20 Simple and Effective Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

Dry, cracked heels are a very common problem in most adults. As we age, the cushioning pads we have on the soles of our feet become thinner and cause stress to the skin, especially if we are on our feet a lot. This stress leads to calloused or cracked skin. Here are some perfect remedies for this:

20 Effective Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

Here are twenty homemade remedies for cracked heels that will soothe and heal them:

1. Banana Mask

This simple banana mask will help soften your cracked heels.

What You Will Need

• 2 bananas

Method

• Mash the two bananas until they form a smooth paste
• Apply on your feet, focusing on your cracked heels and going along the sides of your toes and your nail beds
• Leave it on for 15 minutes, and rinse your feet

How Often To Do

Do this every night until you notice an improvement.

How This Remedy Works

Banana is a great skin moisturiser. It has vitamins A, B6, and C which are great for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration.

Cautionary Tip

Ensure that you use ripe bananas, as unripe ones contain an acid that can be harsh on your skin.

2. Honey, Rice Flour and Apple Cider Vinegar Scrub

Exfoliation is a great way to get rid of dead skin cells.

What You Will Need

• One teaspoon honey
• 3 teaspoons rice flour
• 2 drops Apple Cider Vinegar

Method

• Stir the ingredients into a thick paste
• Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes
• Gently scrub the paste on your feet

How Often To Do

Exfoliating should be done only twice or thrice a week.

How This Remedy Works

Honey is an excellent natural antiseptic for the skin, and rice flour is good for exfoliating and re-mineralising skin.

Cautionary Tip

Do not use too much apple cider vinegar as it can irritate tour skin due to its high acidic content.

3. Listerine and Vinegar Soak

A great soak for your feet that is highly beneficial.

What You Will Need

• One cup white vinegar
• One cup Listerine
• 2 cups water

Method

• Mix the ingredients and soak your feet in the mixture for about 15 minutes
• Scrub your feet with a pumice stone
• Rinse your feet and pat them dry
• Moisturise

How Often To Do

You can do this daily until you your feet heal.

How This Remedy Works

Listerine contains alcohol and thymol that fight toenail fungus, soothe cracked skin and heal plantar warts. The mild acids in vinegar soften dry, dead skin, making it easy to exfoliate.

Cautionary Tip

If you have sensitive skin, Listerine soaks can cause mild irritation.

4. Baking Soda Soak

Baking soda is commonly used in many DIY skincare routines as a natural exfoliator.

What You Will Need

• 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• A bowl of warm water

Method

• Soak your feet in the water and soda mixture for about 15 minutes
• Remove and scrub with a pumice stone
• Rinse and pat dry
• Moisturise

How Often To Do

A baking soda soak should be used only twice a week.

How This Remedy Works

Baking soda is a great exfoliator and is an anti-inflammatory. It also eliminates bad odour from the feet.

Cautionary Tip

Do a patch test to ensure you are not allergic to baking soda.

5. Salt, Lemon, Rosewater and Glycerine Foot Soak

This is a soothing and rejuvenating foot soak.

What You Will Need

• 10 drops lemon juice
• Raw salt
• One tablespoon glycerine
• One teaspoon rosewater
• Warm water
• Pumice stone

Method

• Mix all the ingredients in warm water
• Soak your feet for about 20 minutes
• Scrub gently with pumice stone
• Rinse and pat dry
• Moisturise

How Often To Do

Do this daily until your feet heal.

How This Remedy Works

Lemon juice has acidic properties that heal dry and rough skin; rosewater is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic; glycerine softens the skin. The raw salt aids exfoliation and is also an antiseptic.

Cautionary Tip

Do a patch test first as the acidity of lemon can irritate.

6. Paraffin Wax and Oil

A soothing overnight remedy for your feet.

What You Will Need

• One tablespoon paraffin wax
• 2-3 drops coconut or mustard oil

Method

• Mix the wax with the oil and heat until the two blend well.
• Cool the blend and then apply to feet. Cover with socks and leave overnight.

How Often To Do

Use this treatment twice a week before bed.

