Are cracked heels causing you unnecessary pain or keeping you from wearing your favorite sandals or shoes? Here’s a relatively simple home remedy that will alleviate discomfort quickly!

It’s important to treat cracked heels promptly to avoid heel fissures. Heel fissures refer to cracks in the skin over your heels. This can create a buildup of thick layers of dead skin cells that can be quite uncomfortable. Occasionally, they can trigger painful, dangerous infections or lead to skin damage.
What causes cracked heels?
Dry, cracked heels are generally caused by medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, eczema, hypothyroidism, Sjögren’s syndrome, juvenile plantar dermatosis, biomechanical factors such as flat feet, heel spurs or prolonged standing.
Cracked heels are a relatively common condition that doesn’t normally cause concern. A lack of vitamin B-3, vitamin C, and vitamin E may contribute to dry, cracked heels. However, vitamin deficiencies in developed countries are rare.
Cracked Heels Remedy
You’ll Need:
Rice (Plain white or brown)
Raw Honey
Apple Cider Vinegar
Olive Oil (or coconut oil)
- Grind a handful of rice into a fine or slightly semi-coarse flour. We used the blender to grind ours, (pulse!) If you try to grind it too fine it’ll clog your blender.
- Add a Tablespoon (or 2) of RAW honey to the mixture along with just enough apple cider vinegar to obtain a thick paste.
- If the cracks are very deep, add a spoonful of olive or coconut oil.
- Soak feet in very warm water for about 20 minutes. Then apply the paste liberally to the affected areas, gently massage the heals with paste. If you have a pumice stone, gently rub the heel to break up the dead skin and slough it off. Rinse with warm water.
Repeat daily for 3-5 days to see a massive improvement. The application of coconut oil in between treatments will help keep the heels soft and supple as well.
It is important to use RAW Honey which is unheated, unpasteurized, unprocessed honey.

Alternative Remedies for Cracked Heels
We’ve already shared a powerful remedy using rice flour, raw honey, and apple cider vinegar, but if you’re looking for even more DIY options that really work, we’ve got you covered.
Here are some of the best tried-and-true home remedies to get your feet back in tip-top shape—fast!
1. Banana & Avocado Foot Mask
Why it works: Bananas are natural moisturizers rich in vitamins A, B6, and C. Avocado adds healthy fats and vitamin E, which promote skin repair.
Recipe:
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1 ripe banana
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½ ripe avocado (optional for extra nourishment)
Directions: Mash together into a smooth paste. Apply to clean, dry feet, leave on for 20–30 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. Repeat daily for a week.
2. Listerine & Vinegar Foot Soak
Why it works: Listerine’s thymol helps kill bacteria and softens tough skin, while vinegar helps exfoliate and restore pH balance.
Recipe:
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1 cup Listerine (original, not flavored)
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1 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
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2 cups warm water
Directions: Soak feet for 20 minutes, then gently scrub with a pumice stone. Rinse and apply coconut oil or shea butter. Use 2–3 times weekly.
3. Shea Butter Overnight Treatment
Why it works: Shea butter is rich in fatty acids and vitamins that deeply hydrate and restore damaged skin.
Directions: Before bed, apply a thick layer of pure shea butter to feet, cover with cotton socks, and leave overnight. Great for maintenance between other treatments.
4. Oatmeal & Milk Foot Scrub
Why it works: Oatmeal soothes inflammation, while milk contains lactic acid that gently exfoliates dead skin.
Recipe:
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2 tbsp ground oats
-
2–3 tbsp milk (enough to form a paste)
Directions: Apply scrub to clean feet, massage in circular motions, leave for 10 minutes, then rinse. Use every other day.
5. Aloe Vera & Glycerin Moisturizer
Why it works: Aloe vera helps repair skin with its anti-inflammatory properties, while glycerin draws moisture into the skin.
Recipe:
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2 tbsp pure aloe vera gel
-
1 tbsp glycerin
Directions: Mix and apply to feet before bed. Cover with socks and leave overnight. Great for deep hydration.
Bonus Tip: DIY Vitamin E Oil Rub
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Puncture a few vitamin E capsules and apply directly to cracked heels after exfoliating. Helps speed up healing and reduces scarring.
Interested in other Home Remedies for Cracked Heels?
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i plan on making this today! i’m very anxious to see how well it works!:springsmile:
i’ve done this for two days and is really working great.
this sounds great i will have to try this :stars:
Do you have to use cooked or uncooked rice?
I skip anything special and just use a pumice stone on my heals at the end of my shower. By then the calluses have been softened enough for the stone to be effective.
It says to grind it into a coarse flower,so that means you would use uncooked rice.
Petroleum jelly can restore moisture to cracked heels. It takes a while to absorb, but it works. Before going to bed, try coating your feet with petroleum jelly, slipping on some comfy socks, and letting it soak in while you sleep.