The feet happen to be one the most neglected parts of the body. Many individuals tend to take painstaking measures to keep their skin smooth, supple and radiant. However, most of them to tend to restrict this care to the upper body alone and forget the feet in the process.
This negligence along with a couple of other factors like age and improper hygiene can lead to the development of painful cracks and fissures in the feet with time. If not treated in time, these cracks can widen and become open wounds that would attract all sorts of infections.
There is no need to opt for expensive lotions, creams and over the counter medications to treat cracked heels. Certain kitchen ingredients can help you take care of these cracks and fissures within the confines of your home itself. So if you are looking for some really effective home remedies for cracked heels, here are the top three options you can try out.
Apply Lotion or Oil after Washing the Feet
Most of us tend to wash our feet and then forget about them. This could cause the skin on the feet to dry up and crack. The chances of this occurring are higher if you are prone to dry skin.
Always make it a point to dry your feet immediately after washing them (every time!). Apply a moisturizer afterwards to trap the moisture in the skin and keep it hydrated for longer intervals. You can opt for natural moisturizers like Vaseline, paraffin oil, coconut, olive oil, and hydrogenated vegetable oils for the same purpose.
Opt for a Bedtime Oil Massage
It pays to massage your feet with a good quality oil (excellent examples include olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable oil or sesame oil) right before you hit the bed every night. Apply a good amount of oil on the cracks and rub it in gently.
Cover the cracks (preferably your entire feet) with a piece of cloth. You can also opt to wear socks or tie a plastic bag around each foot. Rinse off the oil with lukewarm water the next morning. Repeat the same procedure for at least 4-5 days until the cracks heal completely.
Massage your feet with Fruits
Take an overripe banana and mash it nicely. Add a few pieces of fresh coconut (the flesh), an avocado and a few drops of olive oil to the paste. Blend all the ingredients nicely to form a thick paste.
Apply the paste over the cracks and leave it on for about half an hour. Wash it off with lukewarm water afterwards. The skin nourishing properties of all these ingredients would keep the skin on your feet hydrated and healthy for longer periods. Repeat the same procedure at least twice every day for about a week until the cracks disappear.
No need to worry if you don’t have avocado at home. Make the paste with other ingredients. You can also use banana as a standalone ingredient for the paste. Papaya (the flesh) also works as a good substitute for banana.