Got dry cracked heels? Let me share with you an easy and inexpensive DIY remedy to soften and sooth your heels and feet.
Dry cracked heels are never fun. Nor do they look good in your summer sandals. I’m an outdoor kind of girl, and find myself often with dirty, dry feet. And I have found a super easy way to keep my heels soft and smooth.
WHAT CAUSES DRY CRACKED HEELS?
Dry cracked heels are a common foot problem and are also called heel fissures. They are mostly a cosmetic issue, but if left untreated, can progress to more serous cracks that can be painful and can become infected. Some of the most common causes of dry, cracked heels include:
- dry skin from lack of moisture
- improper foot care
- prolonged standing on hard surfaces
- poor diet
- skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema
- other health conditions like diabetes and thyroid issues
- aging
- being over-weight (increased pressure on fat pad under the heel)
As flip flop season started, and I found myself barefoot in the garden this year, I noticed that my heels were in the need of some love and tenderness. I did what I always do: googled it. Seriously, I did!
There are tons of home remedies for dry, cracked heels online from oiling them to waxing them to exfoliating them with all sorts of gritty concoctions. But I am going to share with you the simplest and quickest way to get your feet looking smooth and beautiful.
Basically it is a vinegar soak for your feet. The acetic acid in vinegar softens and gently exfoliates the dry skin from your heels. Vinegar is very drying to the skin so please do not apply straight vinegar to your feet. I like to add a bit of moisturizing oil to my vinegar foot soak.
NOTE: You will notice that I use a GLASS bowl to soak my feet. I prefer to stay away from plastic as much as possible. The bottoms of our feet have over 2000 large pores and easily absorb anything they soak in. I would be wary to add vinegar to a plastic container as it may leach chemicals in to the water.
The first time I did this vinegar soak, I was amazed at how easily the dry, dead skin came off of my heels. I repeated the process the next day to get my heels completely smooth and silky. Now I use this soak once or twice a month if my heels are starting to look dry again.
Easy Home Remedy for Dry Cracked Heels
What You will Need:
- large glass bowl (big enough to fit your feet into)
- very warm water
- white vinegar
- pumice stone, microplane rasp, or foot file
- 1 tbsp of olive oil or fractionated coconut oil
Directions:
- Fill a the biggest glass bowl that you can find 3/4 full with very warm water. Add a 1/4 cup of white vinegar and oil of choice.
- Soak your feet in water for 10-15 minutes. Then use a pumice or microplane file to gently scrub your heels before you dry.
- After drying, apply a thick coat of your favorite moisturizing oil or cream and apply clean cotton socks.
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HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR SOFT AND SILKY HEELS
The first thing that I would recommend is to make sure that you are eating a clean, healthy diet with plenty of healthy fats. Be sure to also stay well hydrated, especially in the hot summer months. Addressing any underlying health conditions is also important.
Regular foot care also goes a long way in keeping your feet happy and healthy. Applying a thick coat of good quality oil or moisturizer to clean, dry feet before bed and putting on clean cotton socks is an easy way to prevent dry cracked heels. My favorite oils to use are the coconut oil and olive oil from my kitchen counter. Both are extremely nourishing and moisturizing. I also add a few drops of Lavender and Geranium essential oil to keep my heels soft and smooth.
TIP: Cut off the toe portion of your cotton socks during the hot summer months to make an easy pair of heel socks for warm weather sleeping.
Here’s to smooth and sexy sandal feet!
xo,
Katja
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judee@ Gluten Free A-Z Blog says
May 18, 2015 at 9:35 amWow! Is that your heel that was smooth after 2 soaks? My heels are not quite that bad, but bad.
I’ll try it- I’ve got nothing to lose.. thanks
Katja says
May 21, 2015 at 9:54 amNo, that is not my heel. I wish I had taken before and after pictures. After I saw how well this worked, I decided to do a post on it. 🙂
Lucy says
January 24, 2016 at 10:51 amBAD ADVICE…iF HEALS are That BAD, SEE YOUR DOCTOR…you most likely have a thyroid problem. Run.
Katja Heino says
January 25, 2016 at 9:41 pmHi, Lucy!
