Keep your feet feeling supple and soft; image credit: iStock

Do you feel embarrassed to remove your shoes when going to your friend's place or in public because of your cracked heels or calluses? There are several reasons that cause cracked heels including dry skin, prolonged standing especially on hard floors, constantly wearing shoes or sandals with open backs, or obesity, which increases pressure on the heels. While you may be spending a lot of time in caring for your face and skin, your feet too deserve to get their set of rightful attention in your body care regime. Lack of proper care and hygiene can cause your heels to crack, and make you feel too ashamed at times. And there's no need to go for a salon pedicure every week to get things sorted. Your kitchen already stocks some amazing products with medicinal value that can treat cracked heels, and keep your feet in tip-top shape.  

Read on to know some useful remedies using ingredients directly sourced from your kitchen to help you attain the perfect heels you have always desired.  

Banana is known to be a natural skin moisturiser and contains vitamins A, B6, and C, which all help to maintain the elasticity of the skin and keep it nourished. To use this remedy, mash a ripe banana into a smooth paste, and gently rub the paste all over your feet, including the nail beds and sides of the toe. Apply it generously and let it sit on for 20 minutes. You can also a spoon of honey to the paste. Later, rinse your feet with clean water. For best results, repeat this every night before going to bed for a week or until you are satisfied with the results. 

Baking soda acts as a natural exfoliant that helps get rid of dead skin cells. It can also neutralize foul body odour. To use, add 3 tablespoons of baking soda to a bowl of lukewarm water. Mix well until it forms a flowy consistency, and the baking soda is completely dissolved. Soak your feet in this water for 15 minutes. Next, gently scrub with a pumice stone, and lastly, rinse with clean water, and pat dry your feet with a towel.  

Aloe vera gel contains vitamins A,  C, and E.  It also contains lupeol which acts as an antiseptic and analgesic. Soak your feet in warm water, and scrub using a pumice stone to remove dead flaky skin. You can also add a spoon of your favourite bath salts for an effective wash. Next, pat dry, and apply a thick layer of aloe vera gel to your feet. Follow this up by wearing cotton socks, and wash with lukewarm water the next morning. For best results, repeat this every night for 4–5 days. 

Vaseline acts as a great moisturiser, and mixing it with lemon juice adds citric acid to it, which helps promote skin peeling and regrowth of new skin cells. Add 3–4 drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to a teaspoon of Vaseline gel or any petroleum jelly, and mix well. Apply this paste generously to your heels and other cracked parts of your feet, and follow it up by wearing cotton socks. Let it sit overnight, and wash it using warm water the next morning.  

Oatmeal possesses anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties that help get rid of dead skin cells and hydrate the skin. To prepare this mask, mix a tablespoon of powdered oatmeal with 4-5 drops of olive oil. Apply this thick paste over your feet, especially over the heels and any cracked parts. Let it sit for about half an hour, and later rinse with cold water and pat dry.  For best results, do this on every alternate day. 

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Before the monsoon kicks in, give these home remedies a try to prevent the cracking of heels. In addition, drink plenty of water, apply moisturiser consistently, avoid exposing them to dust and pollution, use a foot soak using natural oils and treat any underlying medical conditions to prevent dry and cracked heels. 

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