Say Goodbye to Cracked Heels with These Easy Home Remedies
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The summer season brings with it intense sunlight, sweat and dust. To avoid these, we take care of our face and skin with full attention, but often ignore our feet. Due to open sandals, slippers and direct contact with hot winds, our heels are affected the most. Due to lack of moisture and constant walking, the heels start drying and gradually start cracking. Cracked heels not only look bad, but many times they also cause pain and burning. To avoid these, there are many home remedies in Ayurveda, which will prevent your heels from cracking in summer-
The American online magazine NIH published a research paper which mentions foot cracks. In Ayurveda, foot cracks (cracked feet) are named as Kshudra Kushtha (small skin disease). Which is also known as heel cracks. It is described as a common foot problem in which the color of the heel of the foot becomes yellow. Hard skin develops, cracks and hardens with pain, bleeding or itching in the feet.
According to Ayurveda, a mixture of coconut oil and camphor is considered a panacea for treating cracked heels. Coconut oil deeply moisturizes the skin and makes it soft, while camphor has antiseptic properties that prevent infection and soothe irritation. Mixing both and applying them on the heels helps heal cracks quickly and makes the skin healthy. This mixture gives better results when applied at night before sleeping.
At the same time, soaking feet in lukewarm water by adding salt and a few drops of lemon is also an effective home remedy. Lukewarm water softens the hard skin of the heels, while salt helps in removing the accumulated dirt and dead skin. Lemon juice is a natural antiseptic, which makes the skin clean and fresh. By adopting this process for 15-20 minutes daily, the heels remain moist.
Apart from this, applying desi ghee or Vaseline is a simple remedy to cure cracked heels. Apply a thick layer of desi ghee or Vaseline on clean heels and then wear socks. Doing this nourishes the heels throughout the night and it works as a moisturizer. Banana is also an effective treatment. Apply mashed banana thoroughly on the heels and leave it for about 15 minutes and then wash the feet with lukewarm water. By doing this remedy twice a week, the heels start looking healthy and beautiful.
The antibacterial and antiseptic properties present in aloe vera gel protect the heels from infection and help in healing it from within. Apply aloe vera gel thoroughly before sleeping at night and wear socks. Its regular use makes the heels soft, smooth and healthy.