Cracked heels are not only unsightly, but they can also be embarrassing and uncomfortable…even painful at times. Walking around with bare feet is one of the culprits that will lead to cracked heels, as well as lack of moisturizing and exfoliating.
And, unless you are a child with fresh and smooth skin, you probably know exactly what I am talking about. People with the resources and time to get frequent pedicures might not battle this on such a severe level as others do, but it’s a very common occurrence in most adults.
However, for those who do not have the time for frequent pedicures, there is an inexpensive and simple home treatment that can help save the heels, simply by using lemons.
What You Need
There aren’t too many items that you will need for this treatment. It’s simple and inexpensive, but powerful in the end. Here is what you will need:
- Lemon (large)
- Socks
- Knife
- Juicer
And, other than the time to leave the lemon on your heels, this process is also very quick!
But first, why are your heels dry and cracking?
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The Reason Behind Cracked Heels
Our feet do not have oil glands, like most other areas of the body. So, they do not get any natural moisture. Therefore, unless you moisturize them consistently, they are prone to extreme dryness. And, extreme dryness can lead to unpleasant and painful cracking.
Other culprits for dry and cracked skin could be medications, improper footwear, or frequently going barefoot.
In addition to cracking, with extreme dry feet, you might also experience itching, flaking, and rashes. All of which could require medical attention if left untreated for too long. A podiatrist or dermatologist could help determine if there is an underlying reason for the extreme dryness and cracking. However, typically a person just needs to moisturize and apply a natural treatment more frequently to avoid discomfort.
Finding natural treatments that work is a great option. Otherwise, you could be exposed to unnecessary chemicals often found in prescription or over the counter treatments. And, it does not get more natural than this lemon treatment.
Why Lemons?
Lemons are often used in natural treatments for various ailments due to their medicinal traits. But, for dry and cracked heels, it’s their acidity that makes lemons an ideal treatment. The natural and mild acid that lemons contain works as a gentle exfoliator in removing the dry and dead skin on the heels.
While the results of this lemon treatment can be rather significant, the process itself is fairly straightforward.
How to Use a Lemon on Cracked Heels
Perhaps the most difficult part of this process is finding the time to set aside in order for it to work with the best possible results. In our busy lives, taking time to sit and wait for a treatment process to take effect isn’t always easy. That is why some people have chosen to let the treatment work in their sleep. Whether you choose to treat overnight, or for a couple hours during the day, the preparation is the same.
And, it’s so easy:
#1. Slice the lemon in half
#2. Juice the lemon
You can save the juice for homemade lemonade, or add it to a foot soak for additional exfoliating. Make sure to leave a thin layer of pulp behind in the rind.
#3. Place the juiced lemon half on the heel
Be prepared, it will feel wet, cold, and a little slimy!
#4. Pull a sock over the lemon
Choose a sock that is secure and tight enough to hold the lemon in place.
Timing on how long to leave it on is where opinions differ a bit between those who use this treatment. Ideally, the longer the lemon is left on the heel, the more effective it becomes. Some people will go to bed with the lemon cups and socks on, while others say anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours is long enough.
It will depend on how severely cracked your heels are, your preference for sleeping with lemons, and how much idle time you have to sit for a treatment. If you don’t like the idea of sleeping with lemons on your feet, find a time when you can sit for a while, such as sitting down to fill out your grocery list, pay bills, read a book, or watch a movie. The great thing about this treatment is that it works on its own, without much effort on your part, so you can multitask.
When you remove the lemons from your heels, you should notice a difference right away. But, as you wipe the lemon pulp from the heels, you will also notice some sloughing off of the dead skin.
Finish up the treatment by rubbing in some added moisture into the feet, such as a lotion or oil.
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What is with people and putting food in their socks??
well sonny, i’m sure dat u’ve heard it a time or 2 from ur pappy or mommy dat food’s ur best medicine, sir. da 1st goody dat u got is from ur ma’s bloodstream, de da onolicious milk from her breasts, den baby formula, baby food, den as time marches on, healing foods, etc. lol thx
Garlic, onions, cabbage, lemons — I’ve got so much in my socks there isn’t room for my feet. Wait a minute! I think I forgot sliced potatoes. Add a couple of slices of Spam and I can cook up lunch.
Add black pepper to keep it warm. Trouble is, a lot of these old sock remedies work. Getting ready for work is no longer a simple matter of dropping whatever you were doing and grabbing your socks, you got to fit a pretty darn good breakfast in ’em first.
If you don’t believe in these remedies, why are you looking them up?…I`ll wait for your answer…lmao
well, u made a slight error bc da food’s supposedly 2 b eaten 1st, den u need 2 only put da lemon cups by ur heels. lol thx
I will try this on my husband this weekend, I fight his cracked feet all the time
Heck. And I thought God made lemons just for lemonade 🙂
well, u made a slight error bc da food’s supposedly 2 b eaten 1st, den u need 2 only put da lemon cups by ur heels. lol thx
well sonny, i’m sure dat u’ve heard it a time or 2 from ur pappy or mommy dat food’s ur best medicine, sir. da 1st goody dat u got is from ur ma’s bloodstream, de da onolicious milk from her breasts, den baby formula, baby food, den as time marches on, healing foods, etc. lol thx
When you state:
Perhaps you are correct; but, I’ve never had cracked heels.
I spend most of my time indoors wearing flip flops and I’m often found in them outside in warm weather.
I have no idea what you are talking about and at 68, childhood has been long gone.
As for pedicures, I’ve never had one and don’t know any real people who get them or have the cracked heel problem.
Keeping your feet clean (as in frequent showers) and dry (as in fresh cotton socks when wearing shoes has always worked for me.
I suspect some may have this problem;but my wife and I do not.
Ohio, many, many years ago I had dry, cracking to the point of bleeding, skin on both feet and one hand for several years, and a young Navy Dermatologist misdiagnosed it as psoriasis and prescribed steroid creams, which did not work, and I found out later may be carcinogenic, so I switched to lanolin-based moisture creams, which did provide relief, but no cure. Twelve years later an elderly white-haired Doctor, who had been practicing since before the Viet Nam conflict, asked me if I had ever been in the tropics, specifically tropical rain forests, and when I said yes, he said it was probably a fungus picked up from contact with the soil and prescribed 90 days of Lamisil tablets. The Lamisil killed the fungus in about three weeks, so I took it for another three weeks, about 6 weeks total, and saved the rest in case it came back. That was about twenty years ago, and the fungus has never come back. The older, experienced Doctor knew what he was doing while the much younger Doctor, a product of “modern education”, did not.