer feet
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can do this every other day, or until you get the smoother and softer feet you desire
How Does This Work?
Honey is a well-known moisturizer that also has anti-bacterial properties, which makes it an excellent salve in the treatment of cracked heels.
Caution
Extremely hot water can dry your skin. Ensure that the temperature of the water is just right.
6. Olive Oil Foot Balm
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Cotton balls
- A pair of thick socks
Method
- Dip the cotton balls in olive oil and rub it on your feet
- Massage the oil into your skin for 10-15 minutes
- Wear the socks and leave on for 1 hour
- Rinse your feet after 1 hour
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can repeat this simple massage every day
How Does This Work?
Olive oil nourishes the skin and makes it supple. It is one of the most trusted ingredients for soft heels.
7. Lemon Juice and Vaseline Foot Mask
Ingredients
- Warm water
- Vaseline
- Lemon Juice
- A pair of socks
Method
- Soak the feet in warm water for 20 minutes
- Add 1 teaspoon of Vaseline to 3 teaspoons of lemon juice and mix thoroughly
- Rub the mixture on your feet and leave it to sit for 1 hour
- You also have the option of leaving it overnight, but cover it with socks
How Often Should You Do This?
- If you do this every day you will see results in about a week.
How Does This Work?
Lemon juice softens the dry skin on feet while the Vaseline soothes and moisturizes it.
8. Banana and Avocado Foot Mask
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- ½ avocado
Method
- Blend the banana and avocado
- Cover your heels and feet with this thick paste
- Leave the paste on your feet for 20 minutes max
- Rinse your feet with lukewarm water
How Often Should You Do This?
- Everyday
How Does This Work?
Avocados are rich in essential oils and vitamins. Banana is a great natural moisturizer. Combined, both ingredients can fix dry skin and make it supple.
9. Coffee Grounds Foot Scrub
Ingredients
- Coconut oil
- Coffee grounds
- A mixing bowl
Method
- Add two cups of warm coffee grounds to ½ cup of coconut oil and mix
- Use the mixture to exfoliate your feet
- Rinse it off after scrubbing
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can use the coffee grounds mix to exfoliate your feet daily
How Does This Work?
Coffee grounds make the perfect natural exfoliant. Daily exfoliation helps to gently get rid of dry, cracked skin.
The coconut oil in the mixture moisturizes the skin and leaves it looking healthy and supple.
This is a personal favorite and adds so much flavor to your coffee… just kidding! Don’t use them to make coffee, but definitely try out this unique technique!
10. Epsom Salt Foot Softener
Ingredients
- ½ cup Epsom salt
- Warm water
- Foot basin
- Coconut oil
Method
- Pour warm water into the foot basin
- Mix the Epsom salt in the water
- Soak your feet in the mixture for 15 minutes
- Scrub off the dead skin cells
- Pat your feet dry with a soft towel
- Rub coconut oil on your exfoliated feet to seal in the moisture
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can repeat this remedy three times a week until your feet become softer.
How Does This Work?
With this remedy, you are essentially exfoliating and moisturizing your feet.
The coconut oil works as a moisture sealant, ensuring that you get your dreams of softer feet in a few short weeks.
11. Oatmeal Cracked Heels Remedy
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon powdered oatmeal
- 5 drops of olive oil
Method
- Mix the oatmeal and the olive oil to make a thick paste
- Apply the paste all over your feet and your heels
- Leave the paste on for 1 hour
- Rinse off with cold water and pat dry with a towel
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can do this every night before you go to sleep.
How Does This Work?
Oatmeal is rich in moisturizing properties that soften the skin and exfoliate dead skin cells.
12. Baking Soda for Cracked Feet
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda
- Warm water
- A bucket
- Pumice stone
Method
- Fill a bucket of water 2/3 of the way
- Pour the baking soda into the bucket of warm water and mix until the baking soda dissolves completely
- Soak your feet for 15 minutes
- Remove your feet from the water and scrub with the pumice stone
- Rinse your feet with clean water
How Often Should You Do This?
- Repeat twice a week
How Does This Work?
Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent ingredient for removing dead skin cells and revitalizing the skin.
13. Listerine Foot Soak
Ingredients
- 1 cup of Listerine
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups of water
- A basin
- Pumice stone
Method
- Mix the Listerine, white vinegar and water
- Soak your feet in the mixture for 10-15 minutes
- Remove your feet from the basin and scrub with the pumice stone
- Rinse your feet with water and pat dry
- Moisturize with moisturizer of your choice
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can do this for 4 days or until you have successfully scrubbed off the dead skin cells.
How Does This Work?
Listerine works as a skin softener. It is also an antiseptic that cleanses your skin to rid it of impurities.
