Cracking Feet

Cracked feet, also referred to as heel fissures, are a common condition, which can cause discomfort or even pain.

If the cracks in the heels are deep, they can be painful, hurting when someone intend to walk and they sometimes bleed. It can occur in both adults and children, and seems to affect women more often than men.

There are ways to treat cracked heels. We will be discussing some of these ways here.

1. Soaking your Feet in water to reduce the hardness. The skin around cracked heels is often thicker and drier than the rest of your skin. This skin tends to split when you apply pressure.

Soaking and moisturizing your feet can help with this. You can do this by soaking the affected area inside soapy water for 20minutes and rub with oil after.

2. Avoid scrubbing your feet when they're dry. This increases your risk for damaged skin.

3. You can also try moisturizing heel sleeves. These have a similar effect to foot soaks. The sleeves are like socks that contain therapeutic oils and vitamins to help treat your dry skin. You can find them on Amazon here.

4. Honey
Honey may work as a natural remedy for cracked heels. Honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Research shows that honey can help heal and cleanse wounds, and moisturize the skin. You can use honey as a foot scrub after a soak, or apply it as a foot mask overnight.

5. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is often recommended for dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. It can help your skin retain moisture. Using coconut oil after a foot soak could be a good option too.

CAUTION
Do not treat cracked heels on your own if they're caused by a medical condition. Special treatment from a podiatrist (foot doctor) may be needed.

Some factors that can cause cracked heels include:
Standing for long hours.

* Walking around barefoot, or with open-back sandals.
* Taking long, hot showers.
* Using harsh soaps that can strip your skin of natural oils.
* Wearing of shoes that don't fit properly or support your heels.

* Dry skin due to climate, such as cold temperatures or low humidity.
* If you don't moisturize your feet regularly, they may dry out even faster.

Endeavor to drink water very well to stay hydrated.