Many people have rough, unattractive, and dry cracks on the heel or ball of their feet. This condition is commonly known as “dry cracked feet” or “heel fissures.”In general, the skin on our feet needs extra attention as it does not have any oil glands and relies solely on sweat glands to retain its moisture.
A few simple home remedies are enough to get rid of dry, cracked feet. It is not a serious issue, and most people get it as they age.
However, it may also trouble young people and is a nasty issue especially for young females who care a lot about their looks.
Dry cracked feet are common among people of all ages, though elderly folks are more prone to it. The symptoms of dry cracked feet are:
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Fissures (cracks)
- Roughness
- Peeling skin
- Rashes
Feet become dry when the sweat glands are not supplying enough moisture. It can also be due to some external factors that are drying the feet up much more rapidly than the sweat glands are producing moisture.
A worse scenario is when the feet become so dry that deep cracks appear in the skin.
Your skin is like bare land: if it’s not getting enough water, it becomes dry and deep, wide cracks form on the surface. The same thing happens with the skin on your feet.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to be aware of some of the factors that dry your skin:
- Bathing with hot water
- Using harsh soaps
- Spending several hours in a sunny environment
- Diseases like diabetes or thyroid disorder
- Cold weather
- Old age, which causes the body to lose its pH Balance
- Obesity
- Standing for long hours
While dry cracked feet is not a very serious issue and can be treated easily, ignoring it may lead to pain while walking, bleeding, or skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
As soon as you notice you have dry cracked feet, you should take action immediately. Here are some home remedies that you can do:
1. Scrubbing
photo: Mike Chaput
This is the easiest way to treat dry and cracked feet. Scrubbing helps remove the cracks and dead cells from the skin and makes it soft.
- Fill a tub with lukewarm water.
- Add liquid soap and mix well.
- Soak your feet for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove your feet and gently scrub the affected areas with a pumice stone.
- Rinse your feet with clean water and dry using a soft towel.
- Apply lotion or moisturizer and put on cotton socks.
- Do this for about a week, before you go to bed.
Lemon juice contains citric acid and is acidic in nature. It does a pretty good job in removing dead and dry skin, as well as restoring the pH balance of the skin at the same time.
- Fill a bathtub with lukewarm water and add some lemon juice to it.
- Soak your feet in the tub for 10 minutes and scrub the affected areas afterwards for a few minutes using a scrubber.
- Rinse, dry, and apply moisturizer to your feet.
- As an alternative, you can make a mixture of one tablespoon of olive oil, five tablespoons of sea salt, and some lemon juice. Apply this to the dry, cracked areas and rinse it off after 15 minutes.
Epsom salt is widely used to cure dry feet as it promotes blood circulation to the affected areas, therby healing the cracks. Also, the magnesium present in the salt helps to keep the skin healthy and toxin-free.
- Fill a tub with lukewarm water and add two teaspoons of epsom salt.
- Soak your feet in the tub for at least 10 minutes.
- Remove your feet and scrub with a pumice stone for a few minutes.
- Immerse your feet in the tub for another 10 minutes.
- Wash and dry your feet. Repeat the process 2-3 times a day for best results.
- It is also recommended to apply cream or lotion after drying your feet.
A mentholated rub helps treat skin cracks and toenail fungus at the same time. It also soothes rough skin.
- Wash your feet with clean water and dry them using a soft towel.
- Apply some mentholated rub and wear a pair of cotton socks overnight.
- In the morning, wash your feet with warm water and dry them.
- Repeat the process for a few days.
Coconut oil helps moisturize skin. It has some useful antifungal and anti-bacterial properties, thus, it fights against any bacterial and fungal infections. To apply the remedy:
- Immerse your dry feet in a lukewarm water and scrub them with a Loofah;
- Afterwards, wash them properly and pat them dry with a soft and clean cloth;
- Apply coconut oil on the affected area and wear a clean pair of cotton socks.
- Leave the pack overnight and in the morning, wash your feet;
- Continue the remedy until cracks disappear;
- You can also apply olive oil or lavender oil as an alternate solution.
Glycerine has always been an incredible solution to treat dry and cracked feet as Glycerin possesses both moisturizing as well as humectants properties. Not only it moistens the dry skin but also retains the moisture inside the skin for longer hours. To apply Glycerin:
- Make a mixture of glycerin and lemon juice with equal quantities;
- Implement the mixture on the affected area for about 20 minutes;
- Wash and dry your feet afterwards;
- Continue using this remedy for two weeks to get some noticeable results.
Does this sound strange? Have you ever thought about applying bananas to your feet. Probably it sounds outlandish, yet, bananas are the best and most effective remedies to cure dry feet.
They heal the cracked feet and also make the skin look beautiful. For applying a banana for this purpose you should:
- Take two overripe bananas and blend them and until you have got a thick paste;
- You can also add half of an avocado while blending;
- Apply the paste on the affected areas for 10-15 minutes;
- Rinse the paste with warm fresh water and dry the feet using a soft cloth.
Paraffin wax acts as a natural emollient to soften the skin and to maintain natural oil in the skin. It heals the cracked and dry skin as well as washes off the dead skin cells. Follow these steps:
- Heat the paraffin wax using microwave or double-boiler. Mix an equal amount of mustard oil to it;
- Apply the paste on the affected area and wear a pair of cotton socks;
- Wait overnight and wash your feet under warm water in the morning’
- Repeatedly perform the remedy for two weeks.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which softens the skin and soothes dry and cracked skin. For its application:
- Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar to two cups of warm water;
- Immerse your feet in the mixture for 15-20 minutes;
- After that, scrub the affected area with a foot scrubber or pumice stone for a few minutes;
- Then, wash your feet with warm water and dry them using a soft and clean cloth;
- As an alternative, you can make a thick paste using coarse rice flour, raw honey, and apple cider vinegar. Massage the paste over the affected area and wash it afterwards with warm fresh water.
Nevertheless, after all, the above mentioned efficient solution, if we were to advise the easiest solution, I would recommend oatmeal. Use it as follows:
- Mix one tablespoon of oatmeal powder in some jojoba oil. It should turn into a thick paste;
- Now, apply the paste onto the cracked and callused areas;
- Rinse the feet after 30 minutes from the moment the application and dry them.
Dry and cracked feet is not a big trouble, which in any case should be prevented. Here are some pro-active steps so to avoid the condition:
- Apply creams or lotions to keep your feet moist
- Drink plenty of water and stay well-hydrated
- Avoid scratching or rubbing the affected area
- Apply cold compression on the dry skin to soothe itching
- Avoid steamers and bubble baths
- Wear breathable footwear
- After the bath, do not use rough towels or clothes to dry the feet
- Do not use blasting heaters as they lower the level of humidity in your living area. Instead, use a humidifier to maintain the moisture in the air
We do hope that by the end of our article, dry and cracked feet do not appear as daunting to you as it used to be. It is a condition that many of us faces and is easily treatable as well as avoidable.
Keep in mind, it is a skin disease and you must consult a dermatologist for professional help. We do not advise to turn to a general doctor, as this is a narrow field and a general healthcare provider cannot help that much.
Moreover, the first step on the way to getting rid of dry cracked feet should be trying home remedies. If it appears to be ineffective, then consult a veteran dermatologist.