14. Tea Tree Oil for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- 6 drops of tea tree oil
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- A pair of socks
Method
- Mix the tea tree oil and coconut oil
- Apply the mix on your feet and heels and massage for about 3 minutes
- Cover your feet with the socks and leave it on overnight
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can do this every night until your feet heal.
How Does This Work?
Tea tree oil is effective for cleansing, softening and conditioning the skin.
15. Sesame Oil for Cracked Feet
Ingredients
- 5 drops of sesame oil
Method
- Apply sesame oil on your feet and heels
- Massage your feet until your skin absorbs the oil
How Often Should You Do This?
- Every night before bed.
How Does This Work?
Sesame oil has moisturizing properties that soften and moisturize dry, cracked feet.
16. Rice Flour Paste for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Rice flour
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Olive oil
Method
- Mix a handful of rice flour with honey and apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste
- Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes
- Scrub your feet with the rice flour paste
- Rinse feet and pat dry with a towel
How Often Should You Do This?
- A few nights a week until you achieve desired results.
How Does This Work?
Rice flour softens and soothes cracked heels.
17. Avocado Oil for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- Avocado oil
Method
- Rub avocado oil on your feet before bedtime
- Cover up with socks and leave it on overnight
How Often Should You Do This?
- Every night for as long as you need it.
How Does This Work?
Avocado oil is a natural wonder that does wonders for the skin. It helps soothe scrapes, cuts and many other skin issues.
It also has anti-bacterial properties, which is excellent in the treatment of dry cracked feet.
18. Rosewater and Glycerin
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons rosewater
- 2 tablespoons glycerin
- Warm water
- Pumice stone
- A pair of socks
Method
- Add the salt, lemon juice, glycerin and rosewater to a basin of water
- Soak your feet in the basin for 10 minutes
- Scrub your heels and the sides of your feet with the pumice stone
- Mix 1 teaspoon of glycerin, one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of rosewater
- Apply this mixture on your cracked heels
- You can wear socks to keep the thick paste from smearing
- Leave it on overnight and rinse off in the morning
How Often Should You Do This?
- Use this remedy until you see improvements in your cracked heels.
How Does This Work?
The combination of lemon, glycerin, rosewater and salt works wonders in the treatment of dry skin on the feet.
While lemon heals rough skin, the other ingredients work to exfoliate and soothe the skin.
Caution
Lemon juice is acidic and can burn your skin. Use with care.
19. Turmeric and Neem Oil
Ingredients
- 5 drops neem oil
- 3 teaspoon turmeric powder
Method
- Mix the neem oil and turmeric powder to form a paste
- Massage the paste into the cracks and all over your feet
- Leave the mixture to sit on your skin for 30 minutes
- Rinse off and pat dry
How Often Should You Do This?
- Repeat this remedy until your cracks are healed.
How Does This Work?
Neem oil is rich in anti-fungal properties, which makes it great for treating cracked heels and preventing the cracks from getting infected.
20. Aloe Vera
Ingredients
- Tablespoons of aloe vera gel
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- Tulsi leaves
- 2 tsp basil leaves paste
- 1 tsp camphor powder
Method
- Crush the basil leaves to make a paste
- Mix aloe vera gel, turmeric powder, tulsi paste and camphor powder
- Mix well until you get a smooth paste
- Apply the paste on your cracked heels for 10-15 minutes
- Rinse off with lukewarm water
How Often Should You Do This?
- Every day until you see great results.
How Does This Work?
Aloe vera does wonders for a lot of skin issues, and dry cracked heels can benefit from it too.
The other herbs in this remedy work together with aloe vera to promote fast healing of cracked heels.
Tulsi has the anti-bacterial properties to prevent germs and bacteria from settling in the cracks.
21. Vinegar for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
- Warm water
- Basin
Method
- Fill the basin with 5 cups of warm water
- Add the apple cider vinegar and stir
- Soak our feet in the water for about 15 minutes
- Scrub your feet to remove the softened dead skin
How Often Should You Do This?
- Repeat this remedy every other day until you get softer feet.
How Does This Work?
Apple cider vinegar has a mild acid that helps soften the hard, cracked part of the feet, making it easier to scrub the tough part off to reveal softer skin underneath.
22. Paraffin Wax for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- 1 tsp paraffin wax
- 3 drops of mustard oil
Method
- Mix the paraffin wax with the mustard oil
- Place the mixture in a saucepan and heat until the wax melts
- Leave it to cool to room temperature
- Apply the mixture to your heels
- Put on a pair of socks and let the mixture sit on your skin overnight
- Rinse it off in the morning
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can use this remedy twice a week.
How Does This Work?
Paraffin is a well-known emollient that has skin softening properties.
Continuous treatment will result in softer, more beautiful heels, especially if are wondering how to get rid of dead skin on the feet.
