Cracked heels can be painful, embarrassing, and quite annoying, especially when everything from bed sheets to socks keeps snagging on them. The good news is you don’t need expensive foot creams or a salon pedicure to sort them out. Your kitchen already has everything required to bring your heels back to life. Here are the easiest, most effective home remedies for cracked heels.

1. Apply VapoRub overnight

VapoRub has become a popular remedy for cracked heels. VapoRub contains menthol, eucalyptus oil, and petrolatum, a combination that moisturises, softens, and even helps heal deep cracks. It’s especially good when your heels feel painful or sore.

How to use:

Apply a thin layer of VapoRub on dry heels at bedtime, then wear socks to lock everything in. Keep it overnight for best results.

2. Apply aloe vera gel

Aloe vera is perfect for heels that are not just dry but also irritated or slightly inflamed. Aloe vera has cooling, healing, and hydrating properties. It helps soothe micro-cracks, reduces redness, and repairs the skin barrier while you sleep. You wake up with noticeably calmer, smoother skin.

How to use:

Apply a generous amount of aloe gel after washing your feet at night. Cover with socks so it doesn’t rub off.

3. Coconut oil and glycerine mask

Coconut oil and glycerine are both age-old ingredients to combat dryness. Add lemon juice and a little Vaseline, and you’ll create a mix that’s rich, soothing, and extremely effective. This mask hydrates from multiple angles: coconut oil nourishes deeply, glycerine attracts moisture, and Vaseline seals everything in. The lemon also helps lighten dark, rough patches and lifts dead skin gradually.

How to make and use it:

Mix coconut oil, lemon juice, glycerine, and a little Vaseline until you get a smooth balm-like texture. Massage it onto clean, dry heels for at least a minute so it soaks in properly, then put on cotton socks and leave it overnight.

4. DIY sugar scrub

This DIY scrub is perfect when there’s a visible build-up of dry, flaky skin. Sugar works as a natural exfoliator that removes dead skin without being too harsh. The oil prevents your heels from feeling dry afterwards, leaving them smooth instead of scratchy.

How to use:

Mix sugar with coconut or olive oil and add a splash of lemon if you want brightening benefits. Scrub your heels gently for a few minutes, focusing on the deeper cracks. After washing the scrub, apply a thick layer of moisturiser and put on socks.

5. Foot soak with honey and Epsom salt

A warm foot soak is not only soothing after a long day but also incredibly effective for cracked heels. Epsom salt relaxes muscles and breaks down tough, dry skin, while honey pulls moisture into your heels and helps heal minor cracks. Your feet feel noticeably calmer and softer right after.

How to use:

Fill a tub with warm water and add honey and Epsom salt. Soak your feet for 15-20 minutes, letting the mixture soften your skin. You can use the sugar scrub to exfoliate after this.

6. Vinegar soak for severe dryness

This remedy works especially well when your heels have thick, stubborn layers of dead skin. The acidic nature of vinegar helps dissolve dead skin and makes it easier to remove without being harsh.

How to use:

Add half a cup of white vinegar to a basin of warm water and soak for 10-12 minutes. Follow it with a gentle scrub with sugar or pumice stone.

7. Rice flour foot polish

This is like a homemade micro-exfoliation treatment. It’s gentle and effective. Rice flour exfoliates without being abrasive, honey heals, and milk softens the skin. It’s great for maintaining smooth heels once the major cracks have healed.

How to use:

Mix rice flour with honey and a bit of milk or oil to form a paste. Massage it onto damp heels twice a week.

8. Banana and avocado mask

Banana contains natural oils and potassium that soften cracked skin, while avocado is full of healthy fats and vitamins that help repair damaged areas. Together, they make your heels feel incredibly soft and cushioned. This is one of the best home remedies for cracked heels.

How to use:

Mash a ripe banana with a bit of soft avocado until smooth. Apply a thick layer to your heels and keep your feet elevated (to avoid mess) for 20-25 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

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