What causes cracked heels?
Treatment of cracked heels begins with the elimination of the causes that led to their appearance. Finding out the cause of the disease, the treatment will be faster faster. The skin of the feet is subject to daily stress, so it really needs proper care. There are many factors that cause dry and cracked heels.
Cause of cracked heels.
- Dryness of the dermis is usually caused by a lack of vitamins A and E.
- Cracks can appear due to diabetes, thyroid disease and gastritis.
- Insufficient hydration of the skin, both internal and external, associated with a lack of fluid.
- Load, when we stand for long hours we strain the feet and heels.
- Uncomfortable, open shoes, poor quality material, unstable heels, etc. – all this can cause cracks.
- When overweight, there is a lot of pressure on the heels,
- hereditary predisposition.
The skin on the heels is often thicker and drier than the rest. It consists of five layers of skin, it does not have sebaceous glands. This dryness causes cracking of the skin when pressure is applied to it: excessive walking, standing for a long time.
Cracked heels are the cause of daily walking aggressions. While walking, the foot, and with it the skin, take on the entire load from the body. When walking, the skin is subjected to pressure and friction. Walking barefoot or wearing uncomfortable or inappropriate shoes can exacerbate the condition.
Important! Skin exposed to bacteria becomes more vulnerable to infection, and may become red, inflamed and painful, and even bleed. Thus, if not properly cared for, they dry out, leading to cracking and bleeding.
Treating cracked heels at home
There are many ways to speed up the healing process of a cracked foot, and there are various remedies that will help get rid of this problem. Moisturizing your heels can help with this. In winter, do not forget about foot massage using a fat cream. Such care will increase blood circulation and cracks will heal faster.
Mechanical treatment of cracked heels
You can remove rough skin from the heels with the help of special products containing abrasive particles. The foot scrub exfoliates the soles well. You can buy it at a pharmacy, in a specialized store or cook it yourself. Cleaning the heels from dead skin should be carried out no more than once a week.
Cleaning the heels of dead skin
Rice flour can exfoliate, cleanse the skin, making it soft to the touch. 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons flour, 1 tsp. honey, mix 3-4 drops of apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste. If the heels are very dry, you can add tsp to the mixture. olive oil or sweet almond oil. Apply this scrub twice a week.
Foot baths
Baths are designed to soften the stratum corneum. Thus, the skin will be better amenable to the procedures for removing roughened dermis. You need to prepare a soda soap solution, or various baths with herbs, glycerin.
Bath additives in the ratio of 2 liters of water:
- milk + starch 2 tablespoons;
- warm serum;
- 2 tablespoons of soda + liquid soap;
- 30 grams of starch;
- about 1 liter of decoction of chamomile or calendula;
- decoction of St. John’s wort and nettle.
To soften the skin, ordinary salt is also suitable. Sea salt is great for healing wounds. Soda well softens the coarsened layer of skin on the heels, prevents the development of a fungal infection.
Remedies for cracked heels can be prepared independently at home based on active ingredients, or bought at a pharmacy ready-made. From cracks, you can use different compresses that moisturize and nourish the skin of the feet:
- onion compress;
- a compress of apples and milk;
- potato;
- aloe compress;
- cottage cheese;
- based on infusion of elecampane root;
- oil compresses.
Chamomile, St. John’s wort, calendula, sage and many other herbs have healing properties. Balms based on extracts of these plants have proven themselves well. The composition is applied to the affected areas, after which the feet are wrapped with plastic wrap. To enhance the effect, you need to wear warm socks. After removing the product, lubricate the feet with a greasy cream.
With the help of warm compresses and lotions, cracked heels heal very quickly. Fresh cabbage leaf is also widely considered to be an effective medicine for healing. Apply to the heel at night. In the morning, the foot is lubricated with any emollient or moisturizer.
Mixes prepared by yourself.
- A mixture of glycerin and apple cider vinegar (2:1).
- 100 gr. flour mixed with 1 tbsp vegetable oil and 30 gr. honey.
- A mixture of cosmetic oils: olive, grape seed, corn and jojoba.
- Capsules with vitamin E.
- A mixture of grated apple, beer and butter.
- Ammonia and glycerin (1:1).
- Chopped celery leaves and butter (1:1).
Lemon is one of the most famous remedies for cracking. Its effectiveness is based on the action of fruit acids. They soften and remove dead skin.
