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We will tell you why this is not only an aesthetic problem and how to get rid of cracked heels using affordable home remedies.
What are cracked heels
But cracked heels often occur after a pedicure. Three to four days after the procedure, you may notice thin, barely visible vertical cuts along the contour of the heel. If the skin is not regularly softened, these cuts will become deeper, and then the skin may crack, which will cause a lot of suffering when walking. Women are especially worried, because in summer in open shoes (sandals, sandals, clogs) heels with cracks look extremely unaesthetic. And, of course, everyone wants to get rid of them. What to do if you have cracked heels? Read below.
Why cracked heels appear: the main reasons
By taking care of your feet daily, it is easy to prevent cracked heels.
Avoiding cracked heels, if they are not the result of some kind of disease, is quite easy. It is enough to take care of the skin of the feet daily, and once every 2-3 weeks to do intensive cleansing procedures. It is better to prevent a problem from occurring than to fix it later.
But in some cases, it is worth consulting a doctor and treating cracked heels. What are these cases? The reasons include:
diabetes;
Iron-deficiency anemia;
hypovitaminosis;
fungal diseases;
skin diseases of non-fungal origin.
External influence
Cracks on the heels may appear due to external circumstances, such as:
heavy physical labor, when you have to spend a lot of time on your feet, carry weights;
improper and irregular care.
Prevention of cracked heels
To keep the skin on your heels soft, supple and smooth, you need to rethink your lifestyle and pay attention to some things that you may not have attached much importance to. Follow the rules of prevention – you do not need to get rid of cracked heels!
Personal hygiene
It is important to wash your feet daily and then apply a nourishing cream or thick balm to soften your feet. Once a month, you need to visit a pedicure master or carry out deep cleansing of the skin of the feet at home with a pumice stone, file or hard washcloth. This recommendation should be followed by both men and women, regardless of age, in order to remove cracked heels and prevent their occurrence.
Comfortable, high quality shoes
Buying shoes a size or half a size smaller is a big mistake. Shoes in this case put pressure on the foot, it is deformed, which in turn cannot but affect the condition of the skin. First, it coarsens, and then corns and cracks on the heels form. Choose good quality and comfortable shoes.
Proper care
Basic foot skin care includes a daily shower, heel cleansing with a file or a special brush every 2-3 weeks, daily skin softening with a nourishing foot cream. Care will help get rid of cracked heels.
Diet, drinking regimen
Dry feet is closely related to the general condition of our body. Drink enough water per day. The norm is calculated simply – 30 ml per 1 kg of weight. As for the diet, it must be balanced.
Overview of skin care products for cracked heels
We have prepared a selection of cosmetics for you. Choose one of them to quickly soften the skin of the feet.
Revitalizing foot cream, CeraVe
Exfoliates, renews, moisturizes dry skin of the feet thanks to ceramides, hyaluronic and salicylic acids. Helps remove cracked heels.
Regenerating foot cream “Intensive care. Nutrition, Garnier
The formula contains maple sap, which is known for its healing properties. The cream nourishes, moisturizes, cares for very dry and rough skin areas.
Lipid-replenishing triple action balm for face and body Lipikar AP + M, La Roche-Posay
A product designed for dry skin, reduces itching and irritation, intensively nourishes, restores the microbiome and the skin’s protective barrier. Apply it on your feet at night and wear over cotton socks. The next morning, the skin of the heels will be softer and smoother.
Treatment of cracked heels
If cracked heels are not related to improper care, we advise you to contact a dermatologist or podiatrist as soon as possible. After the consultation, the doctor will refer you to a series of studies and, based on the results, prescribe a course of treatment for cracked heels (especially if they are deep) and accompanying more serious diseases.
Do not forget that in case of serious health problems, you are shown not an ordinary pedicure in a beauty salon, but a special, therapeutic one, which is performed by a podiatrist. Do not neglect the treatment of cracks, if necessary.
How to get rid of cracked heels at home
Baths, compresses and foot masks are excellent prevention of cracked heels.
Is it possible to quickly get rid of cracked heels and corns? No, you won’t be able to remove them very quickly. The first thing that both women and men need to learn is the importance of daily care. But if for some reason this is not possible, it remains to resort to express methods.
Cosmetics for cracked heels
Steaming
Steaming the heels is a pleasant procedure. But we do not recommend doing it too often. Ideally, no more than twice a week. Add liquid soap or shower gel to a tub of warm water. Soak your feet in water for 15-20 minutes. Dry your feet and apply a nourishing cream or balm to the skin. It is advisable to wear cotton socks after this.
Peeling
Leather processing
Fighting rough skin with blades and razors is the last century. Never handle these dangerous tools. Your helpers are a pumice stone, a hard brush or a foot file. They will always help to remove cracked heels. Treat the foot first with the hard, rough side, and then polish with the smooth side. Do not forget to use a balm or body cream.
Moisturizing and nourishing
Every time after water procedures, apply a nourishing agent to the skin of the feet. Let it become a habit for you and you will forget how to treat cracked heels.
Folk recipes for cracked heels
Baths
Salt baths save from rough skin on the legs. Put a few tablespoons of coarse sea salt in a bowl of water and let it dissolve. Soak your feet in the bath for about 30 minutes. This procedure will help soften the skin of the feet, and at the same time relieve fatigue, help get rid of cracked heels. Do not forget to wipe your feet dry, apply the cream.
Compresses
Calluses and cracks are also eliminated with the help of potato peel compresses. Wash your feet, peel the potatoes and apply the peel to the surface of the feet. Wrap with cellophane wrap for 30-60 minutes.
Masks
What to do if your heels are cracked? Make a mask! A good recipe for softening the feet is a banana-honey mask. Cut half a banana and mash it well with 1 tsp. honey. Apply the mixture on your feet for about forty minutes. Then rinse and moisturize the skin with cream.
How to remove cracked heels in the cabin
The most effective method to quickly remove cracked heels is professional procedures. In a beauty salon or clinic, you can offer at least two types of foot skin care.
Pedicure
Standard foot and nail care. But if there are cracks on the heels that cause discomfort and pain, we advise you to sign up not for a regular, but for a medical pedicure. A podologist will carefully examine the feet and, if there are no contraindications, treat them, and then give recommendations for further care in order to get rid of and cure cracked heels.
Paraffin therapy
This pleasant treatment can restore comfort to the skin in one session. The feet are placed in a special bath with melted cosmetic paraffin. The effect is noticeable, but, alas, short-lived. So permanently get rid of cracked heels will not work. Therefore, it is better to sign up for a consultation with a podiatrist and a medical pedicure.