How This Remedy Works

Paraffin wax is a natural emollient and it softens skin. This remedy works wonders for painful, cracked heels.

Cautionary Tip

Do not opt for this remedy if you have diabetes.

7. Honey Water

Honey has many great benefits for the skin and will help with your cracked heels.

What You Will Need

• One cup honey
• Half a bucket warm water

Method

• Mix the water and honey
• Soak your feet for about 20 minutes
• Scrub your feet gently to remove dry and dead skin
• Rinse, dry and moisturise

How Often To Do

This can be done daily.

How This Remedy Works

Honey is a great natural antiseptic can be used to revitalise cracked skin.

Cautionary Tip

Avoid honey if you have a pollen or bee allergy.

8. Tea Tree Oil Rub

Tea tree oil is a wonderful ingredient for skin care.

What You Will Need

• 5-6 drops tea tree oil
• One tablespoon coconut oil
• Socks

Method

• Mix the coconut and tea tree oil
• Rub on your feet
• Cover with the socks and leave overnight

How Often To Do

Do this every night until your feet heal.

How This Remedy Works

Tea tree oil is great for cleansing and conditioning the skin.

Cautionary Tip

Use tea tree oil after diluting it in a carrier oil.

9. Aloe Vera Gel

The ancient Egyptians called aloe vera ‘the plant of immortality’ for its many benefits.

What You Will Need

• Aloe vera gel
• Warm water

Method

• Use warm water to soak your feet for 15-20 minutes
• Pat dry
• Apply the aloe vera gel on your feet and put on socks
• Leave overnight

How Often To Do

This can be done every day.

How This Remedy Works

Aloe vera heals the skin and increases the collagen in it. It also contains amino acids that soften the skin.

Cautionary Tip

Aloe Vera is ideal for all skin types and is hypoallergenic, so there are no precautions to take.

10. Epsom Salt Soak

Give your feet a bit of salty love.

What You Will Need

• Half a cup Epsom salt
• Warm water

Method

• Mix the salt and water
• Soak your feet in it for about 20 minutes
• Scrub feet with a pumice stone
• Rinse, dry and moisturise

How Often To Do

This can be done thrice a week.

How This Remedy Works

Epsom salt is very soothing for tired feet, and it helps to soften the heel skin as well.

Cautionary Tip

If you are allergic to Epsom salt, you will have itchy rashes.

11. Oats and Olive Mask

Oats are very good for the skin, so don’t miss out on their goodness.

What You Will Need

• 4 drops olive oil
• One tablespoon powdered oats

Method

• Mix the ingredients into a thick paste
• Apply the paste on the dry and cracked parts of your feet
• Leave on for half an hour
• Rinse, dry and moisturise

How Often To Do

Do this every alternate day until you see a difference in your feet.

How This Remedy Works

Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties. It’s good for healing cracked, dry skin.

Cautionary Tip

Avoid use if you are allergic to oats or olive oil.

12. Vaseline and Lemon Juice Rub

Vaseline is great for moisturising the skin.

What You Will Need

• 5 drops lemon juice
• One teaspoon Vaseline

Method

• Soak your feet in warm water for 15 minutes
• Mix the lemon juice and Vaseline and apply on your feet
• Wear socks and leave overnight

How Often To Do

Do this daily before bed.

How This Remedy Works

Vaseline is very moisturising, and lemon has acidic properties that work to heal your cracked feet.

Cautionary Tip

If you have sensitive skin, lemon juice can cause irritation.

13. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil has great healing properties.

What You Will Need

• One teaspoon avocado oil

Method

• Rub the oil on your feet before bed
• Wear socks and leave overnight

How Often To Do

Do this regularly until your skin heals.

How This Remedy Works

Avocado is perfect for healing scrapes, cuts, and cracked skin as it has natural moisturising properties.

Cautionary Tip

If you are hypersensitive or pregnant, avocado oil may irritate your skin.

14. Shea Butter

This moisturising butter is great for the skin.

