When you see a small crack developing on the heels, you get worried. You apply all the oil and cream to prevent the cracks from becoming permanent. Well, cracked heels can occur due to various reasons. Wearing flip flops and walking barefoot is one of them. These reasons can damage your skin on the foot. Lack of oil glands on the feet is also one of the major causes of cracked heels.
If you see cracks forming on your foot, you need to become attentive. Walking or running barefoot and wearing flip flops will worsen the case and crack lines will gradually start increasing.
This is the time when you need to care for your feet and prevent the cracked heels from increasing. Your foot care routine must have body oils like castor oil and some scrubs that removes dead skin cells. You can make homemade foot scrubs using simple ingredients like bread or oats. Lemon too can be rubbed on the feet to remove dead skin cells and keep the feet clean.
Apart from this, you need to wear shoes that protect your heels and prevent it from cracking. Even dietary deficiency can lead to cracked heels. For example, lack of zinc and omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to dry skin and cracked heels. Your diet must include zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E and calcium.
Before going to bed and after taking bath, make sure you moisturise your feet as it doesn't have oil glands to stay moisturised. Here are the best ways to prevent cracked heels.
Ways To Prevent Cracked Heels:
This is one of the best ways to prevent cracked heels and dry foot. Wearing closed shoes keep the feet clean and moisturised.
To prevent cracked heels, you must keep your feet clean. While bathing, scrub your feet to remove dirt and dead skin cells. Even after coming from outside, clean your feet in hot water.
As the feet lacks oil glands, you need to make sure that the skin is moisturised. Apply a long lasting moisturiser after bath and before going to bed.
Apply a pulp of ripe banana on the cracked feet. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse with cold water. Do it at least once every day till your feet become soft and are healed completely.
Soak the feet in lemon juice and water solution for 15 minutes. Scrub a little and then rinse. Apply a moisturiser to prevent it from cracking.
Mix glycerin in half a bucket of water and then soak your feet for 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water and pat dry. Apply a lotion to soften the feet and keep it moisturised.
Massage the dry feet with ripe papaya pulp. It prevents the crack from spreading further and also makes the skin soft.
Mix milk with honey. Soak your feet in it for 15-20 minutes. Scrub a little and then rinse with warm water. This is one of the best natural ways to prevent cracked feet. This should be done once a week for best results.
Soak your feet in half a bucket of water. Add a pinch of salt in the bucket and mix. The salt scrubs out dirt and dead skin cells. Moreover, it softens the skin and prevent cracks.
Get an oil massage for 20 minutes and then leave for an hour. Rinse with cold water and do this thrice a week (before going to bed) to prevent cracked heels and also get soft and clean feet.