23. Petroleum Jelly
Ingredients
- Warm water
- Petroleum Jelly
- Pumice stone
Method
- Soak your feet in the warm water for 20 minutes
- Scrub your heels and the sides of your feet with the pumice stone
- Apply petroleum jelly on the area and massage gently
- Put on socks and let the ointment sit overnight
How Often Should You Do This?
- Every night before bed.
How Does This Work?
Petroleum jelly acts as a moisturizer that soothes cracked heel and helps to prevent dryness.
24. Indian Lilac for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- Indian lilac
- Turmeric powder
Method
- Crush the Indian lilac to make a smooth paste
- Add the turmeric powder and mix thoroughly
- Apply the smooth paste to the cracked area and let it sit for an hour
- Rinse with warm water and pat dry
How Often Should You Do This?
- Use this remedy daily until you get results
How Does This Work?
Indian lilac has antibacterial properties. This home remedy for dry feet and cracked heels disinfects the feet and promotes fast healing.
25. Peppermint Oil for Cracked Feet
Ingredients
- Peppermint oil
- 1 cup dry oatmeal
- 1 cup cornmeal
- ¼ cup sea salt
Method
- Combine dry oatmeal, cornmeal, sea salt and peppermint essential oil
- Mix ingredients thoroughly
- Apply mixture to the feet and massage
- Rinse off after 20 minutes
How Often Should You Do This?
- You can use this remedy every night to get rid of dry skin on your feet.
How Does This Work?
Peppermint oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which nourishes the skin when ingested or used topically.
The menthol in peppermint oil also cools irritated skin and promotes healing.
26. Cocoa Butter for Cracked Feet
Ingredients
- Cocoa butter
- A pair of socks
Method
- Apply cocoa butter to the feet and massage until it is absorbed
- Put on socks and let it sit overnight
How Often Should You Do This?
- Daily.
How Does This Work?
Cocoa butter is a good source of vitamin E, meaning that it can effectively moisturize and heal cracked heels and feet.
27. Hemp Butter for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- Hemp butter
Method
- Massage your feet with hemp butter and leave it on overnight.
How Often Should You Do This?
- If you use this remedy every night, you should get rid of dead skin on your feet.
How Does This Work?
Hemp butter is a wonderful natural moisturizer. It is great home remedy for dry feet and cracked heels.
28. Vapor Rub
Ingredients
- Menthol vapor rub
- Pumice stone
- A pair of socks
Method
- Do this before you go to bed
- Apply the rub all over your feet and heels
- Put on socks and leave it overnight
- In the morning, use the pumice stone to scrub your feet to reveal fresher skin
How Often Should You Do This?
- Do this once a week and you should see results in a few weeks.
How Does This Work?
Vapor rub is an ointment that also works as a skin emollient. It softens the skin and makes it easier to exfoliate and get rid of dry, cracked heels.
29. Peroxide for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Warm water
- Pumice stone
- A Basin
Method
- Pour 2 cups of warm water in the basin
- Add 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide
- Soak your feet for 30 minutes
- Remove your feet and scrub gently with the pumice stone
- Rinse with warm water and apply foot cream
How Often Should You Do This?
- This remedy can be used 3 to 4 times a week.
How Does This Work?
Hydrogen peroxide exfoliates dead skin tissue, allowing the cracks to heal quicker.
Caution
You shouldn’t use this remedy if your cracked heels are bleeding or if you have open wounds.
30. Parsley for Cracked Heels
Ingredients
- 10-12 parsley sprigs
- ½ bucket of warm water
Method
- Chop the parsley into fine bits
- Add the parsley to the bucket of warm water
- Soak your feet in the mixture for 30 minutes
How Often Should You Do This?
- A daily dose of this remedy will leave you with smooth feet.
How Does This Work?
Parsley is rich in many nutrients including vitamin C, collagen and vitamin K.
These natural properties of parsley makes it one of the best home remedies for dry feet and cracked heels.
Cracked Feet Diet
A person’s diet plays a key role in the appearance of their skin. These are the foods you should eat if you are wondering how to get rid of dead skin on your feet.
- Water – drink enough water daily to prevent cracked feet.
- Essential fatty acids – These can be found in nuts and seeds like sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocado and olive oil.
- Vitamin E – Whole grains, nuts and leafy greens.
- Vitamin C – Cauliflower, guava, berries and papaya.
- Vitamin A – Goat milk, carrots, green vegetables and citrus fruits.
- Zinc – Shellfish, cheese, sardines and beef.
In summary, there are many products around your home that you could use to heal cracked heels.
These home remedies for dry, cracked feet cost little to nothing, but they will help you get the satin-soft feet you’ll be proud to show off.
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