What You Will Need

• One tablespoon Shea butter

Method

• Massage feet with Shea butter and cover with socks.
• Leave overnight

How Often To Do

Use daily until your feet heal.

How This Remedy Works

Shea butter contains vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that can heal dry skin.

Cautionary Tip

Shea butter is safe to use unless you are allergic.

15. Lemon and Sugar Scrub

This is a gentle scrub for your feet.

What You Will Need

• One lemon, cut in half
• Sugar

Method

• Dip the lemon halves in the sugar and gently scrub your feet with them
• Rinse, pat dry, and moisturise

How Often To Do

This can be done daily until you notice an improvement.

How This Remedy Works

The mildly acidic nature of the lemon softens skin, and the sugar exfoliates the dead, dry skin on the feet.

Cautionary Tip

The acid in the lemon can irritate your skin.

16. Lavender and Olive Oil

Lavender is a great healing oil.

What You Will Need

• One tablespoon olive oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil

Method

• Massage the oil mix into the skin before bed
• Wear socks and keep overnight

How Often To Do

Every night before bed.

How This Remedy Works

Lavender oil has regenerative and antiseptic properties that heal skin.

Cautionary Tip

Always mix essential oil with a carrier oil to avoid skin irritation.

17. Peppermint Scrub

This is a soothing and cooling remedy.

What You Will Need

• One cup cornmeal
• One cup dry oatmeal
• 1/4th cup coarse sea salt
• One teaspoon peppermint essential oil

Method

• Massage the ingredients on your feet like an exfoliator
• Rinse, dry and moisturise

How Often To Do

Twice or thrice a week.

How This Remedy Works

Containing Omega 3 fatty acids, peppermint is very nourishing and cooling for the skin.

Cautionary Tip

Ensure that you are not allergic to any of the above ingredients.

18. Coconut Oil

This is the simplest and the most effective remedy.

What You Will Need

• Coconut oil

Method

• Massage the coconut oil into your skin and cover with socks
• Leave overnight

How Often To Do

Every night before bed.

How This Remedy Works

Coconut oil helps keep your skin moisturised, kills microorganisms and stimulates healing, keeping the skin healthy.

Cautionary Tip

Be aware that it can irritate your skin if you’re allergic.

19. Turnip Mask

This is effective for healing cracked heels.

What You Will Need

• One piece of turnip, peeled, chopped, and boiled

Method

• Mash the boiled turnip into a smooth paste
• Apply on the feet and leave it on for at least 2 hours
• Wash, dry, moisturise and cover with socks

How Often To Do

Every day for a week, then twice a week.

How This Remedy Works

Turnip heals your skin as it is an excellent natural gel.

Cautionary Tip

Do not use if you are allergic to turnips.

20. Turmeric And Neem Oil

Turmeric and Neem are known for their healing properties.

What You Will Need

• 3 teaspoons turmeric
• Neem oil

Method

• Form a paste with Neem and turmeric and apply on feet
• Leave for 30 minutes
• Rinse, dry, moisturise and cover with socks

How Often To Do

Every day until your feet heal.

How This Remedy Works

Both ingredients have anti-fungal, antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties that also help soften your skin.

Cautionary Tip

Do not use excess Neem oil as it may cause irritation.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions:

1. How To Prevent Cracked Heels From Developing?

Keep your feet moisturised and sleep with socks on to prevent the loss of moisture.

2. Can Diabetes Cause Cracked Heels?

Yes, it can. Uncontrolled levels of sugar cause nerve damage in the feet, leading to dry skin.

3. How Long Do Cracked Heels Take To Heal?

Cracked heels take 7-14 days to heal with consistent treatment.

4. Is There Any Way To Make Them Heal Faster?

Keeping them well moisturised and covered will help them heal faster.

5. Why Do Heels Crack?

Feet have no oil glands to keep them moisturised, causing dryness and cracked heels.

Treat cracked heels in winter at home with these methods, and you will soon have smooth, sandal-worthy feet!

Also Read: Remove Tanned Skin with These Instant Tan Removal Techniques