Apart from their unsightly nature, cracked heels are also susceptible to infections. If your heels are just starting to crack, there are steps you can take to deal with them before the problem becomes serious. Before seeking medical advice, here are some home remedies you can try.

Applying Coconut Oil

Coconut oil will moisturize and soften your cracked heels. Before applying the oil, first wash and dry your feet thoroughly so that it can soak deep into your skin. Apart from moisturizing your skin, the coconut oil also prevents infection due to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. The oil should stay on your feet for a long time, so you can apply it before going to bed (wear some cotton socks to trap the oil on your feet and keep your sheets clean too).

Scrubbing

Apart from applying coconut oil, scrubbing your feet can also help to deal with the cracks. Soak your feet in warm water and then use a pumice stone to scrub off the dead skin so that new healthy cells can grow. Make this a daily habit, but don't scrub too hard because that may cause bleeding and even expose your healthy cells to infections.

Wearing the Right Shoes

Heel damage is caused by a variety of things. For example, if you wear big shoes, then your feet will move around a lot. The ensuing friction will harden your skin, cause ridges and generally damage your feet. Therefore, you should wear fitting shoes that just leave enough wiggle room for your toes.

Drying Your Feet

Bacteria thrive on moist places, so you should strive to keep your feet as dry as possible. If you have cracked heels, then it is possible that you will be washing your feet more frequently than usual, so you should remember to dry them after every washing. Don't put on socks or shoes when your feet are still wet because that will only encourage infection.

You should also not expose your feet to water for prolonged periods. Water robs your skin of its natural oils, which leaves it dry and rough. Therefore, you shouldn't spend too much time in damp places if your heels are prone to cracking. It also helps to moisturize them after every exposure to dampness.

See a podiatrist if the home remedies do not work for your cracked heels. Cracked heels have many possible causes such as cold weather, eczema and even thyroid disease. A podiatrist like Larsen, L. Craig DPM- Larsen, Clark C. DPM can diagnose the underlying cause and offer you the appropriate treatment.