Cracked heels: how to treat? Video
Cracked heels are not uncommon, especially in the summer when you want to wear open shoes. Since the weight of the body falls entirely on the legs, the load on the skin of the feet is very large. Special care will help prevent cracks from appearing, and some recipes will make them heal faster.
Cracks can form for a variety of reasons:
- lack of vitamins important for the skin
- wrong shoes
- endocrine diseases
- dermatological diseases or fungus
- prolonged exposure of the feet in high temperature conditions
In the vast majority of cases, the main factor causing cracks is vitamin deficiency. It is generally accepted that the body is especially vulnerable in early spring and late autumn, and there is nothing to worry about the rest of the year. In fact, vitamin deficiencies can occur at any time.
Uncomfortable or ill-conceived shoes are the second most common cause
In the warmer months, many women wear sandals and flip flops, which keeps the skin of their feet constantly exposed. Experiencing an unusual temperature drop, the stratum corneum thickens on the skin, and this very often leads to the formation of cracks. But the danger lies in wait not only in summer. In winter, warm shoes, especially those made from synthetic materials, prevent oxygen from reaching the skin, making it dry out. In such an environment, pathogenic bacteria and foot fungus readily develop, they settle in microcracks, contributing to the formation of serious injuries.
The skin on the heel could be cracked after a vacation, where you often ran barefoot on the hot sand and swam for a long time in the salty sea
If you take vitamins and monitor the condition of your legs, but cracks still appear, and you cannot understand why this is happening, then it makes sense to consult a doctor. Sometimes, such damage can be a symptom of a metabolic disorder, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. You need to undergo an examination as soon as possible, since in the presence of diseases there is a high risk of complications.
The resulting cracks must be treated. There are a lot of ways, but they have one main principle: you need to soften the hardened skin (it is convenient to do this by steaming the heels in hot water), and then carefully remove it with a pumice stone. For quick healing, you can apply healing compresses for several days or simply smear your feet with a fat cream at night.
Compress 1. Mix in a mortar with a pestle the fresh roots of sorrel and burdock, as well as the leaves of celandine, taking all in equal proportions. From the resulting mass, make cakes, which are glued to the heel at night either with a paper plaster (it is important that it allows air to pass through), or with a bandage.
The advantage of compresses is that they not only promote healing, but also help nourish the skin with essential vitamins.
Compress 2. Spread the steamed heels with animal fat, and attach a cabbage leaf on top.
Compress 3. Finely chop the onion, then place it in vegetable oil and put on fire. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let it cool down, now every night with the help of paper and a bandage, fix the compress from the resulting composition on the heel. You can simply cut the onion in half, scald it with boiling water, and tie it to your heel.
You can make compresses from almost any herbs that promote tissue disinfection and healing.
Use the following plants:
- St. John’s Wort
- calendula
- plantain
- camomile
- sage
- run
- Oak bark
- elecampane
These herbs can not only be used for compress, but also make a decoction with them to steam the legs.
In winter, when it is difficult to find fresh plants, you can purchase dried leaves at the pharmacy. Special healing products are also sold there, which are also very effective. These creams, in addition to the direct treatment, have a long-term therapeutic effect. If you use them regularly, cracks in the heels, caused by non-endocrine disorders, will cease to bother you.
What not to do when dealing with cracks
A popular mistake is to cut off excess skin, corns, and calluses with scissors. This should not be done, since the formations on the foot appeared due to the mechanical effect on the skin of the leg. By destroying this “protection”, you force the body to intensively build up the skin in this very place. Remove the stratum corneum carefully with a pumice stone, preferably in combination with other measures.
Scissors are also not worth using for the reason that there is a high risk of damaging the skin and introducing an infection.
Some fairly simple guidelines will allow you to eliminate the most important causes that cause them. Most likely, this will be enough to completely forget about the problem.
1. Make sure you get enough vitamins for your skin (these are A and E), as well as proteins and fatty acids.
Your diet should include:
- eggs
- cheeses and dairy products
- greenery
- salad
- spinach
- pulse
- tomatoes
- butter
If you notice skin deterioration, take extra vitamins
2. Choose comfortable shoes that are the right size for you. Buy socks made from natural, breathable materials. Rest your feet after wearing sandals or flip flops.
How to treat cracked heels
3. Regularly carry out cosmetic procedures for the care of the skin of the feet: steam your feet, lubricate them with cream.