Lemon in foot care
Natural oils help to get rid of cracked heels. They are used in baths, massages and added to homemade creams. Vegetable oils have softening, as well as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. A few drops are enough to get the desired result.
You can make the skin on your heels smooth and tender by regularly lubricating it with warm olive oil. Olive oil has numerous nourishing properties that make the skin soft and supple.
Sesame oil has nourishing, moisturizing and regenerating properties for the skin. All you need to do is apply sesame oil on your heels, massage well so that it is absorbed. This should be done daily before bed. Coconut oil is an effective natural remedy for surface cracks. It moisturizes dry skin and helps to get rid of dead skin cells. It can penetrate and nourish the deep layers of the skin of the dermis.
Creams and ointments for cracked heels
You can use various creams – the most common remedy for softening rough skin. Cream for cracked heels can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home with active ingredients that will stimulate the top layer of the skin.
Additional Information! The best home remedy for cracked heels is petroleum jelly. It promotes healing, has a bactericidal effect. Helps restore moisture to dry, cracked heels and reduces moisture loss from the outer skin. As a result, the skin becomes soft and hydrated. It can be applied several times a day to the affected area.
When preparing an oil-glycerin mixture, a ratio of 2:1 is observed. Vaseline does wonders for cracked heels especially when combined with lemon. Mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vaseline with lemon juice. Mix well and the mixture is ready to use. Apply evenly to the sole of each foot. After that, wash off and dry your feet.
Baby cream is an effective drug that softens the skin well, relieves irritation, inflammation, and normalizes metabolic processes in the upper layer of the skin. The composition of the baby cream may include chamomile, a string, which soften the skin and normalize its condition. You can make the cream more active by adding active ingredients such as camphor, ethyl alcohol.
Cream for the skin of the heels
Pine cream. In the pharmacy you can buy coniferous cream, which includes natural extracts of coniferous trees (pine extract). You can also prepare a cream based on natural needles.
Zinc ointment has a drying effect, as a result, inflammatory processes are reduced. It can be applied directly to the crack. Treatment with regular use of the ointment takes 5-7 days.
Calendula ointment contains calendula extract as the main active ingredient. Calendula is known to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
You can also make an ointment at home. For cooking, you can take any fatty base: oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly, baby cream, etc. Calendula decoction: 1-2 tablespoons of dried or fresh flowers in a glass of water. The broth is infused under a closed lid for an hour, after which it is added to the prepared base and thoroughly mixed until smooth, and left for an hour. Apply a thin layer on the crack 3-5 times a day.
Honey. Known for its healing properties, honey can be used to alleviate the condition. Its soothing properties help to revitalize the skin. You can use honey as a scrub after a soothing bath or use it as a foot mask at night. Creams based on honey are also sold in pharmacies.
Healing antibacterial green clay mixed with olive oil is used as an ointment on the affected heels and left on for about thirty minutes.
Oats have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties that help remove dead skin cells and smoothen the skin. For 1 st. a spoonful of dry oatmeal take a little olive oil. Combine dry oatmeal and olive oil to make a thick paste. Apply to the heels, and leave for about half an hour. Wash off with water. You need to do this every day.
Prevention of cracked heels
Proper care is always effective. Keeping your feet hydrated is the first step in preventing dry heels. Drink more water to keep your skin hydrated and supple. The problem often occurs due to beriberi. The lack of vitamins A and E in the body leads to various inflammatory changes in the skin.
Use foot cream every day
The simplest ways to prevent cracked heels are:
- wearing comfortable shoes that protect the heel;
- treatment of diseases, skin problems and obesity;
- relaxation of the legs with oil massage prevents dryness and cracking;
- regularly clean the heels with a pumice stone several times a week;
- use foot cream every day;
- Eat enough foods rich in vitamins A and E.
To prevent cracked heels, special attention should be paid to the choice of shoes. Shoes should be comfortable, well ventilated, with medium heels. It is important to choose shoes according to the size of the foot. Tight and uncomfortable high-heeled shoes put an increased strain on the skin of the feet, leading to cracks.
Avoid slippers and slates. Due to impacts on the sole, microcracks appear on the skin of the heels. Under the influence of dry air and dust, small wounds turn into deep cracks. Non-breathable man-made materials cause skin damage and disease, including cracked heels.
Homemade heel care can be quite inexpensive. All creams and care products can be made from natural ingredients.