Yes, dry heals can be a sign of other health issues. I have dry heals in the winter when I am in Northern California. But when I travel down to Mexico (where it is humid) it goes away. Some times it is just a dry climate and other external factors. Thanks so much for your comment. Have a sweet day! 🙂
Maribeth King says
February 20, 2017 at 4:17 pmFor me, as a redhead my skin is dry. For my heals I apply a good amount of petroleum jelly to my heels three time a week before bed in the winter months with cotton socks. Works like a jewel. Canada.
Cathy says
May 10, 2018 at 7:57 pmYes, that’s what I do too! And it really works. 😉
Peggy says
January 13, 2019 at 4:47 pmI live in Northern California and my heels in the summertime get cracked badly! Thanks for your post!
Rashmi says
February 29, 2016 at 12:31 amIt has really worked for me…… Awesome….. Thanks a lot…..
Katja Heino says
February 29, 2016 at 9:13 amOh, good! I love how my heels feels after I do this too!
Deborah H. says
March 1, 2016 at 2:41 pmWestern Medicine is not dependent upon. Century old boticals. I will not harm you if used as directed. Where do you think western world gets new drugs.and then turns them into synthetic. Which IS NOT GOOD. I come from a lengthy medical heritage of healers and midwives. My suggestion for this wonderful remedy is to use Vaseline after. As protects and lasts longer.
J.B. says
February 14, 2017 at 3:17 pmSorry, Vaseline is a highly processed petrolatum product, as in petroleum. It is synthetic, not natural like olive oil. Listerine is also very processed and not natural. If there is a long list of words on the 8ngredient list, and you can’t pronounce most of them, it is probably not natural.
Diana says
November 24, 2016 at 10:18 pmI used the Blue Listerine and vinager for my cracked heels and it turned my toenails blue for a week, did not help my cracked heels. :-/
Melissa Anderson says
June 25, 2017 at 12:56 amSame thing happened to me so I got a tub of raw Shea butter and I put a generous amount on my feet and wrapped them with Saran wrap covered them with socks and left it on over night and my feet were soft not totally perfect but 🙂 do this a few times a week and in no time you’ll have amazing tootsies too 🙂
Katja Heino says
July 3, 2017 at 3:43 pmGreat tip!
Linda Bush says
August 22, 2018 at 7:52 pmI used blue listerine also and had blue toe nails for a while. Be careful following what you read.
Katey says
January 16, 2017 at 11:46 amI fixed my cracked heels over time by increasing my magnesium. I’ve been using ancient minerals mg spray on my feet at night. After it dries I use cetaphil cream to moisturize. Cracks all gone and my feet are soft. And, another benefit, I sleep like a baby.
Katja Heino says
January 17, 2017 at 4:14 pmThat’s awesome! I love magnesium. I tried the Ancient Minerals magnesium but it irritates my skin. I’m so glad that it worked for you!
Joy Hemmings says
February 14, 2017 at 5:34 amWhat can I use to let my foot bottom soft cause it tough
Katja Heino says
February 14, 2017 at 8:53 pmYou may need to soak your feet and pumice them a few times. Be sure to moisturize well after.
Mandy says
April 2, 2017 at 7:45 pmI’m going to try this…I live in Arkansas and during the winter months my heals are fine. But in the summer months they are hard and crackly. But it’s very humid here and we are outside a lot and bare foot too.
Riitta Miettinen says
April 7, 2018 at 11:26 amFirst trail today and me feet seem to softer already. Let’s see how it goes…
Katja Heino says
April 9, 2018 at 9:21 amHope you enjoy it! 🙂
June says
April 20, 2018 at 2:51 amThanks-will try this.
Nancy says
December 27, 2018 at 9:55 pmI’m diabetic, would it be safe for me to try this? My feet are bad.
Katja Heino says
December 29, 2018 at 11:41 amHi, Nancy! Without seeing your feet, I cannot say for sure if this is safe for you. If you have open sores, I would definitely say not to use it. Diabetes can cause you to not have much feeling in your feet, so it is very important to be careful not to injure or break your skin. 🙂