Softening Cracked Heels through herbal ayurveda remedies

Cracked heels are one of the most common beauty problems caused by
drying of skin. The desire to wear attractive foot wear will remain
just that with cracked heels. Cracked heels are also referred to as
heel fissures. When these fissures are deep they may bleed and become
painful. Some times they may also get infected.

Ayurveda classifies cracked heels under "kshudra rogas" (common
diseases without much complecations) and explains the causes and
remedies for cracked heels.
Cracks or fissures usually appear on outer edges of heels when the skin
on these parts is dry and thick.
What causes cracked heels?
According to ayurveda  the cracked heel is caused by vitiation of Vata.
Due to vitiation of vata the skin becomes dry, rough and  fissured.
Walking bare foot for long distances vitiates vata  causing cracked
heels.
Dry and cold weather increases vata in body and may cause cracks on the
heels. The same weather conditions worsen the already present cracks or
fissures on heels.
Usually the process of sweating keeps our skin moist and soft. Absence
of or inactive sweat glands cause dryness of skin. Vitiated vata dries
up sweat glands.
People who have dry skin tend to develop cracked heels easily.
Continued pressure on feet causes cracking of skin on heels. This may
be due to prolonged standing or over weight.
Thin soled shoes, Open backed shoes, heel spurs, Surgery of lower
extremities, flat feet, high arched feet and diseases like psoriasis,
eczema etc also cause fissured heels.
Self care for cracked heels
Avoid thin soled shoes or footwear and open backed shoes.
Use  pumice stone bars to remove thick, dead skin of heels.
Apply medicated herbal balm which keeps the skin of heels soft and
closes fissures.