Not only are cracked heels unsightly, they can also be embarrassing and uncomfortable, even painful sometimes. One of the culprits that will contribute to broken heels is walking around with bare feet, as well as a lack of moisturizing and exfoliating.
And, unless you are a young, smooth-skinned child, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. Those with the resources and time to get regular pedicures may not be battling this on such a severe level as others do, but in most people it’s a very common occurrence.
However, for those who don’t have time for daily pedicures, there’s a cheap and simple home remedy that can help save the heels just by using lemons.
What You Need
There aren’t either 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 have no oil glands, just like most other body areas. So, they are not getting any normal humidity. So, unless you consistently moisturize them, they’re prone to extreme dryness. And, extreme dryness can cause disagreeable and painful cracking.
Such culprits could be medications for dry and cracking skin, inadequate footwear, or often going barefoot.
Besides cracking, you might also experience scratching with extreme dry feet, flaking, and rashes. All of which, if left untreated for too long will require medical attention. A podiatrist or dermatologist could help to determine if the extreme dryness and cracking has an underlying reason. However, a person usually only needs to humidify and apply a more frequent natural treatment to avoid discomfort.
It’s a great option to find natural treatments which work. Otherwise, you may be exposed to unnecessary chemicals that are frequently found in prescription or over the counter treatments. And, this does not become more normal than this treatment with lemon.
Why Lemons?
Despite their medicinal qualities, lemons are also used in natural remedies for various ailments. But, it’s their acidity which makes lemons an ideal treatment for dry and cracked heels. The normal and mild acid found in lemons acts as a gentle exfoliator to remove the dry, dead skin on the feet.
Although the effects of this procedure with lemon may be very significant, the process itself is relatively straightforward.
How to Use a Lemon on Cracked Heels
Perhaps the hardest part of this process is taking the time to set aside, so it can work with the best results possible. With our busy lives, it’s not always easy to take the time to sit and wait for a treatment process to take effect. For this reason, some people choose to let the medication work in their sleep. Whether you choose to treat it overnight or for a couple of hours during the day, the preparation is the same.
And, it is as easy as this:
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 safe and tight enough to hold the lemon in place.
The timing of how long it should be left on is where opinions differ a little between those who use this treatment. Ideally, the longer the lemon is left on the heel, the more it becomes successful. Some people go to bed with the lemon cups and socks on, while others say anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours is long enough.
It will depend on how badly your heels are cracked – your choice to sleep with lemons and how much idle time you need to sit for care. If you don’t like the idea of sleeping with lemons on your feet, find a time to sit down for a while, like sitting down to fill up your grocery list, paying bills, reading a book, or watching a film. The great thing about this procedure is it works alone without a lot of effort on your part, so you can do multitasking.
You will notice a difference right away when you remove the lemons from your heel. But, when you rub out the lemon pulp from the heels, you’ll also find some sloughing off of the dead skin.
Finish the procedure by rubbing in some added moisture into the feet, like a lotion or wax.
